Full text of "Pittsburgh Municipal Record, 1999, Vol. A"

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MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS
OF

THE COUNCIL

OF THE
CITY OF PITTSBURGH
FOR THE YEAR
1999

VOLUME 133-A

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE

Address and Remark ...
Cohen, Dan ......
Diven, Michael
Ferlo, Jim ......
Hertzberg, Alan .
McDonald, Valerie
O’Connor, Bob...
Onorato, Dan...
Ricciardi, Gene

Udin, Sala.

Agreement

Agreement (Amending) ............ccccscscessceeeeseeesssseceeeseecsescesscavsvesssensacan 31
Appointment

Bond

Budget ...

Capital Budget: fcc..cccsescidsidte ds ctessscdiestoebiguneesaatvasyustivcessantvastesesvssacsad 39
Capital Budget (Amending) .....0...0:cecccscsesseceesceeessseccusacersseesssesesaseneaeeas 41
Communication 45
Conditional Use Exception ...........c::cccessscecseeeceeeeesscsecareeeessecessececenseeecad 49

Contract ....

Contract (Amending)
Cooperation Agreement

Cooperation Agreement (Amending) ...

Disposition: Contractacis:.sssssccesssseeavavesecdesveddcasesedeccedasedsssdesascsssasisesiancie 70

Easement...

Lease Agreement. 2. <.<0.::s-cuctevsesetivanhsess unazpsuadesattcncs dogacecuaie'sésy indacbaaahresaeen 93

License Agreement

Miscellaneous. c.sivcscccciceuhsvadeses vnaesneahenccdlbidasiiayesooccuaasdevdedeusseevaseteatee 94

Natt Ciatige aisha searass reaver dencsnn cdenvandvid Gotdesoneredenneanieedsaiguadibnutee: 111
Petition

Pledgee

Re-Appoimtment. wi. <2 seseceesevavcsa’eeessdescveasesuscudtdessercceseguseegsatedadevaeeveveseavere 116
Read and Adopted.. 46
All Members, 117
Cohen, Dan.. 119
Diven, Michael. 121
Ferlo, Jim....... 124

Hertzberg, Alan
McDonald, Valeri
O’Connor, Bob
Onorato, Dan..
Ricciardi, Gene “
Uddin Sala, ites vecovevcsossarveaincesvedevesieny cassenauniancy esttesdscacveceedagessesaa teeter 148

Residential Parking Permit..............0:eessccesseccesscecesececeeeceseeseeseeeseseeeveceseend 50

Sale of Property (Amending)..............ccccccssessssesceccseeessccesseeesaesetsercasessecease

Sale of Property (Conveyance)

Sale of Property Dedication...............cccccsscesscesssseesceveseceecscescsscesseeussesecece

Sale of Property (Deed)

Sale of Property (Petition).............cs:cccscccessessceceecceeascceseeccusseccseceescsccseeeees

Sale of Property (Quit Claim Deed)

Sale of Property (Repealing)...wccisov.arevssssesssvavessuseossssissacssetsaasseesssesccdecdeua ce

Sale of Property (URA))..ioscccncsssenccdvssesserasesdaapedsssustansanssvercdcedetuacasusute

Sewage Facilities PIM. «20.55 csvsaids coniersedsenesnsgcdeavevssovevksuiasiivecesurus odeesienden

estan ==

SPEAKER
Cohen, Dan

Cohen, Dan

Address and Remarks

SUBJECT

Briefing Council on the Agreement
with AT&T ona franchise renewal
for cable television

Discussion on Bill 1823 - Contract
for the lease of Part of Parcel 2, 3rd
Ward, Dist. 6 Bedford Avenue at
Crawford Street (Parking Garage)
(Maglev)

Discussion on Bill 1383, resolution
Tequesting the City Solicitor to file
a legal action, in either sate oar
federal court, to cover damages and
other relief by various gun
manufactures who fail to institute
specified safety guidelines

Discussion Bed and Breakfast
Legislation Bill No, 948

Discussion of proposed swimming
pool fees

Discussion on Bill 2008, An
Ordinance supplementing the
Pittsburgh Code, Title 5; Article 1:
Administration; Chapter 503:
Enforcement and control by adding
section 503.14 Regulation of
Bicycle Traffic in Downtown and
Business Districts.

Discussion o the asphalt and
resurfacing of city streets

Discussion on Tax Incremental
Financing Legislation Forbes/Fifth
Retail

Page 1

PAGE
1919

1268

1004

441

312

1605

435

1595

SPEAKER
Cohen, Dan

Cohen, Dan

Diven, Michael

Address and Remarks

SUBJECT PAGE

Discussion on Bill 2212, a veto 1723
from Tom Murphy Mayor, on Bill

1759, An ordinance amending the
Pittsburgh Code, Title Two, Fiscal

Article I, Administration< Chapter

201, Tax Increment Financing

Registration

Letter sent to the Chief McNeilly 1146
requesting information as to why

Cookie Coleman has been removed

as Coordinator of the Citizens

Academy

Requesting a weekly report from 72
Director Kraszewski on the issue of
filing the 52 positions of Public

Works

Discussion of proposed swimming 312
pool fees

Discussion on Tax Incremental 1595
Financing Legislation Forbes/Fifth
Retail

Discussion Bill 1581 -Cooperation 1020
Agreement with the URA of

Pittsburgh providing for the transfer

of $450,000 for North Shore

Riverfront Development, Council

Districts 1 & 6

Discussion on Bill 1823 -Contract 1268
for the lease of Part of Parcel 2, 3rd

Ward, Dist. 6 Bedford Avenue at

Crawford Street (Parking Garage)
(Maglev)

Discussion regarding employees ion 700
the service that may be called to
Kozovo

Discussion - Public Works, snow 6
removal

Page 2

SPEAKER

Ferlo, Jim

Address and Remarks
SUBJECT

Discussion on Bill 1383, resolution
requesting a the City Solicitor to
file a legal action, in either state or
federal court, to cover damages and
other relief by various gun
manufactures who fail to institute
specified safety guidelines

Discussion - Bill 846 and 994
extends the city's earned income
wage tax to non-resident
professional athlete, ballplayers

Discussion on Bill 2040 - Directing
the City Solicitor to seek an
injunction to prevent the transfer of
the Pittsburgh International Airport
and the Allegheny County Airport

Discussion on the Historic
Designation of the various
Pittsburgh Public School Buildings

Discussion - Public Works, snow
removal

Discussion - Recommital of Bill
1450, Resolution providing for the
denial of the addition of the
property located at 2500-2700 East
Carson Street, North Side to the
existing East Carson Street Historic
District, under Section 513 of
Chapter 1007 of the Code of
Ordinances

Page3

PAGE
1003

247

1492

1933

1011

SPEAKER

Ferlo, Jim

Ferlo, Ji im

Ferlo, Jim

Address and Remarks

SUBJECT PAGE

Discussion on Bill 1792 - 1201
Authorizing the urban

Redevelopment Authority to submit

an application to the Pennsylvania

Office of the Budget for a

Redevelopment Assistance Capital
Program grant in the amount of
$10,000,000.00 for the Marketplace

at Fifth and Forbes Project, District

Discussion 1421 - Disposition of 661

Land by and between URA and

UPMC Health System

Discussion regarding vandalism 455
graffiti

Discussion on Bill 1895 - An 1296

Ordinance amending Ordinance No.
28 of 1998 entitled, "An Ordinance
amending the Pittsburgh Code,
Title Two, Fiscal, Article I,
Administration, Section 201.11,
Tax Increment Financing
Registration," by changing the
percentage of city residents to be
hired from 50% to 35%

Discussion - Tax Increment 1590
Financing PNC and Mellon

Discussion Bill 1581 - Cooperation 1016
Agreement with the URA of

Pittsburgh providing for the transfer

of $450,000 for North Shore

Riverfront Development, Council

Districts 1 & 6

Discussion - regarding the 661
University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center for their sports complex

Page 4

SPEAKER

Ferlo, Jim

Address and Remarks
SUBJECT

Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh to pursue a Tax
Incremental Financing Proposal for
portions of the Inner Triangle
Redevelopment Area, District 6

Discussion magnetic Levitation
Project proposed in the Hill District

Discussion regarding the sunshine
act that applies to public comment
at council proceedings

Discussion the reconsideration of
Bill No. 2040 - resolution seeking
an injunction to prevent the transfer
of Pittsburgh International

Discussion - Home Rule Charter
referendum modifying the duties
and responsibilities of the Civilian
Review Board

Discussion - Nabisco bakery in
East Liberty

Discussion on Bill 2212, a veto
from Tom Murphy Mayor, on Bill
1759, An ordinance amending the
Pittsburgh Code, Title Two, Fiscal
Article I, Administration< Chapter
201, Tax Increment Financing
Registration

Discussion of proposed swimming
pool fees

Discussion - Magnetic Levitation
Project, Hill District residents
concems

Discussion on Tax Incremental
Financing Legislation Forbes/Fifth
Retail

Page 5

PAGE

ee. es
Discussion on Bill 1791 - Urban

1201

1556

472

1544

1723

310

1556

1590

SPEAKER
Ferlo, Jim
Ferlo, Jim

Ferlo, Jim

Ferlo, Jim
Ferlo, Jim
Ferlo, Jim
Ferlo, Jim

Hertzberg, Alan

Address and Remarks

SUBJECT

Discussion on Bill 2040 - Directing
the City Solicitor to seek an
injunction to prevent the transfer of
the Pittsburgh International Airport
and the Allegheny County Airport

Discussion - Nabisco Plan in East
Liberty, joming the Steel Valley
Authority

Discussion Community Block
Grant budget process

Discussion - regarding the
University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center for their sports complex

Discussion - Fifth and Forbes
Avenue Proposal

Discussion - Swimming pools
opening early due to the high
temperatures and the tragedy of a
child drowning

Informing council of a new national
organization that is now called the
U.S. Cuba Sister cities Association

Discussion on Bill 1823 - Contract
for the lease of Part of Parcel 2, 3rd
Ward, Dist. 6 Bedford Avenue at
Crawford Street (Parking Garage)
(Maglev)

Discussion - Committee Chair
Report - Public Works, Snow
Temoval

Discussion regarding the sunshine
act that applies to public comment
at council proceedings

Page 6

PAGE
1501

431

661

1355

974

510

1266

470

SPEAKER
Hertzberg, Alan

Hertzberg, Alan

Address and Remarks

SUBJECT

Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh to pursue a Tax
Incremental Financing Proposal for
a Redevelopment Area to be formed
on the South Shore of the
Monongahela River (Station Square
Phase II Development, District 2
and 3

Discussion on Bill 2212, a veto
from Tom Murphy Mayor, on Bill
1759, An ordinance amending the
Pittsburgh Code, Title Two, Fiscal
Article 1, Administration< Chapter
201, Tax Increment Financing
Registration

Discussion - Pittsburgh Penguins
bankruptcy

Discussion on Bill 1383, resolution
requesting the City Solicitor to file
a legal action, in cither sate oar
federal court, to recover damages
and other relief by various gun
manufactures who fail to institute
specified safety guidelines

Discussion - Informing council of a
business that has been granted a
permit to run a banquet hall and
know it is providing nude dancing

Discussion on Bill 2040 - Directing
the City Solicitor to seek an
injunction to prevent the transfer of
the Pittsburgh International Airport
and the Allegheny County Airport

Page7

PAGE
1202

1730

744

1006

720

1503

1492

Discussion - Bil] 1793 - Urban

SPEAKER
Hertzberg, Alan

Hertzberg, Alan

Hertzberg, Alan
Hertzberg, Alan
Hertzberg, Alan
Hertzberg, Alan

Hertzberg, Alan

Leeper, Steve

Address and Remarks
SUBJECT

Discussion magnetic Levitation
Project proposed in the Hill District

Discussion - LTV Site TIF

Discussion - Public Works, snow
removal

Discussion - regarding the
University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center for their sports complex

Discussion on Tax Incremental
Financing Legislation Forbes/Fifth
Retail

Discussion Bill 1581 - Cooperation
Agreement with the URA of
Pittsburgh providing for the transfer
of $450,000 for North Shore
Riverfront Development, Council
Districts 1 & 6

Discussion on the Pittsburgh
Penguins

Discussion of proposed swimming
pool fees

Discussion on Bills 1303 and 1305,
West End Improvements

Discussion - Robbery at Cliff
Hangers Saloon

Discussion on Mayor
Neighborhood Needs Monies
Distribution

Discussion - at the request of
council Mr. Leeper provided an
overview of Pittsburgh Penguins
situation

Page 8

PAGE
1560

251
6

661

1590

1018

879

314

545

1627

801

SPEAKER
McDonald, Valerie

McDonald, Valerie

Address and Remarks

SUBJECT

Commending Chuck Powel and Mr.
Carl Cooper on their promotions
with the URA, Mr. Powell has been
elevated to the position of Director
of Administration and Mr. Carl
Cooper has been elevated to the
Director of Real Estate

Discussion on Bill 2040 - Directing
the City Solicitor to seek an
injunction to prevent the transfer of
the Pittsburgh International Airport
and the Allegheny County Airport

Discussion magnetic Levitation
Project proposed in the Hill District

Discussion - Parking Authority
miscommunication that the
residential permit parking program
was running at a deficit

Discussion regarding the sunshine
act that applies to public comment
at council proceedings

Discussion on Bill 2040 - Directing
the City Solicitor to seek an
injunction to prevent the transfer of
the Pittsburgh International Airport
and the Allegheny County Airport

Discussion the reconsideration of
Bill No. 2040 - resolution seeking
an injunction to prevent the transfer
of Pittsburgh International

Page 9

PAGE
576

1492

1557

470

1502

1547

1720

SPEAKER
McDonald, Valerie

McDonald, Valerie

Address and Remarks

SUBJECT

Discussion - Magnetic Levitation
Project, Hill District residents
concerns

Discussion of proposed swimming
pool fees

Discussion - Night Club's In
District 9 and Community Concems

Discussion on the amendments of
Bill 1759, An Ordinance, Title 2
Fiscal, Article I, Administration,
Chapter 201, City Treasurer,
Section 291.11, Tax Increment
Financing (TIF) Registration by
adding new section sections
regarding the commitment to
employ city residents at facilities
which are supported by Tax
Increment Financing

Discussion Bill 1581 - Cooperation
Agreement with the URA of
Pittsburgh providing for the transfer
of $450,000 for North Shore
Riverfront Development, Council
Districts 1 & 6

Discussion - Informing council that
we should not hold any public
hearing regarding personnel or
student issues regarding the
Pittsburgh Public School System

Discussion on Bill 1383, resolution
requesting the City Solicitor to file
a legal action, in either sate oar
federal court, to cover damages and
other relief by various gun
manufactures who fail to institute
specified safety guidelines

Page 10

PAGE
1557

316

986

1635

1019

1280

1004

SPEAKER
McDonald, Valerie

McDonald, Valerie

Murphy, Tom

O'Connor, Bob

Address and Remarks
SUBJECT

Discussion - Informing council that
the TIF Committee held it's first
meeting

Discussion on Bill 1823 - Contract
for the lease of Part of Parcel 2, 3rd
Ward, Dist. 6 Bedford Avenue at
Crawford Street (Parking Garage)
(Maglev)

Discussion on Bill 1895 - An
Ordinance amending Ordinance No.
28 of 1998 entitled, "An Ordinance
amending the Pittsburgh Code,
Title Two, Fiscal, Article I,
Administration, Section 201.11,
Tax Increment Financing
Registration,” by changing the
percentage of city residents to be
hired from 50% to 35%

Discussion informing Council that
she will be convening a televised
post agenda regarding the financial
opportunities that are available,
with the URA, private entities, the
city, the county

Informing Council of a post agenda
meeting to discuss the URA Loan
and Grant Assistance Program for
home improvements

Informing council of a Post Agenda
Meeting scheduled for Wednesday,
March 31st to discuss all the
financial opportunities that are
forward to MBE and WBE Firms

Presenting his budget address to
Council on November 8, 1999

Discussion on Tax Incremental
Financing Legislation Forbes/Fifth
Retail

Page 11

PAGE
701

1265

1294

458

1022

326

1790

1594

SPEAKER
O'Connor, Bob

O'Connor, Bob

Onorato, Dan

Address and Remarks

SUBJECT

Discussion - Initiative Meeting with
the School Board, City Council and
the Legislator

Discussion - Committee

Discussion on Bill 1823 - Contract
for the lease of Part of Parcel 2, 3rd
Ward, Dist. 6 Bedford Avenue at
Crawford Street (Parking Garage)
(Maglev)

Discussion on Bill 1383, resolution
requesting the City Solicitor to file
a legal action, in either sate oar
federal court, to recover damages
and other relief by various gun
manufactures who fail to institute
specified safety guidelines

Discussion on Bill 1895 - An
Ordinance amending Ordinance No.
28 of 1998 entitled, “An Ordinance
amending the Pittsburgh Code,
Title Two, Fiscal, Article I,
Administration, Section 201.11,
Tax Increment Financing
Registration," by changing the
percentage of city residents to be
hired from 50% to 35%

Informing Council of the
appointment of Gene Ricciardi as a
member of the Oakland Business
Improvement District Board

Discussion on the Pittsburgh
Penguins

Discussion - Bill 1380 sale of 512
Lockhart Street, 23rd Ward, being
Purchased by Stephen Mesich

Page 12

PAGE
489

1268

1003

1306

650

881

492

SPEAKER

Onorato, Dan

Address and Remarks

SUBJECT

Discussion Bill 1581 - Cooperation
Agreement with the URA of
Pittsburgh providing for the transfer
of $450,000 for North Shore
Riverfront Development, Council
Districts 1 & 6

Discussion - street resurfacing
program

Discussion on Bil} 1823 - Contract
for the lease of Part of Parcel 2, 3rd.
Ward, Dist. 6 Bedford Avenue at
Crawford Street (Parking Garage)
(Maglev)

Discussion - Committee of
Planning, Zoning and Land Use
Chair Report for March 23, 1999

Discussion of proposed swimming,
pool fees

Discussion - Committee Chair
Report - Zoning Code

Discussion regarding Stadium
Authority

Discussion - Public Works, snow
removal

Discussion the reconsideration of
Bill No. 2040 - resolution seeking
an injunction to prevent the transfer
of Pittsburgh International

Discussion magnetic Levitation
Project proposed in the Hill District

Page 13

PAGE
1019

586

1268

486

315

453

1547

1723

1559

SPEAKER

Onorato, Dan

Ricciardi, Eugene

Ricciardi, Gene

Address and Remarks
SUBJECT

Discussion on Bill 2040 - Directing
the City Solicitor to seek an
injunction to prevent the transfer of
the Pittsburgh International Airport
and the Allegheny County Airport

Discussion - Magnetic Levitation
Project, Hill District residents
concems

Giving his closing remarks as a
member of Pittsburgh City Council,
representation of District 1

Discussion on Mayor
Neighborhood Needs Monies
Distribution

Discussion regarding vandalism
graffiti

Discussion regarding the sunshine
act that applies to public comment
at council proceedings

Discussion - Bill 846 and 994
extends the city's eamed income
wage tax to non-resident
professional athlete, ballplayers

Page 14

PAGE
1007

1499

1557

2059

1628

1627

454

473

249

SPEAKER

Ricciardi, Gene

Address and Remarks
SUBJECT

Discussion on Bill 2040 - Directing
the City Solicitor to seek an
injunction to prevent the transfer of
the Pittsburgh International Airport
and the Allegheny County Airport

Discussion Tax Incremental
Financing in Arlington,
Beltzhoover, St. Clair Village and
Carrick

Discussion - Recent shootings and
violence that continue to escalate in
Hill Top communities in District 3

Discussion - Informing Council of
new developments happening in is
district. Sousthside, Allentown,
Knoxville and Beltzhoover

Discussion on the Historic
Designation of the various
Pittsburgh Public School Buildings

Discussion on the Vento
Pizza/Home Depot in East Liberty

Discussion - Tax Incremental
Financing

Discussion - regarding the
University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center for their sports complex

Page 15

PAGE
1492

1354

504

704

1933

1681

890

1011

661

SPEAKER

Ricciardi, Gene

TCI

Udin, Sal

Udin, Sala

Address and Remarks

SUBJECT

Discussion - Transfer of the cable
system from TCI of PA to AT & T

Discussion magnetic Levitation
Project proposed in the Hill District

Address council with his 2000
Budget Address

Discussion - Swimming pools
opening early due to the high
temperatures and the tragedy of a
child drowning

Discussion - Fifth and Forbes
Avenue Proposal Meeting

Discussion of Peoplesoft account
system in the Controller's Office

Discussion of proposed swimming
pool fees

Page 16

PAGE
1732

1553

2025

974

1353

650

314

1293

SPEAKER
Udin, Sala

Udin, Sala

Address and Remarks

SUBJECT PAGE

Discussion - Magnetic Levitation 1553
Project, Hill District residents
concems

Discussion on Bill 2040 - Directing 1498
the City Solicitor to seek an

injunction to prevent the transfer of

the Pittsburgh International Airport

and the Allegheny County Airport

Discussion - Building Bridges 89
Breakfast sponsored by the
Sheraton Hotel

Discussion on Bill 1823 -Contract 1263
for the lease of Part of Parcel 2, 3rd

Ward, Dist. 6 Bedford Avenue at
Crawford Street (Parking Garage)
(Maglev)

Discussion on Fifth Avenue and 1205
Forbes project
Discussion Bed and Breakfast 439

Legislation Bill No, 948

Discussion - Public Works, snow oT:
removal

Discussion - Bill 1755, City 1333
Solicitor to enter into a binding

agreement with the Pittsburgh

Building and Construction Trades

Council pursuant to the

memorandum of Understanding of

April 6, 1999 between the

Pittsburgh Building and

Construction Trades Council and

the City of Pittsburgh

Discussion on the closing of the 1962
Fort Duquesne Boulevard and
entrance to the bridge

Discussion Bill 882 Ordinanceon 888
Pittsburgh Works

Page 17

SPEAKER
Udin, Sala

Udin, Sala

BILL
NUMBER

1125

1126

Address and Remarks
SUBJECT

Discussion - Committee of Finance
Chair report for the March 23, 1999

Discussion the reconsideration of
Bill No. 2040 - resolution seeking
an injunction to prevent the transfer
of Pittsburgh International

Informing Council that the
Disparity Study Commission has
completed the process of selecting
and contracting with a firm to
conduct the study on procurement
and employment in the City, the
firm Mason Tillman Associates of
Oakland, California has been
selected

Discussion on Mayor
Neighborhood Needs Monies
Distribution

Agreement

SUBJECT

Purchase of materials, supplies and
equipment and/or services cost not
to exceed $50,000.00

Purchase of materials, supplies and
equipment and/or services cost not
to exceed $65,000.00

Page 18

PAGE
482

1544

1723

651

1627

PAGE
28

BILL
NUMBER

1135

1148

1161

1172

1189

1192

1209

Agreement

SUBJECT

Authorizing the Mayor and General
Services to enter an Agreement or
Agreements with Laurel Bank to
enable them to place an ATM
Machine in the Pittsburgh
Municipal Courts Building

Purchase of materials, supplies and
equipment in connection with the
Renovations and Maintenance of
various Public buildings and
elevators , cost not to exceed
$190,000.00

Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, PC -
professional services for the City
Controller not to exceed $80,000.00

Consultant for professional training
services at a cost not to exceed
$60.000.00

Purchase of materials, supplies and
equipment in connection with the
renovations and maintenance of
various public buildings, at a cost
not to exceed $650,000.00

Furnishing of professional services
for the benefit of the residents of
the City of Pittsburgh effective
January t, 1999 and providing for
the payment of the cost thereof, not
to exceed $275,000.00

Director of the Department of Parks
and Recreation to enter into
agreements in individual amounts
of $10,000.00 or less with
performers, instructors, artists and
person with specialized skills in
connection with the Department's
various recreational and
instructional programs

Page 19

PAGE
29, 62

87, 371

445

255

270

BILL
NUMBER

1228

1229

1234

1307

1309

1402

Agreement
SUBJECT

Consultant in connection with the
design of the Fancourt Street
Bridge, cost not to exceed
$125,000.00

Reimbursement Agreement with
Allegheny County for
improvements to City-owned
facilities in conjunction with the
Rehabilitation of the Glenwood
Bridge by the County, cost not to
exceed $240,000.00

Agencies to operate Emergency
Shelters for the homeless cost not
to exceed $756,000.00

Reconstruction of various Park
facilities; providing for the
purchase of equipment, materials
and supplies in connection with
such projects, at a cost not to
exceed $642,000.00

Furnishing professional services for
the benefit of the residents of the
City of Pittsburgh effective January
1, 1999, cost not to exceed
$200,000.00

Directing the Solicitor of the City
of Pittsburgh to enter into a legal
agreement with the Stadium
Authority of the City of Pittsburgh
for the purpose of selling various
fixtures currently located in Three
Rivers Stadium with the proceeds
to benefit various youth athletic
funds

Page 20

PAGE
191, 323

191, 323

192, 358

302, 446

302, 395

424, 533

BILL
NUMBER

1405

1451

1456

1457

1474

1491

Agreement

SUBJECT PAGE

Agreement for the hiring of counsel 425, 533
and consultants to assist in the

representation of the City of

Pittsburgh for outside legal counsel

and consultants at a cost not to

exceed $50,000.00

Various community organizations $21, 572
for operational/administrative

expenses, cost not to exceed

$102,500.00

Providing for the advertisement for 522, 608
proposals and to award and enter

into an agreement for Information

Systems Modemization to include

upgrades to the City's existing

information system infrastructure

for the Year 2000 Compliance, cost

not to exceed $875,000.00

Contract to maintain and develop 522, 609
numerous Public Safety

applications for the bureaus of

Police, Fire, and EMS in

conjunction with Y2K and the

Copsmore Program, cost not to

exceed $375,000.00

Agreement with various agencies 568, 658
and vendors to advance the

recruitment, assessment and

coordination for additional

employment and training activities,

cost not to exceed $400,000.00

Advertisement for proposals andto 604, 713
award and enter into an agreement

for Radio System Equipment, cost

not to exceed $207,500.00

Page 21

BILL
NUMBER

1540

1541

1548

1549

1550

Agreement

SUBJECT

The design, development and
implementation of a computer
based multimedia interactive
information kiosk for placement in
the lobby of the City County
Building to include the purchase of
computer equipment, supplies,
communication hardware, software,
training and maintenance at a cost
not to exceed $35,000.00

Korean War Veterans Association
for costs associate with the
construction of the Korean War
Veterans Memorial to be located in
Roberto Clemente Park, cost not to
exceed $40,500.00

Community Organizations for
operational expense or
tehabilitation of neighborhood
facilities for the benefit of residents
of the City of Pittsburgh and further
authorizing various departments,
cost not to exceed $1,182,175.00

Community Based Organizations
for community and economic
development planning assistance in
various neighborhoods in the City
and providing operating support for
these groups in an amount not to
exceed $900,000.00

Consultant(s) and Vendor(s) to
assist the City in improving its
Citizen Participation Process and
providing for the payment of the
cost thereof $215,000.00

Page 22

PAGE
690, 820

690, 835

691, 830

BILL
NUMBER

1552

1553

1554

1555

1559

1560

Agreement

SUBJECT

Consultants(s) and or contractors
for the purpose of planning and/or
implementation costs of the Saw
Mill Run transportation Study
Project and related costs in support
of this project at a cost not to
exceed $69,000.00

Urban League of Pittsburgh for the
implementation/administration of
the Housing Counseling Program
and related costs in an amount not
to exceed $100,000.00

Operational/administrative
expenses for the benefit of residents
of the City of Pittsburgh, cost not to
exceed $582,279.00

Approved by the City Solicitor with
Jewish Health Care Foundation to
provide services to persons with
HIV/AIDS and their families at a
total cost not to exceed $491,000.00

Consultant for the purpose of
planning and/or implementation
cost of the Hazelwood Second
Avenue Development Project and
related costs in support of this
Project

Contract for the purpose of
planning and/or implementation
costs of the Trail Development
Project and related in costs in
support of this project, cost not to
exceed $427,800.00

Page 23

PAGE
691, 830

692, 830

693, 829

BILL
NUMBER

1578

Agreement

SUBJECT

PAGE

a
Various community organization

1608

1614

1656

1687

1700

for operational/administrative
expenses and/or minor
rehabilitation of neighborhood
facilities for the benefit of residents
of the City of Pittsburgh, cost not to
exceed $122,500.00

Rehabilitation Replacement of the
S. 10th Street and South 15th Street
Pedestrian Bridges, cost not to
exceed $944,600.00

Byrd R. Brown Law Offices for
legal representations the Solicitor
of the Pittsburgh Commission on
Human Relations in 1999, cost not
to exceed $20,000.00

Miryam's Northside Common
Ministries and the William and
Mildred Orr Compassionate Care
Center for administrative, operating
and/or renovation costs for shelters
under the State Emergency Shelter
Grants Project, cost not to exceed
$80,000.00

Consultant for professional services
in connection with the research,
evaluation, validation, preparation,
administration, scoring and
interpretation of Civil Service
examinations, and providing for the
payment of the cost thereof, cost
not to exceed $50,000.00

Brasher Association in the amount
of $10,000.00 Dollars for
operational administrative expenses
of neighborhood facilities for the
benefit of the residents of the City
of Pittsburgh

Page 24

742, 832

810, 912

811, 908

877, 983

934, 1002

970, 1055

BILL
NUMBER

1706

1721

1747

1752

1766

1797

Agreement

SUBJECT

Agreements with various agencies
for job development and
employment services, wages and
fringe benefits for
supervisor/participant/administrative
staff necessary to implement the
1999 Neighborhood Employment
Program, Pittsburgh Partnership
Summer Youth Employment
Program

Consultant for
Architectural/Engineering Services
in connection with various City
projects, cost not to exceed
$150,000.00

Agreement and or Contracts in
connection with the Grandview
Public Space Improvements; at a
cost not to exceed $150,000.00

Agreement with Gildas A. Kaib, Jr.,
his successors and assigns for an
easement of ingress, egress and
Tegress over property owned by the
City in the 18th Ward designated as
Block and Lot 4-G-249, 35
Vineclieff Street, District 2 & 3

Pittsburgh Building and
Construction Trades Council
pursuant to the Memorandum of
Understanding of April 6, 1999
between the Pittsburgh Building
Trades Council and the City of
Pittsburgh

Three Rivers Area Labor
Management Committee for
professional services in connection
with the Tax Information Systems
Modernization Project, Department
of Finance, cost not to exceed
$100,000.00

Page 25

PAGE
971, 1050

998, 1083

1043, 1132

1044, 1081

1046, 1098

1096, 1199

BILL
NUMBER

1798

1865

1890

1917

1918

1919

1920

Agreement
SUBJECT

Unisys Corporation, Township Line
& Union Meeting Roads, Blue Bell,
for additional services in
connection with the Tax
Information Systems Modemization
Project Department of Finance, cost
not to exceed $875,000.00

Authorizing Agreements with
organizations, artists, or vendors for
materials and construction of works
of public art, and providing for
administrative/staff costs related to
Art Set Aside, cost not to exceed
$45,000.00

Purchase of materials, supplies and
equipment and/or services in
connection with the Renovations
and Maintenance of various Public
Buildings; at a cost not to exceed
$50,000.00

Consultant for professional services
for the Youth Policy Office at a
cost not to exceed $84,000.00

Progressive Insurance and/or
National Insurance Crime Bureau
for the use of a specialize auto theft
sting vehicle, cost not to exceed
$1.00

Pittsburgh Mediation Center for
professional services at a cost not to
exceed $20,000.00

Psychologist or counselor(s) for
professional psychological services
at t cost not to exceed $20,000.00

Page 26

PAGE
1096, 1199

1196

1247, 1332

1345, 1465

BILL
NUMBER

1921

1969

1970

1994

2009

2027

Agreement

SUBJECT

Consultants for purchase of
software maintenance for
computerized tripsheets for
ambulance services at a cost not to
exceed $3,520.00

Agreement with the Pittsburgh
Board of Public Education for the
purpose of providing meal in
connection with the Summer Food
Service Program in the Department
of Parks and Recreation,
$800,000.00

Agreement with the 1999
Community Enrichment Program
for the Department of Parks and
Recreation, cost not to exceed
$110,000.00

Renovation of Carnegie Library
Branches for disability accessibility
and for the purchase of equipment,
materials and supplies for said
projects, cost not to exceed
$225,000.00

Purchase of equipment or supplies,
and/or administrative costs related
to the implementation of the "Youth
Initiative Program" at a cost not to
exceed $247,500.00

Urban League of Pittsburgh for the
implementation/administration of
the Housing Counseling Program
and related costs $100.000.00

Page 27

PAGE
1345, 1465

1351, 1464

1380,
1509,1561

1383, 1506

1432, 1552

Agreement
BILL

NUMBER SUBJECT PAGE

2063 Various community organizations 1490, 1604
for operational/administrative
expenses for the residents of the
City of Pittsburgh at a cost not to
exceed $90,500.00 chargeable to
and payable from Account 593100,
Fund, 1000, Organization 500000,
Year 1999 in the Department of
Parks and Recreation" by increasing
the Korean War Veteran's
Memorial by $2,000.00

2098 Consultant for pre-employment 1542, 1636
background investigations at a cost
not to exceed $160,000.00, and
providing for the payment of the
cost thereof

2100 Hiring of consultants to assist the 1542, 1636
City of Pittsburgh with the
technical and financial aspects of
the cable communications franchise
renewal process in an amount of
$60,000.00

2102 Consultants to provide actuarial 1542, 1636
services for the City of Pittsburgh
for a period of three years, for the
years 1999 through 2001, cost not
to exceed $100,000.00

2133 Charles J. Kolling, Legislative 1589, 1811
Consultant, for consulting services
to assist the City of Pittsburgh in
acquiring state assistance and
funding.

2139 Providing for an agreement witha 1590, 1782
Consultant or Consultants for
professional services supplied to
City Council in the amount of
$100,000.00

Page 28

BILL
NUMBER

2185

2225

2226

2250

2268

2280

2304

Agreement

SUBJECT

Stenographic Reporting Services in
connection with the Public
Hearing(s) at a cost not to exceed
$4,000.00

Consultant for the provision of
professional services, cost not to
exceed $25,000.00

Agreement by and between the City
of Pittsburgh, The Pittsburgh
Foundation, a Pennsylvania Non-
Profit Corporation and the
Pittsburgh Allegheny County
Vietnam Veterans Monument Fund
Charitable Trust, in the connection
with the transfer of the Viemam
Veterans Monument and providing
for the maintenance thereof.

Design Services and Project
management Services in connection
with the Forbes Avenue/market
Street Improvements, cost not to
exceed $1,300,000.00

Investigation, design, construction
and/or remediation for critical slope
failures throughout the City, cost
not to exceed $135,000.00

Authorizing the Mayor and Chief
Magistrate to enter into an
Agreement or Agreements with a
check acceptance program

City Source Associates for all
necessary and incidental expenses
incurred in the implementation of
the "Side Yard Program" at a cost
not to exceed $50,000.00

Page 29

PAGE
1675

1770

1770, 1816

1808

1839, 1941

1843

1886, 1956

BILL
NUMBER

2306

2313

2337

2338

2352

Agreement

SUBJECT

Municipal Code Corporation for
professional services in connection
with the codification of Ordinances
enacted by the City into the
Pittsburgh Code at a cost not to
exceed $15,000.00

Authorizing the City of Pittsburgh
to enter into a Cable Television
Franchise Agreement with TCI of
PA, Inc. d/b/a AT & T Cable
Services

Consultants for professional
services in connection with the
evaluation of applicants as part of
the Civil Service Commission's
psychological assessment program
for entry level Police Officers, at a
cost not to exceed $50,000.00

Consultant or Consultants for
professional services in connection
with the evaluation of applicants as
part of the Civil Service
Commission's psychological
assessment program for entry level
Police Officers at a cost not to
exceed $50,000.00

Authorizing the City Controller to
enter into a contract or the use of
existing contracts for the purchase
of equipment in an amount not to
exceed $15,000.00

Consultants for the provision of

PAGE
1886, 1958

1917, 2047

1955

2005

1955

1988,2041,20

professional services at acost notto 54

exceed $25,000.00

Page 30

BILL
NUMBER

2356

2368

2371

BILL
NUMBER SPEAKER

1121

1131

Agreement

SUBJECT PAGE

City of Pittsburgh, The 1989, 2042
Pennsylvania Resource Council, A

Pennsylvania Non-Profit

Environmental Organization, to

develop, institute and Administer A

Public education campaign in

conjunction with The City's

Recycling Program, cost not to

exceed $88,000.00

Providing that the City of 2004, 2041
Pittsburgh enter into a professional

services agreement or agreements,

with a medical facility and/or

laboratory for the administration

and evaluation of federally

mandated and bargaining unit

specified employee and applicant

drug and alcohol testing

Agreement with Hill Community 2040
Development Corporation for

professional services for the benefit

of the residents of the City of

Pittsburgh, Council District 5

Agreement (Amending)

SUBJECT PAGE
Administrative expenses for the 2, 62
benefit of residents of the City, so

as to reprogram funds from Garfield

Playground to Garfield Heights
Community Advisory Committee
and District 7 Equipment

Purchase of equipment and/or 29
minor rehabilitation of

neighborhood facilities for the

benefit of the residents of the City

of Pittsburgh.

Page 31

BILL
NUMBER SPEAKER

1201

1227

1356

1487

1640

1641

Agreement (Amending)

SUBJECT

Various community organizations
for operation/administrative
expenses, for the benefit of
residents of the City of Pittsburgh
at a cost not to exceed $1

Agreement with the Brightwood
Athletic Association to facilitate the
receipt and disbursement of

Boys and Girls Club of Western PA
in connection with the construction
of a community recreation and park
facility in Leslie Park, 9th Ward,
City of Pittsburgh” by changing the
terms of the Lease and signatures to
the Lease

Purchase of materials supplies and
equipment and/or services in
connection with the Renovations
and Maintenance of Various Public
Buildings and Elevators; and
providing for the payment of the
costs thereof by decreasing the total
allocation by $15,200.00 dollars

Agreement with various community
organizations for
operational/administrative expense,
So as to delete a project (Korean’s
War Veterans Monument0 and
adding a project (Bloomfield
Preservation & Heritage Society

Agreement with various community
organizations, for
operational/administrative expense,
So as to reduce Improvements
(1$15,000) and add project
Bloomfield Preservation and
Heritage Council (+$15,000.00)

Page 32

PAGE
267

191, 322

339

603, 712

850, 941

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1659

1719

1746

1889

1999

Agreement (Amending)

SUBJECT

Amending Resolution 216/1999,
Agreement with various community
organizations for
operational/administrative expenses
for the benefit of city residents, by
eliminating the Brighton Heights
Athletic Association $12,000.00

Amending Resolution 24/1999,
providing for the purchase of
supplies and equipment and/or
services in connection with the
Renovations and Maintenance of
various public buildings and
providing for the payment of the
costs thereof, by increasing the
amount by $100,000.00 from
$65,000.00 to $75,000.00

Amending Resolution 233/1998
Agreement in connection with the
design and construction of the
Grandview Photography Park in
Mt. Washington, by increasing total
project allocation to $97,000.00

Professional services agreement
and/or contracts for the design
development and implementation of
a computer based multimedia
interactive information kiosk, cost
Tot to exceed $43,000.00

Purchase of equipment and/or
rehabilitation of neighborhood
facilities for the benefit of residents
of the City of Pittsburgh, cost not to
exceed $1,105,350.00, so as to
reprogram funds in City Council)

Page 33

PAGE
877, 983

998

1043, 1132

1247, 1332

1380, 1460

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

2001

2002

1521

1607

BILL

SPEAKER

NUMBER SPEAKER

1368

2071

Arkett, Jennifer

Blackman, Ada

Agreement (Amending)

SUBJECT

Purchase of equipment and/or
rehabilitation of neighborhood
facilities for the benefit of the
residents of the City of Pittsburgh,
cost not to exceed $1,155,600.00 so
as to reprogram funds in City
Council

Purchase of equipment and/or
rehabilitation of neighborhood
facilities for the benefit of residents
of the City of Pittsburgh, cost not to
exceed $1,134,945.00, so as to
reprogram funds in City Council

Agreement - Amending

SUBJECT

Purchase of furniture and
equipment in an amount not to
exceed $100,000.00 for the Parks
and Recreation Senior Interests
Program Trust Fund

Design and Construction of
improvements to various
Overlooks, including but not
limited to the West End Elliott
Overlook, by increasing the total
project allocation to $475,000.00

Appointment

SUBJECT

Member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January
31, 2001

Appointment as a member of the
Housing Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh, term to expire
September 30, 2000

Page 34

PAGE
1381, 1461

1381, 1461

PAGE
648, 765

810, 912

PAGE
> 372, 386

1511, 1590

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1334

2154

1145

2153

1328

2347

2070

1343

1412

1340

1339

Brown, Eliza Smith

Brown, R. Vernon

Calbria, Gregory

Carlisle, Tawanda

Carr, Patricia

Costa, Guy

Dickerson, Eric

Donaldson, Judith

Fitzgerald, Thomas

Gaskey, Josie

Gerage, Ann Jones

Appointment

SUBJECT

Member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January

31, 2000

Appointment as a Member of the
Mayor's Committee on Business
and Employment Opportunity term

to expire April 30, 2000

Appointment as a member of the
Standards and Appeals Board term
to expire December 31, 2003

Appointment as a Member of the
Mayor's Committee on Business
and Employment Opportunity term
to expire February 28, 2001

Member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January

31, 2000

Confirming Guy Costa as the
director of the Department of

Public Works

Appointment as a member of the
Housing Authority of the City of

Pittsburgh, term to expire
September 30, 2000

Member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January

31, 2000

Board Member of the Personnel
Appeals Board, for a term to expire

January 31, 2000

Member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January

31, 2000

Member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January

31, 2000

Page 35

PAGE
325, 386

1609, 1675

325, 385

1965

1511

326, 386

452

326, 386

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER
1692 Graziano, Ronald
1338 Hall-Antonio, Mym
1342 Hook, John
1243 Lewis, Claudette
1808 McClean, Ellen
1836 Micheli, Peter
1336 Modaro, Nita Fandr
1010 Momberger, Eric
1335 Noszka, Nancy
1331 Padole, Ellie
1325 Pressley, Vanessa

Appointment

SUBJECT

Appointment of Ronald Graziano as
Chief of the Bureau of Building
Inspection

Member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January
31, 2000

Authorizing the appointment of
Claudette Lewis as a member of the
City Planning Commission, term to
expire January 31, 2001

Authorizing the appointment of
Ellen McClean as a Director of the
Department to Finance

Authorizing the Appointment of
Peter Micheli as the Chief of the
City of Pittsburgh Fire Bureau

Member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January
31, 2000

Member of the Contracting Out
Regulation and Review Committee
for the evaluation of proposed
outsourcing of the Emergency
Medical Services billing function

Member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January
31, 2000

Page 36

PAGE
942, 972

326, 386

303

1134, 1151

1160, 1289 _

326, 386

325, 386

325, 385

i nt
‘ite Appointme

NUMBER SPEAKER SUBJECT PAGE

1333. Remcheck, Mark Member of the Shade Tree 325, 386
Commission, term to expire January
31, 2000

1326 Savage, Mary Member of the Shade Tree 325, 385
Commission, term to expire January
31, 2000

1244 Schaefer, Nancy Authorizing the appointment of 303
Nancy Schaefer as a member of the
Personnel Appeals Board, term to
-expire January 31, 2001

1329 Shaw, Eddie Member of the Shade Tree 325, 385
Commission, term to expire January
31, 2000

1327 Smyrnes-Williams, Member of the Shade Tree 325, 385
Commission, term to expire January
31, 2000

1330 Steinberg, Kenny Member of the Shade Tree 325, 385
Commission, term to expire January
31, 2000

1341 Torbet, Bill Member of the Shade Tree 326, 386
Commission, term to expire January
31, 2000

1337 Totten, Lindsay Bo Member of the Shade Tree 326, 386
Commission, term to expire January
31, 2000

1332 Vavro, Lisa Kunst Member of the Shade Tree 325, 385

Commission, term to expire January
31, 2000

1344 Vezzettei, Dale Member of the Shade Tree 326, 386
Commission, term to expire January
31, 2000

1807 Yohe, Susan Authorizing the re-appointment of — 1134. 1289
Susan Yohe as a member of the
Human Relations Commission,
term to expire April 1, 2003

Page 37

BILL
NUMBER

2170

BILL
NUMBER

1063

1454

1455

1733

2320

Bond
SUBJECT

Resolution increasing the bonded
indebtedness of the City in
compliance with the Local
Government Unit Debt Act by the
issuance of General Obligation
Bond, consisting of the Series A of
1999 Bonds

Budget
SUBJECT

Designating Banks and Lending
Institutions to act as Depositories
for the year 1999 in accordance
with the Pittsburgh Code, Title II,
Fiscal, Article III, Depositories

Making appropriations to pay the
expenses of conducting the public
business of the City of Pittsburgh
and for meeting the debt charges
thereof for the year," by making
certain correction

Fixing the number of officers and
employees of the City of Pittsburgh
and the rate of compensation
thereof and setting minimum levels
for designated positions," by
making certain corrections

Carrying over balance or portions
thereof remaining in certain
accounts for the year 1998 to the
same or to other Accounts for the
year 1999

Making appropriations to pay the
expenses of conducting the public
Business of the City of Pittsburgh
and for meeting the debt charges
there of for the Fiscal Year,
beginning January 1, 2000

Page 38

PAGE

1626,
1744,1844

PAGE
49

521, 608

1000, 1097

2005

BILL
NUMBER

2320

2321

BILL
NUMBER

1494

1512

1542

Budget
SUBJECT

Making appropriations to pay the
expenses of conducting the public
Business of the City of Pittsburgh
and for meeting the debt charges for
the fiscal year beginning January 1,

2000

Fixing the number of officers and
employees of the City of Pittsburgh

and the rate of compensation

thereof, and setting minimum levels

for designated positions

Capital Budget
SUBJECT

Adopting and approving the 1999

Capital Budget and the 1999

Communicate Development Block
Grant Program, by making certain

corrections

Adopting and approving the 1999
Capital Budget and the 1999 CDBG
Program; and approving the 1999
through 2004 Capital Improvement

Program," by creating a new line
item entitled “Traffic Signals at

Seventh Street and Penn Avenue"

1996 through 20001 Capital

Improvement Program, by reducing
five line items in Engineering and

Construction's Budget for an
aggregate amount of $40,500.00
and creating an new line item
entitle "Korean War Veterans
Memorial" in the Mayor's Office
Budget

Page 39

PAGE
1918

1919, 2005

PAGE
604, 659

647, 768

690, 835

Gitk Capital Budget

NUMBER SUBJECT PAGE

1844 Approving the 1997 through 2002 —«:1194, 1277
Capital Improvement Program, by
transferring $140,000.00 from
Smallman Street Sidewalk
Improvements to a new line item
entitled "Schenley Park Bridge over
Boundary Street"

1845 Approving the 1996 through 2001 1193, 1278
Capital Improvement Program," by
transferring $91,962.75 from Three
Rivers Stadium Ramp to Schenley
Park Bridge over Boundary Street

1989 Approving the 1999 through 2004 1379, 1509
Capital Improvement Program,” by
increasing Lower Saw Mill Run
Channel Project by $5,000.00

1990 Approving the 1997 through 2002 1380, 1509
Capital Improvement Program" by
increasing Park Reconstruction-
E&C" by $28,445.00 from
$600.00.00 to $628,445.00

1991 Approving the 1996 through 2001 1380, 1509
Capital Improvement Program," by
transferring a total of $218,344.49
from Fort Pitt Boulevard to various
line items

2052 1999 through 2004 Capital 1488
Improvement Program, by
increasing "Building Maintenance"
Line item by $13,928.00

2054 1999 through 2004 Capital 1488
Improvement Program,” by creating
a new line item entitled
“Concession Stands”

Page 40

BILL
NUMBER

2191

2322

BILL
NUMBER

1224

Capital Budget

SUBJECT

Adopting and approving the 1999
Capital Budget and the 1999 CDB
Grant Program and approving the
1999 through 2004 Capital
Improvernent Program by
increasing the Demolition of
Condemned Building, Primary
Project No. 2210011 by
$500,000.00

2000 Capital Budget and the 2000
CDBG Block Grant Program, "by
adjusting various line items in
conformance with City Council's
2000 Capital Budget amendment

Adopting the 2000 Capital Budget
and the 2000 CDBG Program and
approving the 2000 through 2005
Capital Improvement Program, by
adjusting various line items in
conformance with City Council's
2000 Capita! Budget amendments

Capital Budget (Amending)

SUBJECT

Amending the 1999 Capital Budget
and the 1999 Community
Development Block Grant through
2004 Capital Improvement

Program, by reducing the Personnel-
Engineering line item by
$108,540.00 and creating a new

line item entitled "Non-Salary E &
Cc

Page 41

PAGE
1817, 1851

2005

1919

PAGE
191, 322

it: 7
Pin: Capital Budget (Amending)
NUMBER SUBJECT PAGE

1225 Amending the 1999 Capital Budget 191, 322
and the 1999 Community
Development Block Grant through
2004 Capital Improvement
Program, by reducing the
Transportation Improvement
Program by $240,000.00 and
creating a new line item titled
"Glenwood Bridge"

1226 Amending the 1999 Capital Budget 191, 322
and the 1999 Community
Development Block Grant through
2004 Capital Improvement
Program, by reducing the
Transportation Improvement
Program by $125,000.00 and
creating a new line item titled
"Fancourt Street Bridge"

1301 Amending Resolution No. 301, 445
1018/1997 entitled "Adopting and
approving the 1997 Capital Budget
and the 1997 Community
Development Block Grant Program,
by increasing a line item (Lower
Allegheny Riverfront by
$28,000.00 from $550,000.00 to
$578.00.00

1302 Amending Resolution No. 301, 445

781/1999 entitled "Adopting and

approving the 1999 Capital Budget

and the 1999 CDBG Program and

approving the 1999 through 2004

Capital Improvement Program, by

amending the funding source of the

Route 51 Liberty Bridge line item

Page 42

BILL
NUMBER

1303

1750

1790

182

Capital Budget (Amending)

SUBJECT PAGE

Amending Resolution No. 301, 445
781/1999 entitled "Adopting and
approving the 1999 Capital Budget
and the 1999 CDBG Program and
approving the 1999 through 2004
Capital Improvement Program, by
reducing the Transportation
Improvements Program by
$250,000.00 and creating a new
line item titled “West End
Improvements"

Amending Resolution 838/1998, 1043, 1132
entitled Resolution adopting and

approving the 1998 capital budget

and the CDBG Program and

approving the 1998 - 20003 Capital

Improvement Program," by

increasing the “Parks

Reconstruction Program to

$659,499.00

Amending Resolution 781/1999, 1094, 1215
“Adopting and Approving the 1999

Capital Budget and the 1999

Community Development Block

Grant Program and approving the

1999 through 2004 Capital

Improvements Program" by

creating a new line item "Heritage

Trials"

Amending Resolution 781/1999 1150, 1277
"Adopting and approving the 1999
Capital Budget and the 1999 CDGB
Program and approving the 1999
through 2004 Capital Improvement
Program," by amending the funding
source on Fort Duquesne Boulevard
Reconstruction and reducing the
total project allocation by
$66,000.00 from $13,650,000.00 to
$13,584,000.00

Page 43

BILL
NUMBER

1864

1892

2050

2054

Capital Budget (Amending)
SUBJECT

Adopting and approving the 1999
Capital Budget and the 1999 CDBG
Program and approving the 1999
through 2004 Capital Improvement
Program" by transferring a project
from Engineering & Construction
(Art Set Aside) to Department of
City Planning (Art Set Aside) to
Department of Planning (Art Set
Aside)

Amending the 1996 CDBG
Program and approving the 1996
through 2001 Capital Improvement
Program, by transferring
$50,000.00 from Building
Maintenance Program-EC to
Building Maintenance Program-GS
{General Services)

Amending Resolution 781/1999, as
amended, entitled "Adopting and
approving the 1999 Capital Budget
and the 1999 Community
Development Block Grant Program;
and approving the 1999 through
2004 Capital Improvement
Program," by increasing "Building
Maintenance" line item by
$13,928.00

Amending Resolution 781/1999,
entitled "Adopting and approving
the 1999 Capital Budget and the
1999 Community Development
Block Grant Program and
approving the 1999 through 2004
Capital Improvement Program, by
creating a new line item entitled
"Concession Stands”

Page 44

PAGE

1196, 1317

1248, 1335

1608

BILL

NUMBER

2140

2251

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1667

1142

1406

1459

1585

Bim, Mulu

Flaherty, Tom

Capital Budget (Amending)

SUBJECT PAGE

Amending Resolution No. 781 of 1590, 1782
1998 entitled, Adopting and

providing the 1999 Capital Budget

and the 1999 Community

development Block Grant Program

and approving the 1999 through

2004 Capital Improvement

Program" by increasing "City

Clerk's Office Modemization " line

time by $50,000.00

“Adopting and Approving the 1999 1808
CDBG and approving the 1999

through 2004 Capital Improvement
Program, by reducing the

Transportation Improvement

Program by $260,000.00 and

creating a new line item titled

"Forbes Avenue/Market Street
Improvements.”

Communication

SUBJECT PAGE

Submitting the Annual Report of 879
Employees, Positions and Salaries
for Budget Year 1999

Submitting the Special Report on 30
new Homeowner Survey, 1997-1998

Submitting the City's Single Audit 425
Report for the year ended
December 31, 1997

Submitting a Performance Audit: 522
Wayfinder Signage Program II:
Expenditure Report, dated March,

1999

Submitting the Comprehensive 744
Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
for the City of Pittsburgh for 1998

Page 45

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1622

1734

2172

2360

1735

1586

1897

1767

1143

1384

Flaherty, Tom

Hanna, John

Horgan, Ralph

Inks, William H.

Lowe, Stanley

Morrow, Jacqueline

Communication

SUBJECT

Submitting a Special Report on
Stadium lease Comparisons with 15
U.S. Cities for major League
Baseball

Submitting a Special Report on
Stadium Lease Comparisons with
13 U.S. Cities for the National
Football League

Submitting a Performance Audit of
the Department of Public Works
Snow and Ice Removal for January
1999

Submitting a Special Report of the
Three Pension Plans of the City of
Pittsburgh

Submitting the annual list of
employees, salaries and position for
1999

Submitting salary budget for the
fiscal year beginning October 1,
1998 for the Public Parking
Authority

Submitting a list of names,
positions and salaries of all
employees of the Allegheny County
sanitary Authoring, as of June 30,
1999,

Submitting Housing Authority of
the City of Pittsburgh, 1999 annual
list of employees, positions and
salaries

Submitting the Claims Report for
December 1998, the Final
Quarterly Report for 1998 and the
Annual Report for 1998

Submitting a summary of all claim
filed and paid in February 1999

Page 46

PAGE

813

1627

1989

1001

744

1249

1047

385

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

Communication
SUBJECT

PAGE

1495 Morrow, Jacqueline Submitting the Summary of Claims 604

1621

1707

2103

2253

2361

2171

1977

1496

1783

Morrow, Jacqueline
Morrow, Jacqueline
Morrow, Jacqueline
Morrow, Jacqueline
Morrow, Jacqueline
Morrow, Jacqueline

Morrow, Jacqueling

Murphy, Tom

filed and paid in March, 19999 and
in the first quarter of 1999

Submitting a summary of all claims
filed and paid April of 1999

Submitting the summary of claims
report for May 1999

Submitting a summary of al] claims
filed and paid in July 1999

Submitting a summary of claim
filed and paid in October 1999

Submitting a summary of claims
filed and paid in November 1999

Submitting Claim Reports for third
quarter and for September 1999

Submitting summaries of all claims
filed and paid in July 1999,
pursuant to Section 163 of the
Pittsburgh Code

Submitting an Executive Order
agreed upon by the Building Trades
to ensure employment opportunities
for city residents including
qualified journeymen and
minorities on all City projects

Requesting permission for Ms.
Stephanie Cook, a non city
employee to travel to Houston
Texas to participate in the Weed
and Seed National Conference from
July 31-August 3, 1999, cost not to
exceed $850.00

Page 47

813

971

1543

1808

1989

1627

1352

604

1070

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

2212

2373

1239

1528

1708

1709

Murphy, Tom

Parees, Barbara

Wasler-Johnson, Li

Communication

SUBJECT PAGE

Submitting a veto of Council Bill 1720
No. 1759, entitled, “An ordinance
amending and supplementing the
Pittsburgh Code, Title Two, Fiscal
Article I, Administration, Chapter
201, City Treasurer, Section
201.11, Tax Increment Financing
Registration, by adding new
sections regarding commitment to
employ city residents at facilities
which are supplied by Tax
Increment Financing

Submitting a veto of Section"Other 2038
Authorizations" contained in the
2000 Operating Budget

Requesting approval for John 193
Turyan (non-city employee) Pgh.

Private Industry Council member to
travel to Washington D.C. from

February 28 - March 2, 1999, cost

not to exceed $1,079.00

Requesting permission for John 649
Turyan, Chair of the Private

Industry Council to attend the
Pennsylvania Partner's Annual
Conference in Hershey, PA May 5-

7, 1999 at a cost not to exceed

$920.00

Submitting the 1998 Third and 971
Fourth Quarter Travel Report from
various city departments

Submitting the 1999 First Quarter 971
Travel Reports from various City
Departments

Page 48

BILL
NUMBER

1424

1516

1517

1518

1561

Conditional Use

SUBJECT PAGE

James and William Rudolph for 481, 572, 907
authorization to demolish a

residential structure and replace it

with a parking area with a

maximum of 12 parking stalls to be

located at 5608 Wilkins Avenue.

Contract a six story multi-purpose 647, 1010
academic center on Forbes Avenue,

between South Bouquet Street and

Oakland Avenue.

Title Nine, Zoning, Article V, 647, 1011
Chapter 993 to the University of
Pittsburgh for authorization to
construct five, four-story garden-
type apartment buildings for student
housing, each with sixteen four
bedroom units to house four
students per unit for a total of 320
beds, located at 201, 221 and 291
Oakland Avenue and 200 & 230
South Bouquet Stree: and Oakland
Avenue, District 3

Title Nine, Zoning, Chapter 911, 648, 980
Ellis School for authorization to

construct a 3 story building and two

I story extensions to the existing

school building located on the

campus of Ellis School at 6425

Fifth Avenue, District 8

Conditional Use exception under 693
Section 993.01(a)A(27) of the

Pittsburgh Code, Title Nine,

Zoning, Article V, Chapter 993 to

Gildas A. Kaib, Jr. for authorization

to construct three, two-unit

townhouses to be located at 19-21,

23-25 and 27-29 Vinceliffe Street,

18th Ward

Page 49

BILL
NUMBER

1762

1763

1794

Conditional Use

SUBJECT

Conditional Use Exception under
Section 91.04.A.64 of the
Pittsburgh Code, Title Nine,
Zoning, Chapter 911 to the Board
of Public Education of the school
District of Pittsburgh for
authorization to construct a one-
story extension and a one-story
addition of a one-story modular
structure containing two classrooms
On property zoned "RT-2"
Residential Two-Unit, Low
Density, 27th Ward

Conditional Use Exception Section
911.04.A.64 of the Pittsburgh Code,
Title Nine, Chapter 911 to the
Board of Public Education of the
School I District of Pittsburgh a for
authorization it increase the student
capacity of Rooney middle School
through the addition of a one-story
modular structure containing two
classrooms on property zoned "RT-
2" Residential Two-Unit, Low
Density, 27th Ward

Conditional Use Exception under
Section 911.04.A.64 of the
Pittsburgh Code, Title Nine,
Zoning, Article V, Chapter 911 to
the Boys and Girls Club of Western
Pennsylvania for authorization to
use an existing 3-story structure as
a Charter school for grades 9
through 12 with a capacity of 325
students located at 4412 Butler
Street on property zoned "RM-3"
residential Multi-Unit, moderate
Density District, 9th Ward

Page 50

PAGE
1046, 1332

1046, 1333

1095, 1201
1333

BILL
NUMBER

1929

BILL
NUMBER

1127

1193

1194

Conditional Use

SUBJECT

Conditional Use exception under
Section 911.04.A.64 of the
Pittsburgh Code, Title Nine,
Zoning, Article V, Chapter 911 to
Winchester-Thurston School for
authorization to use an existing 2-
story residential structure as
administrative offices for
Winchester-Thurston School,
located at 5001 Bayard Street on
property zoned "RT-2" Residential
Two-Unit, Low Density District,
7th Ward

Contract

SUBJECT

Purchase of an Alpha Numeric
Message Generator and related
equipment at a cost not to exceed
$37,000.00 chargeable to and
payable from Cable
Communications Trust Fund,
General Services

Purchase of materials, supplies and
equipment and/or services cost not
to exceed $700,000.00

Repairs, maintenance,
improvements and emergencies at
various parks and park facilities in
CD areas throughout the City, cost
not to exceed $430,000.00

Repairs, maintenance,
improvements and emergencies at
various parks and park facilities
throughout the City of Pittsburgh,
cost not to exceed $200,000.00

Page 51

PAGE
1346, 1849

PAGE
668

256

256, 344

Contract

BILL
NUMBER SUBJECT PAGE
1195 Street resurfacing programs and 256, 344
parks related asphalt work at
various locations throughout the
City, cost not to exceed
$2,815,000.00
1196 Street resurfacing programs to 344

include but not limited to ultra thin
hot mix, cost not to exceed
$2,961,603.00

1196 Street resurfacing programs and 256, 376
parks related asphalt work at
various locations throughout the
City, cost not to exceed
$2,161,603.00

1198 Flexible beam Guiderails at various 256
locations throughout the City of
Pittsburgh, cost not to exceed
$63,000.00

1199 Purchase of materials and 257
equipment and supplies in
connection with the Wall, Step and
Fence Program at various areas
throughout the City, cost not to
exceed $700,000.00

1230 Contract in connection with the 191, 323
Tenovation of Carnegie Library
Branches for handicap accessibility,
cost not to exceed $225,000.00

1250 Renovations to the City County 240, 445
Building and for the purchase of
equipment and supplies for said
projects, cost not to exceed
$180,000.00

1299 Purchase of LifePak Hear 444
Monitor/Defibrillator/Pacers for the
Bureau of Emergency Medical
Services at a cost not to exceed
$156,000.00

Page 52

BILL
NUMBER

1308

1314

1354

1355

1377

1378

1423

Contract

SUBJECT

Installation and maintenance of
traffic signal equipment throughout
the City at a cost not to exceed
$80,000.00

Annual program of the Police and
Communities Together Program,
cost not to exceed $15,000 from the
Public Safety Police Miscellaneous
Services account fund 1000, org.
code 230000, sub class 150

Demolition and removal of
condemned buildings, cost not to
exceed $600,000.00

Demolition and removal of
condemned buildings, cost not to
exceed $450,000.00

Disposition Contract of Land by
and between the URA of Pittsburgh
and the International Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers, Local Union
No. 5 for the sale of Parcel E-la,
16th Ward, Area No. 55, Carson
Street, Dist. No. 3

Contract for the hiring of counsel
and consultants to assist in the
Tepresentation of the Citizen Police
Review Board, cost not to exceed
$45,000.00

Disposition Contract by and
between URA of Pittsburgh and the
Pittsburgh Economic and Industrial
Development Corporation for the
sale of Parce] E-1d, Subdistrict I,
Part of Block 29J, Lot 8, District
No. 3.

Page 53

PAGE
302, 446

303

339, 444

384, 491, 500

384, 491

481, 572

Contract
BILL

NUMBER SUBJECT PAGE

1471 Purchase of Alpha Numeric 568, 668
Message Generator and related
equipment at a cost not to exceed
$37,000.00

1492 Purchase of equipment, material 604, 714
and supplies in connection with
there Rehabilitation and Repairs of
Various Pools including but not
limited to McBride Pool, cost not to
exceed $265,000.00

1493 Bridge Inspection and Maintenance 604
Program, cost not to exceed
$85,000.00

1513 Purchase and installation of new 647, 769
traffic and streetlight poles and
fixtures at Seventh Street and Penn
Avenue, cost not to exceed
$40,000.00

1551 Consultant(s) and Vendor(s) for the 691, 830
purpose of conducting planning and
management studies, and related
activities in support of such studies
including the purchase of data and
data analysis equipment, at a cost
not to exceed $225,000.00

1577 Purchase of a document imaging 742, 855
system for the City-County
Integrated Identification Program,
Public Safety, cost not to exceed
$85,000.00

1582 Grant Street Advisor, Inc. to 743
provide financial advisory services 8519781049
for the years 1999, 2000 and 2001
at an annual cost not to exceed
$250,000

Page 54

BILL
NUMBER

1635

1638

1661

1662

1663

1682

1683

1723

Contract

SUBJECT

Purchase of supplies, equipment
and services for the Bureau of
Police at a cost not to exceed
$200,000.00

Renovation and rehabilitation of
war memorials at various locations
throughout the City, cost not to
exceed $69,000.00

Professional Services Contract with
Fried, Kane, Zuschlag, Walters &
Grochmal for the purpose of
providing legal counsel for defense
of worker's compensation and hear
and lung claims

Professional services contract with
Ford & Council for the purpose of
workers' compensation and heart
and lung claims, cost not to exceed
$80,000.00

Professional services contract with
Allegheny General Hospital for the
purpose of providing medial and
ancillary services for the City's
Workers' Compensation program
cost not tot exceed $3,360,000.00

Purchase of fire hose and related
accessories for the Fire Hose and
telated accessories for the Fire
Bureau

Purchase of supplies, equipment
and services for the Emergency
Operations Center at a total cost not
to exceed $500,000.00

Purchase of material, equipment
and supplies in connection with the
Graffiti Removal Program cost not
to exceed $45,000.00

Page 55

PAGE
848, 941

849, 884

878, 1001

878, 979

933, 984

933, 1131

999, 1080

BILL
NUMBER

1724

1725

1744

1745

1778

1781

1782

Contract

SUBJECT PAGE
Purchase of equipment for the 999, 1080
Department of Public Works, cost

not to exceed $50,000.00

Purchase of Weight Mate 2000 999, 1080

Truckload Out and Management
System, in connection with the
Street Resurfacing Program, cost

not to exceed $21

0,000.00

Maintenance and repair of building 1043, 1212
structures or any other properties in

the custody of the various

Departments of the City of

Pittsburgh, cost not to exceed

$10,000.00.

Purchase of material general 1043, 1212
supplies and equipment by various

Departments of the City of

Pittsburgh during the calendar year

2000, cost not to exceed $10,000.00

Installation of water service at the 1069, 1162
Police Memorial located on the
North Shore; at a cost not to exceed

$31,500.00

Professional Services Contract with 1070

R. W. Beck, Inc.

for the purpose of

providing general competitiveness
consulting services for solid waste
collection and potentially other City
services, cost not to exceed

$200,000.00

Professional Services Contract with 1070, 1160
McCrory & McDowell LLC,

Certified Public

Accountants for

the purpose of auditing the claim
management functions of the City's
Workers' Compensation Third Party
administrator, cost not to exceed

$25,000.00

Page 56

BILL
NUMBER

1819

1820

1846

1847

1868

Contract

SUBJECT

Purchase of road spikes for the
Bureau of Police at a cost not to
exceed $100,000.00

In connection with relocation of

Fort Duquesne Boulevard including

construction management and

inspection services; providing for a

reimbursement agreement with the
Commonwealth of Pa, Department
of Transportation, and a
Cooperation Agreement with the
Public Auditorium Authority, cost
not to exceed $13,584.00.00

Rehabilitation of the Schenley Park

Bridge over Boundary Street,

including necessary work on private

property and other work incidental
thereto;, by increasing the total
project allocation by $231,962.75
from $5,500,000.00 to
$5,731,962.75

Smallman Street Sidewalk
Improvements including
Construction Inspection Services;
and providing for the payment of
the cost thereof,’ By reducing the
total project allocation by
$140,000.00 from $850,000.00 to
$710,000.00

Providing for a contract or use of
existing contract for the
construction of the Brighton
Heights and Troy Hill Concession
Stands at a cost not to exceed
$75,000.00

Page 57

PAGE
1149, 1276

1150, 1277

1193, 1278

1194, 1278

1197, 1335

BILL
NUMBER

1971

1972

1985

1996

1997

1998

2012

Contract

SUBJECT

Contract for the payment of
supplies, equipment materials and
other services required to provide
center services for the HACP
recreational and Senior Citizens
Program, cost not to exceed

$845,000.00

PAGE
1351, 1464

Contract with the Baseball is Great 1352, 1464

(BIG) League Youth Sports
Program in an amount to exceed

$100,000.00
Upgrade the 800 MHz radio system 1379

for the Emergency Operations
Center, cost not to exceed

$95,000.00

Installation of the Computerized

1380, 1509

Traffic-Responsive Traffic Control

System in the Central Business
District, cost not to exceed

$358,933.04

Street Tree Planting at various
locations, cost not to exceed

$77,700.00

Construction of the Municipal
Courts Facility at 2 cost not to

exceed $129,654.98

Authorizing the City of Pittsburgh

1380, 1509

1380, 1492

1383, 1492

to enter into a professional services

contract with the PA Economy
League, Inc. for the purpose of
preparing the 2000-2003 revenue
forecast and providing required

follow-up for the City of Pittsburgh,

cost not to exceed $20,000.00

Page 58

BILL
NUMBER

2051

2052

2053

2085

2091

2184

Contract

SUBJECT

Resolution providing for a contract
or contracts or use of existing
contracts for the installation of
banners at Mellon Square, at a cost
not to exceed $13,928.00

Providing for a Contract or
Contracts or use of existing
Contracts for the installation of
banners at Mellon Square at a cost
not to exceed $13,928.00

Providing for a Contract or
Contracts, or use of existing
contracts for the installation of
banners at Mellon Square; at a cost
not to exceed $13,928.00

Providing for the purchase of

materials and supplies for said
project at a cost not to exceed

$39,000.00

Purchase of equipment, material,
supplies and services for
tehabilitation and removal of under
ground and above ground storage
tanks, cost not to exceed $60,000.00

Resolution providing for a contract
to bid, for the purchase of a 4x4
Recycling Pickup and Two 9 Cubic
‘Yard Recycling Trailers, in
connection with the Recycling
Program at the Public Works
Environmental Services, Bureau,
cost not to exceed $45,000.00

Providing for a Contract or
Contract, or the use of existing
Contracts for Pest Control
Services/Rodent Baiting at various
CDBG locations throughout the
City of Pittsburgh at a cost not to
exceed $224,200.00

Page 59

PAGE
1488, 1608

1608

1488

1539, 1655

1541, 1653

1675, 1783

BILL
NUMBER

2186

2232

2269

2270

2295

2296

2338

2353

2354

Contract

SUBJECT

Contract with Public Management
Resources of San Antonio, as the
Auditor, to comply with the consent
Decree entered

Providing for a contract or the use
of existing contracts for Play Area
Safety Improvements for the
Department of Public Works, cost
not to exceed $250,000.00

Replacement of the Allegheny Park
Pedestrian Footbridge at cost not to
exceed $210,000.00

Purchase of Pickup Trucks, Plows
and Spreaders for the Department
of Public Works, cost not to exceed
$200,000.00

Purchase of equipment for the
Bureau of Police at a cost not to
exceed $29,000.00

Rehabilitation of Dakota Street
Wall, cost not to exceed
$500,000.00

Contract for the purchase of
equipment in an amount not to
exceed $15,000.00

Purchase of uniforms, protective
equipment and related accessories
for the Bureau of Police at a cost
not to exceed $221,200.00

Purchase of equipment for the
Bureau of Emergency Medical
Services, total cost not to exceed
$115,000.00

Page 60

PAGE
1675, 1844

1772, 1814

1839, 1941

1839, 1929

1884, 1960

1885, 1961

2005

1988, 2054

BILL
NUMBER

1374

1636

1637

1720

1722

1748

1749

Contract (Amending)
SUBJECT

Providing Contracts in connection
with the Grant Street Maintenance

Amending Resolution 140/1999
Resolution providing for a contract
for street resurfacing programs , by
decreasing project allocation to
$4,815,000.00

Amending Resolution 141/1999
Resolution providing for Street
resurfacing programs to include but

Purchase and installation of new
traffic and streetlight poles and
fixtures at 7th Street and Penn
Avenue, cost not to exceed
$65,000.00

Purchase of material, equipment
and supplies in connection with the
‘Wall, Step and Fence Program at
various areas throughout the City,
cost not to exceed $450,000.00

Contract and or Agreements in
connection with the Bridge
Inspection and Maintenance
Program by increasing total project
allocation to $140,000.00

Restoration of Seven Tennis Courts
at Schenley Oval, the Renovation of
Playground in Frick Park, the
Renovation of a Recreation Area at
Hawthome Grove, Restoration of
Victoria Gardens and for the
purchase of equipment and
taterials for project, by increasing
the total project allocation to
$659,499.00 and by correcting the
Sub-Class within the account

Page 61

PAGE
502

848, 883

848, 884

998, 1083

999, 1079

1043, 1132

BILL
NUMBER

1817

1894

1995

2096

2123

2124

Contract (Amending)
SUBJECT

Purchase of supplies, equipment
and services for the Emergency
Operations Center and providing
for the payment thereof by
decreasing the amount from
$500,000.00 to $320,000.00

Renovation and rehabilitation of
war memorials at various locations
throughout the City of Pittsburgh,
by decreasing the amount from
$69,000.00 to $61,500.00

Renovations to the City-County
Building and for the purchase of
equipment and supplies for said
projects, cost not to exceed
$277,952.00

Amending Resolution 337/1996,
contract for various repairs,
equipment, or materials for the
Department of Parks & Recreation,
in connection with the renovation
of City swimming pools for a total
amount of $198,000.00

Contract for street resurfacing
programs to include but no limited
to ultra thin hot mix asphalt, by
making certain corrections to
amount appropriated pursuant to
Resolution No. 178, effective April
1, 1999

Contract for street resurfacing
programs to include but not limited
to ultra thin hot mix asphalt, etc., by
making certain corrections to
Resolution No. 178, effective April
1, 1999

Page 62

PAGE
1149, 1214

1248, 1313

1380, 1509

1542, 1656

1587, 1653

BILL
NUMBER

2053

BILL
NUMBER

846

1084

W115

1128

Contracts

SUBJECT

Providing for a Contract for the
construction of a concession stand
at Fort Pitt field; providing for the
purchase of materials and supplies
for said project, at a cost not to
exceed $39,000.00

Cooperation Agreement
SUBJECT

Cooperation Agreement with the
Public Auditorium Authority of
Pittsburgh for the establishment of
a trust fund and the deposit therein
of earned income tax paid by
nonresident professional athletes
and other nonresidents who use
government owned sports facilities

Cooperation Agreement with the
URA of Pittsburgh, the County of
Allegheny and the Pittsburgh City
School District providing for the
financing, monitoring,
implementing and terminating of
the South Side Works Tax
Incremental Financing District

East Liberty - Home Depot, USA
Tax Incremental Financing District,
District No. 9

Providing for the transfer of funds
not to exceed $483,680.00 to the
City of Pittsburgh Equipment
Leasing Authority for the purchase
of vehicles, radios and equipment
for use by City of Pittsburgh
Departments and Authorities

Page 63

PAGE
1608

PAGE
241

267

362

BILL
NUMBER

1129

1133

1134

1157

1158

Cooperation Agreement

SUBJECT

Providing for the transfer of funds
not to exceed $3,765,000.00 to the
City of Pittsburgh Equipment
Leasing Authority for the purchase
of vehicles, radios and equipment
for use by City of Pittsburgh
Departments and Authorities

Housing Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh for the administration
and implementation of the Central
Relocation Agency at a cost not to
exceed $148,800.00

Housing Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh for the administration
and implementation of the Center
Relocation Agency at a cost not to
exceed $350,000.00

Cooperation Agreement with the
URA of Pittsburgh providing for
the transfer of funds from the
Authority to the City to fund
community development
corporations

1998-1999 Cooperation Agreement
with the URA providing for the
designation of the local matching
share for a grant applied for ina
Single Application for Assistance
filed with the PA Department of
Community and Economic
Development under the
Communities of Opportunity
Program for a $3,215,000.00 grant

Page 64

PAGE
28

BILL
NUMBER

1184

1210

1305

1306

Cooperation Agreement
SUBJECT

Authorizing the conveyance of
lands and buildings, more
commonly known as the River
Rescue Facility and a tract of land
located adjacent to said facility by
and between the City of Pittsburgh
and the Stadium Authority of the
City of Pittsburgh as at a cost of
$1.00 for use of the River Rescue
Unit for a term of 29 years

Cooperation and Support
Agreement among the Public
Auditorium Authority of Pittsburgh
and Allegheny County, the City of
Pittsburgh, the County of
Allegheny, the Stadium Authority
of the City of Pittsburgh and the
Allegheny Regional Asset District
Relating to allocation of certain
Allegheny Regional Asset District
Revenues to the Stadium and
Auditorium Authorities,

Cooperation Agreement between
the County of Allegheny, the Port
Authority of Allegheny County and
the City of Pittsburgh in connection
with the West End Improvements,
at a cost not to exceed $250,000.00

Cooperation Agreement with the
Commonwealth of PA, Department
of Transportation for
reimbursement to the state for the
City's share of improvements to the
Liberty Tunnel South Portal
Interchange, at a cost not to exceed
$235,000.00

Page 65

PAGE
269

246

301, 446

302, 446

BILL
NUMBER

1399

1422

1580

1581

1609

1755

1757

1758

Cooperation Agreement
SUBJECT

Cooperation Agreement with the
URA of Pittsburgh providing for
the transfer to URA of $4,500,000
for Neighborhood Infrastructure
Support

Cooperation Agreement with URA
of Pittsburgh providing for the
transfer to URA of $670,000.00 for
the Allequippa Terrace Project,
District 6

URA of Pittsburgh for the
performance of certain work in
connection with the 1999-2000
CDBG Program and providing for
the payment of the cost thereof

URA of Pittsburgh for the transfer
to URA of $450,000.00 for North
Shore Riverfront Development,
District 6

Cooperation Agreement with
Parking Authority in connection
with the Rehabilitation/replacement
of the S. 10th Street and S. 15th
Street, $944,600.00

Cooperation Agreement with the
URA of Pittsburgh to implement
the Bedford Redevelopment
Proposal, District 6

Cooperation Agreement or
Agreements with URA of
Pittsburgh to implement the river
Avenue Redevelopment Proposal
Council District 1

Cooperation Agreement with URA
for the River Avenue
Redevelopment Area (Council
District No. 1)

Page 66

PAGE
424, 544

481, 572

743, 854

743, 1016

810, 912

1044

NUMBER

BILL

1760

1825

1927

1993

2007

Cooperation Agreement
SUBJECT

Cooperation Agreement with the
URA of Pittsburgh will transfer
$3,531.27 to the City of Pittsburgh
to be used by the Department of
City Planning to fund community
development corporations

Authorizing a 1999-2000
Cooperation Agreement or
Agreements with the URA of
Pittsburgh providing for the
designation of the local matching
share for a grant applied for ina
Single Application for Assistance
filed with the PA Department of
Community and Economic
Development under the
Communities of Opportunity
Program

Cooperation Agreement with the
Housing Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh for the administration
and implementation of the Urban
League Counseling Program at cost
not to exceed $92,000.00

Cooperation Agreement with the
Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection relative
to the installation of 60 linear feet
of grouted R-5 along a tributary to
Saw Mill Run

Cooperation Agreement with the
URA of Pittsburgh, The County of
Allegheny and the School District
of Pittsburgh, providing for the
financing, monitoring, implement
and terminating of Station Square
Tax Incremental Financing District,
District 2

Page 87

PAGE
1045, 1130

1150

1346, 1460

1380, 1509

1382, 1817

BILL
NUMBER

2029

2089

2093

2120

2163

Cooperation Agreement
SUBJECT

Cooperation Agreement with the
URA of Pittsburgh providing for
the designation of the local
matching share for a grant applied
for in a Single Application for
Assistance filed with the PA
Department of Community and
Economic Development under the
Main Street Commercial
Reinvestment Program

Authorizing the City of Pittsburgh
to enter into an Cooperation
Agreement with the Public
Auditorium Authority of Pitsburgh
for the establishment of a trust fund
the deposit therein of certain earned
income tax paid by non-residential
professional athletes

Cooperation Agreement with the
URA of Pittsburgh, the County of
Allegheny and the School District
of Pittsburgh, providing for the
financing, monitoring,
implementing and terminating of
the North Shore East/River Avenue
Tax Incremental Financing District

Cooperation Agreement which
provides for the use of funds not to
exceed $60,000.00 from the City of
Pittsburgh Equipment Leasing
Authority for the purchase of
vehicles, radios, and equipment for
the use by City of Pittsburgh
Departments and Authorities

Cooperation Agreement with the
URA of Pittsburgh providing for
the transfer of $16,993.32 from the
Authority to the Bureau of Building
Inspection for the demolition of
Ladora Way

Page 68

PAGE
1432, 1553

1540, 1844

1541, 1939

1586

1625

BILL
NUMBER

2272

2273

BILL
NUMBER

1304

1486

Cooperation Agreement

SUBJECT PAGE

Maglev Infrastructure Support 1839, 2043
Cooperation Agreement by and

between the URA of Pittsburgh in

connection with the transfer of a

portion of the City’s Parking Tax

Revenue to the Authority

Urban Redevelopment Authority of 1839, 1939
Pittsburgh providing for the transfer

of $250,000.00 from the Authority

to the City to pay part of the cost of

a retain wall on Dakota Street

Cooperation Agreement (Amending)

SUBJECT PAGE

Cooperation Agreement with 301, 445
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in

connection with the Construction of

the Lower Allegheny Riverfront

Park, by increasing the total project

allocation by $28,000.00 from

$550,000.00 to $578,000.00

Cooperation Agreement which 602, 712
provides for the transfer of funds

not toe exceed $483,680 to the City

of Pittsburgh Equipment Leasing

Authority for the purchase of

vehicles, radios and equipment for

use by City of Pittsburgh

Departments and Authorities, by

increasing the total allocation by

$225,000.00

Page 69

Cooperation Agreement (Amending)

BILL
NUMBER SUBJECT PAGE
1861 Amending Resolution 378/1997, 1195, 1317

providing for the execution of
Cooperation Agreement with the
URA of Pittsburgh for the
performance of certain work in
connection with the 1997-1998
CDBG Program and providing for
the payment of the cost thereof by
reducing three line items and
creating a new line item

1862 Amending Resolution 632/1996, 1196, 1317
providing for the execution of a
Cooperation Agreement with the
URA of Pittsburgh for the
performance of certain work in
connection with the 1996-1997
CDBG Program and providing for
the payment of the cost thereof, by
reducing one line item and creating
anew line item

1992 Cooperation Agreement with the 1380, 1509
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to
acquire right-of-way design and
construct the Lower Saw Mill Run
Flood Protection Improvements and
to commit the City's share of $3.525

Million
BILL Disposition Contract
NUMBER SUBJECT PAGE
1233 Disposition of Land by and 268
between the URA and Allegheny

Center Associates, for the sale of
Parcel 3 (Block 8G, Lots 206 and
207, 20th Ward, 334 Federal Street
(Parking Lot)

Page 70

BILL
NUMBER

1233

1863

2274

2301

2315

Disposition Contract

SUBJECT

Sale of land by and between the
URA and Chartiers Nature
Conservancy, Inc. for the sale of
parcels 11 and 14 for $1.00,
Summerdale Street, Council
District No. 2

Contract for disposition of land by
and between the URA and
Brookwood, Inc., and its assigns for
the sale of the eastern portion of
vacated 25th Street in the 16th
Ward of the City of Pittsburgh
Council District No. 3. (Parking)

Disposition of land by and between
the URA of Pittsburgh and Stephen
Gombas, 15th Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh Redevelopment Area
No. 40, Block 56F, Lots 118, 120,
121 & 122, Council District 5

Contract of Disposition by Sale of
Land by and between the URA of
Pittsburgh and Calvin L. & Pamella
Sheffield for the Sale of Block 14-
E, Lot 65, 18th Ward, 304
Beltzhoover Avenue

Contract for Disposition of URA
and the Public Auditorium
Authority of Pgh and Allegheny
County Sports and Exhibition
Authority of Pittsburgh and
Allegheny County for the sale of
various parcels in council district 1

Page 71

PAGE
192

1196, 1317

1840, 1939

1885, 1960

1918, 1991

BILL
NUMBER

1751

BILL
NUMBER

1445

1446

1447

1544

1545

Easement

SUBJECT

Agreement with Glidas A. Kaib, Jr,
for an easment for ingress, egress
and regress in and over a vacated
portion of Vinecliff Street in the
18th Ward, Council .

Encroachment

SUBJECT

Granting unto The University of
Pittsburgh a license to construct,
maintain and use at their own cost
and expense a steam line on Lytton
Avenue, electric,
telecommunication and chilled
water lines on Tennyson Avenue
and chilled water line on Fifth
Avenue

Granting unto Cupka's Café Ila
sidewalk café on a portion of the
sidewalk at 2314 East Carson
Street, 16th Ward, 3rd Council
District

Granting unto David and Patricia
wolf an encroachment to construct
a wall and fence on a portion of the
right-of-way of Murray Avenue,
14th Ward, Sth Council District

Granting unto Friendship
Development Associates and
encroachment to construct, a
handicap ramp on a portion of the
sidewalk area of 5530 Penn Avenue
in the 9th Ward, 9th Council District

Granting unto Shah Chinulal
Mafatlal an encroachment to
construct a handicap ramp ona
portion of the sidewalk area of 5165
Butler Street, 10th Ward, 7th
Council District

Page 72

PAGE
1044, 1081

PAGE
520, 610

520, 610

690, 828

691, 828, 853

BILL
NUMBER

1546

1547

1610

1664

1727

1728

Encroachment

SUBJECT

Granting unto Home Depot,
Regional Headquarters, and
encroachment to construct an 18"
storm sewer encroachment under
the sidewalk of east Liberty
Boulevard, 11th Ward, 9th Council
District

Granting unto Valenta Platt Design
Group, Inc. an encroachment to
construct a double-faced projecting
sign over the sidewalk area of 2006
East Carson Street 17th Ward, 3rd
Council District

Granting unto Allegheny County an
encroachment to construct, an.
Exhibit/Information Panel on a
portion of the sidewalk area of
Forbes Avenue adjacent to the City-
County Building

Granting the Pittsburgh Water &
Sewer Authority's permanent utility
easement and privilege and license
to install a 15-inch sewer line
across City of Pittsburgh property
designated as Block 6-A, Lot No.
97 located on South Main Street,
20th Ward

Granting unto Alain Pizzutti, the
privilege and license to construct a
sidewalk café' and planter on the
sidewalk area of 709 Bellefonte
Street, 7th Ward, 8th District

Granting unto Ironworkers Local
No. 3, 2201 Liberty Avenue an
encroachment to construct a
historical marker on a portion of the
sidewalk area of Grant Street, Ist
Ward, 6th Council District

Page 73

PAGE
691, 828

691, 828

810, 912, 939

878, 1001

999,
1080,1161

999, 1080

Encroachment
BILL

NUMBER SUBJECT PAGE

1729 Granting unto Allegheny University 999, 1081
Hospital an encroachment to
construct a pneumatic taube
conveyance system, fiber optic
cable and electrical conduit and
manholes for access on a portion of
the right-of-way of Hemlock Street,
22nd Ward

1753 Granting unto Michael J. Septak, 1044, 1129

his successors and assigns an

encroachment to construct, a

planter on the sidewalk area of

1201 Woodland Avenue and a

stoop and handicap ramp on the

sidewalk area of Stayton Street,

27th Ward, lst Council District

1848 Granting unto Urban 1194, 1312
Redevelopment Authority an
encroachment to construction a
projecting window and
identification sign over a portion of
the sidewalk at 2525 Liberty
Avenue, 2nd Ward, 6th Council
District
1849 Granting unto Michael F. Healey, 1194, 1312
an encroachment to construct and
use at his own cost and expense,
two bay windows and a roof canopy
over a portion of the right-of-way of
1824 Carey Way, 17th Ward, 3rd
Council District

1850 Granting unto Port Authority of 1194, 1312 *
Allegheny County an encroachment
to construct a roof canopy over a
portion of the right-of-way of
Liberty Avenue between

Page 74

BILL
NUMBER

1851

1852

2023

2024

2055

2056

Encroachment

SUBJECT PAGE

Granting unto Seddon and Frances —-1194, 1312
Bennington, their successors and

assigns, an encroachment to

construct and maintain and use at

their won cost and expense, 2

Banner Signs and 3

Canopy/Awnings on Liberty

Avenue, 2nd Ward, 6th Council

District

Granting unto Beynon Building 1194,
Company 1900 Allegheny Building 1313,1602
429 Forbes Avenue, an

encroachment to construct,

maintain and use at their own cost

and expense, a handicap ramp with

a guard rail and hand rail on Wood

Street, 1st Ward, 6th Council

District

The University of Pittsburgh, their 1432, 1551
successors to construct a chilled

water lines on a portion of the right-

of-way of Ruskin Avenue, 8th

Council District

The Biz Foundation, to constructa 1432, 1551
electrical vaults and mounted

lighting fixtures for 121 Ninth

Street, between Fort Duquesne

Boulevard, 6th Council District

Granting unto Donatelli's Italian 1489, 1602
Foods, Inc., 4711 Liberty Avenue,

the license to construct a sidewalk

café on a portion of the sidewalk at

4711 Liberty Avenue, 8th Ward,

7th Council District

Granting unto D'Elia 1489, 1602
Wittkos/Double Eagle Corporation,
1 Market Street, Pgh, PA 15222

Page 75

BILL
NUMBER

2057

2125

2126

Encroachment

SUBJECT

Granting unto Pittsburgh Cultural
Trust to construct at their own cost
and expense, trees with metal grates
on a portion of the sidewalk area of
635 Penn Avenue, 2nd ward, 6th
Council District

Granting unto the University of
Pittsburgh 124 Cathedral of
learning an encroachment to
construct underground steam,
chilled water, sanitary, water/fire
protection lines and electrical
utilities on portions of the right-of
ways on Terrace Street, DeSoto
Street, O'Hara Street, N. Bouquet
Street and Sutherland Drive in the
4th Ward, 8th Council District of
the City of Pittsburgh

Granting unto The University of
Pittsburgh 124 Cathedral of
Learning, an encroachment to
construct, maintain and use at their
own cost and expense, underground
steam, chilled water, sanitary,
water/fire protection lines and
electrical

Granting unto 312 Boulevard
Associates and encroachment to
construct, maintain and use at their
own cost and expense, planters on a
portion of the sidewalk area at 312
and 322 Boulevard of the Allies in
the 1st Ward, 6th Council District

Page 76

PAGE
1489, 1603

1588

1679

1588, 1747

BILL
NUMBER

2160

2161

2196

2197

Encroachment

SUBJECT

Granting unto Equity capito!
Holdings, Allegheny Tower
Limited Partnership an
encroachment to construct, at their

own cost and expense (2) signs with

lettering on both sides projecting
over the sidewalk area of 625
Stanwix Street and over the
entrance of Fort Duquesne
Boulevard, 2nd Ward, 6th Council
District

Granting unto Russell and Irene

Lanza an encroachment to construct

at their own cost and expense a
parking area and driveway for

expansion of a warehouse at Lampe

Avenue, between the terminals of
Greentree Road and the dead end
portion of Lampe Avenue, 20th
Ward, 2nd Council District

Granting unto John Steiner, an
encroachment to construct a patio
and garden area in the rear of 171
S. 22nd Street on Edwards Way
between 22nd and 23rd Streets,
17th Ward, 3rd Council District

Granting unto First Lutheran
Church, 615 Grant Street an
encroachment to construct a guard
rail on a portion of the right-of-way
of Garland Way, 2nd Ward, 6th
Council District

Page 77

PAGE

1625

1625, 1747

1717, 1815

BILL
NUMBER

2198

2300

2319

BILL
NUMBER

2166

Encroachment

SUBJECT PAGE

Granting unto Walnut Capital 1718, 1815
Partners, Shadyside, L.P., an

encroachment to construct,

maintain and use at their own cost

and expense, trees, lights, canopies

and banners on a portion of the

right-of-ways of 5541 Walnut

Street and Ivy Street, 7th Ward, 8th

Council District

East Allegheny Community 1885, 1958
Council to construct and use at their

own expense, geothermal heating

and cooling distribution lines on

portions of the right-of-way of

Moravian Way, Cedar Avenue,

James, Foren and Suismon Street

and East Allegheny Community

Council, 23rd Ward, Ist Council

District

Society of Western PA a license 1918, 1990
agreement to install, maintain and

finally remove at their own cost a

historical marker on City of

Pittsburgh property designated as

Block 23R, Lot 157, Allegheny

Center

Encroachment (Amending)

SUBJECT PAGE

Granting an Encroachment unto 1625
Patricia Rethage an encroachment

to construct, maintain and use at her

own cost and expense, a driveway

and guard rail on a portion

Page 78

BILL
NUMBER

2227

BILL
NUMBER

1726

BILL
NUMBER

1236

BILL
NUMBER

1313

Encroachment (Amending)

SUBJECT PAGE

Amending Resolution 60/1997, 1770, 1850
granting unto Patricia Rethage, 131

Hackstown Street an encroachment

to construct and use at their own

cost and expense a driveway and

guard rail on 2 portion of the right-

of-way on hackstown Street, 17th

Ward, 3rd Council District,

Amending Resolution 60/1997

Encroachment (Repealing)

SUBJECT PAGE

Granting unto the Buncher 999, 1080
Company an encroachment to
construct, and use at their own cost
and expense an aerial encroachment
and sub-surface encroachment at
13th Street between Penn Avenue
and Smallman Street, extending
14th Street, 2nd Ward and granting
unto the Buncher Company an
easement in accordance with the
attached Easement Agreement

Fees

SUBJECT PAGE

Establishing fees for the 193, 309, 363
Department's Swimming Pools
Program, effective January 1, 1999

Grant

SUBJECT PAGE

Submitting an application to the 303, 404
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Department of Community and

Economic Development for the

Emergency Shelter Grant Program

for fiscal year 1999

Page 79

Grant
BILL

NUMBER SUBJECT PAGE

1357 Adopting & Approving the 1999 339, 396, 430
Capital Budget and the 1999 CDBG
Program; and approving the 1999
through 2004 Capital Improvement
Program, by transferring
$4,000,000.00 from various
accounts to Citywide Resurfacing
Code Account

1394 Adopting and approving the 1999 423, 543
z Capital Budget and the 1999
Community Development Block
Grant Program, approving the 1999
through 20004 Capital
Improvement Program" by adding
$76,332.00 to various line items

1556 Filing of Community Development 692, 830
state by the City of Pittsburgh with
the U>S> Department of Housing
in connection with the 19997
CDBG Program

1642 Amending Resolution 453/1998, 850
1998 Community Development
Block Grant, so as to reprogram
funds in the Mayor's Office at a
total cost of $21,181.00

1705 Filing of application in connection 971, 1049
with the Job Training Partnership
Act and/or Workforce Investment
Act of 1997 and/or the Join Jobs
Initiative Program Single Point of
Contact (SPOC) and/or the
Balanced Budget Act of 1997

Page 80

BILL
NUMBER

1777

1867

2097

2129

Grant
SUBJECT

Pennsylvania Department of
Conservation and Natural
Resources in connection with the
addition/improvements to McBride
Pool, Phillips Park Spray Pool,
Homewood Senior Center and the
Sheraden Playground, the grant of
$250,000.00 will cover 50% of the
estimated construction of
$500,000.00

Grant in connection with the 1998
CDBG Grant Program, so as to
teprogram funds in Public Works
and Engineering & Construction

Approving the 1996 Capital Block
Grant Program; and approving the
1996 through 2001 Capital
Improvement Program, by reducing
the Major Repairs & Emergencies
line item in the Department of
Parks and Recreation by $60,000.00
and increasing the Fuel Island
Rehabilitation line item, in the
Department of General Services by
$60,000.00

Providing for the filing of a
Community Development
Statement by the City of Pittsburgh
with the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development
for a grant in connection with 1994
CDBG Program, transferring funds
form a project in the Department of
Parks & Recreation (School
Outreach Program and create a line
item in the Equipment Leasing
Authority (Capital Equipment
Acquisition)

Page 81

PAGE
1069, 1162

1196

1542

1588, 1939

BILL
NUMBER

2201

2233

2234

BILL
NUMBER

1122

1202

Grant

SUBJECT PAGE

Authorizing the City of Pittsburgh 1718, 1849
to submit three grant applications to
and execute relevant agreements
with the Pennsylvania Department
of Conservation and Natural
Resources Keystone Recreation,
Park and Conservation Fund
Program and URA to submit a grant
application to the PA Department
of Conservation and Natura]
Resources Keystone Recreation
Park and Conservation Fund
Program

Adopting and approving the 1995 1772, 1814
Capital Budget and the 1995

Community Development Block

Grant Program and approving the

1995 through 2000 Capital

Improvement Program," by

decreasing Play Area Safety

Improvements, Primary Project

Number 224921] by $250,000.00

Adopting and approving the 1999 1772, 1815
through 2004 Capital Improvement

Program" by increasing "City

Clerk's Office Modernization" Line

Item by $180,000.00

Grant (Amending)
SUBJECT PAGE
1998 Community Development 2,62

Block Grant Program , so as to
Teprogram funds in City Council

1996 Community Development 268
Block Grant Program, so as to

reprogram funds in City Council,
amending resolution 250/1997

Page 82

BILL
NUMBER

1639

1799

1858

1859

2000

2003

Grant (Amending)

SUBJECT PAGE
Amending Resolution 303/1998, so 849, 940
as to reprogram fund in City

Council, at a total cost of

$22,323,000.00

Amending Resolution 781/1999, 1096, 1199
"Adopting the 1999 CDBG and

approving the 1999 through 2004

Capital Improvement Program, by

adding non-bond proceed funding

sources to the Integrated Self-

assessed tax Project which

increases the proposed budget from

$964,00 to $1,939,000

Grant in connection with the 1996 1195, 1316
CDBG Program; so as to reprogram

funds in the Urban Redevelopment

authority and create a project, River

Avenue Redevelopment Project in

the URA

Grant in connection with the 1997 1195, 1316
CDBG Program, so as to reprogram

funds in the URA and create a

project "River Avenue

Redevelopment Project" in URA

Amending Resolution 380 of 1999 1381, 1460
grant in connection with the 1997

CDBG Program, so as to reprogram

funds in City Council and transfer a

project from the Housing authority

of Pittsburgh to the Department of

City Planning (Urban League)

Filing of CDBG Statement in 1382, 1461
connection with the 1998 CDBG

Program and execution of grant

contracts, so as to reprogram funds

in City Council

Page 83

BILL
NUMBER

2004

BILL
NUMBER

1312

1450

1472

Grant (Amending)

SUBJECT

Filing of CDBG Statement in
connection with the 1996 CDBG
Program, providing execution of
grant contracts, so as to reprogram
funds in City Council

Historic Designation
SUBJECT

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter
10007 of the Code of Ordinance
that certain structure located at 141
Mayflower Street, 12th Ward

Providing for the denial of the
addition of the property located at
2500-2700 East Carson street
(Northside), portions of Block and
Lot Number 029-J-008, in the 17th
Ward, City of Pittsburgh, to the
existing East Carson Street Historic
District, under Section 513 of
Chapter 1007 of the Code of
Ordinances

Designating that certain structure

located at 514 Smithfield Street and
all the property designated as Block
and Lot Number 2-E-030, 2nd Ward

Page 84

PAGE
1382, 1461

PAGE
302, 711

321, 1010

568

BILL
NUMBER

1930

1931

1932

1933

Historic Structure

SUBJECT PAGE

Designation as a Historic Structure 1347, 1929
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007

of the code Ordinances that certain

structure known as Allegheny

Traditional Academy and located at

810 Arch Street, and all of the

property designated as Block and

Lot Number 023-P-078, in the

Twenty-second Ward, City of

Pittsburgh

Designation as a Historic Structure 1347, 1929
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007

of the Code of Ordinance that

certain structure now as Arsenal

Middle School and located at 3901

Butler Street and all of the property

designated as Block and Lot

Number 049-E-245, 6th Ward, City

of Pittsburgh

Designation as a Historic Structure 1347, 1929
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007

of the Code of Ordinances that

certain structure now know as

Beechwood Elementary School and

located at 810 Rockland Street, 061-

R-156, 9th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure 1347, 1930
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007

of the Code of Ordinances that

certain structure known as

Beltzhoover Elementary School and

located at 320 Cedarhurst Street,

18th Ward

Page 85

BILL
NUMBER

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

Historic Structure

SUBJECT

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 Chapter 1007 of
the Code of Ordinances that certain
structure known as Colfax
Elementary School and located at
2332 Beechwood Boulevard and all
of the property designated as Block
and Lot number 128-A-056, 14th
Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
of the Code of Ordinances that
certain structure known as Concord
Elementary School and located at
2340 Brownsville Road and all of
the property designated as Block
and Lot Number 045-M-340 in the
29th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
of the Code of Ordinances that
certain structure known as Fifth
Avenue High School and located at
1800 Fifth Avenue, | St ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
of the Code of Ordinances that
certain structure known as Fort Pitt
Elementary Schoo! and located at
5101 Hillcrest Street, 10th Ward

Page 8&6

PAGE
1347, 1930

1347, 1930

BILL
NUMBER

1939

1940

1941

1942,

Historic Structure

SUBJECT PAGE

Designation as a Historic Structure 1348, 1930
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007

of the Code of Ordinances that

certain structure under Section 513

of Chapter 1007 of the Code of

Ordinances that certain structure

known as Dilworth Elementary

School and located at 6200 Stanton

Avenue, 11th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure 1348
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007

of the Code of Ordinances that

certain structure known as Dilworth
Elementary School and located at

6200 Stanton Avenue, and all the

property designated at 11th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure 1348
under Section 513 of Section 1007

of the Code of Ordinances that

certain structure known as Fulton
Elementary School and located at

5799 Hampton Street, 11th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure 1348, 1930
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007

of the Code Of Ordinance certain

structure known as Friendship

Elementary School and located at

5501 Friendship Avenue, 18th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure 1348
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007

of the Code of Ordinances that

Section 1007 of the Code of

Ordinance that certain structure

known as Fulton Elementary

School and located at 5799

Hampton Street, 11th Ward

Page 87

BILL
NUMBER

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

Historic Structure
SUBJECT

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
of the Code of Ordinances that
certain structure known as
Greenfield Elementary School and
located at 1 Alger Street, 15th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
of the code of Ordinances that
certain structure known as
Knoxville Middle School and
located at Charles and Grimes
Avenue, 13th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under section 513 of Chapter 1007
of the Code of Ordinances that
certain structure known as Langley
High School and located at 2940
Sheraden Boulevard, 28th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
of the Code of Ordinances that
certain structure known as
Jemnington Elementary School and
all of the property designated as
Block and Lot Number 173-A-176,
12th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
of the Code of Ordinances that
certain structure known as the
auditorium wing of Letsche
Education Center and located at
Bedford Avenue, 3rd Ward

Page 88

PAGE
1348, 1931

1348

1348, 1931

1348

BILL
NUMBER

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

Historic Structure
SUBJECT

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 413 of Chapter 1007
of the code of Ordinances that
certain structure known as Lincoln
Elementary School and located at
Lincoln and Frankstown Avenues,
12th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
of the Code of Ordinances that
certain structure now know as
Linden Elementary School and
located at 725 South Linden Street
in the 14th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
of the Code of Ordinances that
certain structure know as Madison
Elementary School and located at
3401 Milwaukee Street, 5th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513, that certain
structure known as McCleary
Elementary School at 5251 Holmes
Street, 10th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 512 of Chapter 1007
known as Morrow Elementary
School, 27th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 512, structure known
as Mifflin Elementary School, 31st
Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513, Chapter 1007
certain structure known as Oliver
High School and located at 2323
Brighton Road, 27th Ward

Page 89

PAGE
1348, 1931

1348

1349, 1931

1349

1349, 1931

1349

1349, 1931

BILL
NUMBER

1955

1956

1957

1958

1959

Historic Structure

SUBJECT

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007,
structure known as Perry
Traditional Academy located at
3875 Perrysville Avenue, 26th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
structure located at Pittsburgh
Board of Education Child Care
Program Offices, 822 Boggs
Avenue, 19th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
structure known as Perry
Traditional Academy and located at
3875 Perrysville Avenue, 26th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section513 of Chapter 1007
of the Code of Ordinance that
certain Structure known as The
Pittsburgh High School for the
Creative and Performing Arts and
located at 925 Brushton Avenue,
13th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
of the Code of Ordinances that
certain structure known as Prospect
Middle Schoo! for Multicultural
Education and located at 3 Cowan
Avenue, 19th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
of that certain structure known as
Rogers School for the Creative and
Performing Arts and located at
5525 Columbo Avenue, 10th Ward

Page 30

PAGE
1349, 1932

1350

1349

1350

Pe Historic Structure

NUMBER SUBJECT PAGE

1960 Designation as a Historic Structure 1350, 1932
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
that certain structure known as
Schiller Classical Academy and
located at 1018 Peralta Street 23rd
Ward

1961 Designation as a Historic Structure 1350,
under section 513 Chapter 1007 of |: 1932,1938
the Code of Ordinances that certain
structure formerly known as
Latimer School, now The
Schoolhouse Apartments, and
located at Tripoli and James
Streets, 23rd Ward

1962 Designation as a Historic Structure 1350, 1932
under Section 513, Chapter 1007,
that certain structure known as
Sterrett Classical Academy and
located at 71000 Reynolds Street,
14th Ward

1963 Designation as a Historic Structure 1350
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
structure known as Taylor Allerdice
High School, located in the 14th
Ward

1964 Designation as a Historic Structure 1350, 1933
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007,
structure known as Thaddeus
Stevens Elementary School, 20th
Ward

1965 Designation as a Historic Structure 1350
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007,
structure designated as Washington
Polytechnic Academy, 9th Ward

1966 Designation as a Historic Structure 1351
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
ceriain structure known as Weil
Technical Center, 5th Ward

Page 91

BILL
NUMBER

1967

1968

2095

2228

BILL
NUMBER

1372

Historic Structure

SUBJECT PAGE

Designation as a Historic Structure 1351, 1933
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007

structure known as Westinghouse

High School, 12th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure 1351, 1933
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007

that certain property known as Weil

Technical Center, 5th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure 1542, 1849
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007

of the Code of Ordinances that

certain property known located at

5629-5669 Beacon Street, all the

property designated as Block and

Lot Number 086-P-196, 14th Ward

Designation as a Historic Structure 1771, 2022
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007

of the Code of Ordinances that

certain structure known as the

former Lawrence Paint building and

located at 1124 West Carson Street

and al of the property designated as

Block and Lot Number 006-H-091,

in the Nineteenth Ward, City of

Pittsburgh

Lease
SUBJECT PAGE
Community Oriented Police mini 383, 501

station - 9th District, 11th Ward,
yearly rental cost to the City of
Pittsburgh is $1.00, HOME DEPT.
U.S.A,, Inc.

Page 92

Lease
BILL

NUMBER
1795

SUBJECT

Lease for the use of certain
property for senior citizen facilities
for the center services to senior
citizens in an amount not to exceed
$173,600.00, chargeable to and
payable from the Senior Citizens
Program Trust Fund in the
Department of Parks and Recreation

1843 Providing for a Lease and/or
Sublease of space located at 815
Warrington Avenue, Pittsburgh,
PA 15210, 18th Ward from the
lessor, Allentown Civic Association
for the purpose of establishing a
Community Oriented Police mini-
station, effective August 1, 1999
and renewable annually at a cost to
the City of not more than $70.00
per month to off-set the cost of
utilities

Lease Agreement
SUBJECT

Lease space located at 430
Cathedral Street, Pgh, PA 15210
for the purpose of establish a
Community Oriented Police mini-
station, renewable annual at a cost
not more than $70.00 per month to
off set cost of utilities

BILL
NUMBER

2266

2267 Lease building at 930 Saw Mill Run
Boulevard from the Department of
Transportation for the purpose of
establishing a Department of Public
Works operational sub-Division,
tade effective November 15, 1999

Page 93

PAGE
1095, 1213

1193, 1331

PAGE
1839, 1940

1839, 1940

BILL
NUMBER

2340

BILL
NUMBER

1826

BILL
NUMBER

993

Lease Agreement
SUBJECT

Mon Valley Petroleum, Inc., enter

into a lease agreement not to exceed

30 years for two vacant lots on
Butler Street and a portion of
Ballard Way vacated by resolution
enacted July 8, 1998

License Agreement

SUBJECT

Authorizing the Mayor, the *
Director of City Planning, Director
of Parks and Recreation and the
Director of Finance to grant a
license or licenses to interested and
qualified individuals and/or entities
to enter upon the use various
docking or landing facilities along
the Allegheny, Monongahela and
Ohio Rivers for the limited purpose
of access to upon and from said
land, as docking locations for water
taxi services

Miscellaneous

SUBJECT

Declaring the Bavarian Beneficial
Association to be a civic and/or
service organization within the
context of the Pennsylvania Small
Gaems of Chance Act

Authorizing the Mayor and the
Director of Finance to sell and
transfer all that real property and
landslide building known as the
City of Pittsburgh River Rescue
Center to the Stadium Authority for
a sale price of $2,500,000

Page 94

PAGE
1955, 2006

PAGE
1150, 1261

PAGE
770

304

BILL
NUMBER

994

1124

1132

1141

1149

Miscellaneous

SUBJECT

Directing the Treasurer of the City
of Pittsburgh to make appropriate
changes to the City of Pittsburgh's
earned income tax regulations and
procedures so as to include the
Tequirement of all professional
sports players working in the City
on a part time basis to pay the City's
earned income tax

Transfer of ownership of the City
of Pittsburgh Cable
Communications from Tele-
Communications, Inc. d/b/a TC] Of
Pennsylvania to AT&T Corporation
as a result of TCI’s pending
acquisition

Directing the City Law Department
of Personnel and the Civil Service
Commission to report to City
Council on the feasibility and cost
of performing an investigation of
civ litigation on applicants for City
of Pittsburgh police Officer, in
addition to the standard criminal
background investigation

Resolution establishing a
committee to recommend revisions
to Section 719, Vendors and
peddlers of the City Code and any
other Provisions of the Code that
pertain to vending and peddling in
the City of Pittsburgh

Designated the East Liberty
Nabisco Bakery Project as an
Industrial Development of the Steel
Valley Authority and Approving
the Authority's Exercise of its
Power of Eminent Domain in that
Project

Page 95

PAGE
245

29,91

59,91

BILL
NUMBER

1153

1155

1197

1208

1231

1263

Miscellaneous

SUBJECT

Directing the City Controller to
create a Trust Fund dedicated for
the sole purpose of employing part-
time drivers and laborers to assist
with the Department of Public
Works' Snow and Ice Control
Program. The trust fund will be
entitled STORM TEAM TRUST
FUND

Directing the Directors of Public
Works and Personnel and Civil
Service to recruit and employ part-
time drivers and laborers to assist
with the Dept. of Public Works'
Snow and Ice Control Program

Establishing a Newspaper Vending
Machine Task Force and directing
the Department of Public Works
and City Planning to prepare an
Objective Report on Newspaper
Vending Machines

Creation of an Oakland Business
Improvement District

Resolution authorizing the Mayor
and the Director of General
Services to amend the city's
Minority Business
Enterprise/Women Business
guidelines so as to allow a 25%
minority and 10 % female at the job
site construction related
employment goal, cost not to
exceed $250,000.00

Authorizing the purchase of a
$15,000.00 group life insurance for
each part-time, non-union employee

Page 96

PAGE
60

256

358

192, 910

241, 343

BILL
NUMBER

1300

1315

1324

1360

1361

Miscellaneous

SUBJECT PAGE

Directing the Chief of Police and 301
the City Solicitor to prepare and

submit to City Council a written
assessment and evaluation report
regarding the City of Pittsburgh's
purchase and installation of video
cameras on or in police vehicles
operating in the City of Pittsburgh

Directing the Public Safety 303, 371
Director/Deputy Mayor of
Operations, Pittsburgh Police Chief,
Pittsburgh Housing Authority
Police Chief, Housing Authority
director, Executive Secretary,
Youth Policy Coordinator to
for2ward to Pittsburgh City
Council, within 10 working days, a
report of actions taken to date
addressing the recent shootings and
violence between youth in the
Hilltop Communities of Council
District 3

Recognizing and declaring the 326
Pittsburgh Action Against Rape,

Inc. to be the civic and or service
organization within the context of

the PA Small Games of Chance Act

Extending the term of existence of 340
the Public Auditorium Authority of
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County,

term to expire 50 years from the

date of approval

Authorization for the Controllerto 340
release 1996 Pre-Encumbrances
outstanding the Mayor's Office that

are no longer needed

Page 97

BILL
NUMBER

1383

1395

1442

1444

1449

Miscellaneous

SUBJECT PAGE

Requesting the City Solicitor to file 384, 1002
a legal action, in either state,

federal court, to recover damages

and other relief by various gun

manufactures who fail to institute

specified safety guidelines

Redevelopment Proposal dated 423, 660
February, 1999, including

Modification No. 8 to the

Redevelopment Area Plan, for

redevelopment activities ina

portion of Redevelopment Area No.

12, Allegheny Center, in the 22nd

Ward of the City of Pittsburgh

Council District 0. 6

Authorizing and Directing the 615
Office of the Mayor to operate the

City of Pittsburgh Growth Initiative
Fund, dedicated to attracting jobs

and businesses to the City of

Pittsburgh

Authorizing and Directing the 519
Office of the Mayor to operate the

City of Pittsburgh Growth Initiative
Fund, dedicated to attracting jobs

and businesses to the City of

Pittsburgh

Amending the Rules of Council, 520, 571
Rule IV (C) and VI(C), in

compliance with the 1998

amendment to the Pennsylvania

Sunshine Act. (SPONSORED BY

MR. HERTZBERG)

Amending the Rules of Council, VI, 520
to comply with Pennsylvania Act

93 of 1998, recent amendments to

the Sunshine Act, for procedures

for public comment

Page 98

BILL
NUMBER

1458

1490

1514

1515

1523

Miscellaneous

SUBJECT PAGE

Directing the Director of Planning, 614
in conjunction with the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh, to develop a
comprehensive redevelopment plan
for the LTV Steel Company, Inc.'s
former Coke and By-Products
facility and the Irvine/Second
Avenue commercial corridor in
Hazelwood and furthermore to
develop strategies for the possible
acquisition of the LTV property by
the URA

Authorizing and directing the 603, 711
Directors of the Department of

Engineering and Construction and

City Planning and the Public

Parking Authority to conduct a

traffic and parking stu8dy of

Brookline Boulevard between

Pioneer Avenue and Queensboro

Avenue, the report is due with 60

days

Approving the East Gate 647, 711
Redevelopment Proposal, Council
District 9

Approving modification No. 7 of 647, 764
the East Liberty Redevelopment
Area Plan, Council District 9

Authorizing the City of Pittsburgh 649, 765
to accept ownership of the 5
following vacant lots located within

the City of Pittsburgh to be

dedicated for public use as parklets

Page 99

BILL
NUMBER

1529

1539

1571

1575

Miscellaneous

SUBJECT

Authorizing and directing the
Director of Public Safety, in
conjunction with the appropriate
Chiefs of Bureaus within the
Department of Public Safety and
the Director of General Services
and Personnel to take the
appropriate actions to develop a
pilot program wherein medical
emergencies can be responded to by
utilizing a motorcycle mounted
Emergency Medical Technician in
order to augment the City's existing
First Responder Program

Resolution authorizing members of
the Fire and EMS Unions to travel
to San Francisco from May 5 - 9,
1999 to attend the EMS Delivery
System Seminar, cost not to exceed
$5,000.00

Authorizing the Mayor and the
Department of Public Works and
the Department of Finance to
conduct a study of all unimproved
Tights-of-way, better known as
"paper streets" in the City of
Pittsburgh. The study shall include
the location, condition, use and
estimated cost to open and/or
maintain these rights of way

National Guard Component of the
U.S. Armed Forces or Cost Guard
due to Operation Allied Force to
Support NATO operations in
Kosovo, amount to the difference
between their military pay and City
salary, and to maintain all heath
care benefits for said employees,

their spouses and dependents during

their term of absence in Kosovo

Page 100

PAGE

649, 766

689, 766

693, 1079

741

BILL
NUMBER

1576

1605

1606

1675

Miscellaneous

SUBJECT PAGE

Authorizing Raymond V. Demiciei, 742,910
Operations Supervisor, Bureau of
Communications, Department of

Public Safety to execute for and in

behalf of the City of Pittsburgh all

required forms and reports for Loan
Agreements and Grants under the

Federal Nunn-Lugar-Domenici

Legislation

Authorizing and directing the 810
Mayor and the Director of General
Services to lower the Cable

Franchise Fee paid by City of

Pittsburgh cable television users
commensurately with the rate

increase recently implemented by

TCI of PA

Authorizing and dirtying the 810, 855
Director of the Department of Parks

and Recreation to name the

playground at Broad and Evaline

Streets in Garfield the "Nelson

Mandela Peace Park

Resolution directing the Allegheny 915
County Board of Elections to place
before the qualified voters of the
City of Pittsburgh a referendum
question which would amend the
Home Rule Charter to add Article
9: Pittsburgh Works, by requiring
a certain percentage of all project
work hours on certain City of
Pittsburgh construction contracts to
be performed by City of Pittsburgh
residents and providing for
enforcement due process and
penalties for violations

Page 101

BILL
NUMBER

1754

1756

1869

1870

Miscellaneous

SUBJECT
Approving the Bedford

Redevelopment proposal dated May

1999, including the redevelopment
area Plan for redevelopment area
No. 31, Crawford-Roberts and
Redevelopment the 3rd and Sth
‘Wards of the City of Pittsburgh
Council District No. 6

Resolution approving the River
Avenue Redevelopment Proposal
dated June 1999, including
Modification No. 2 to the
Redevelopment Area Plan for
redevelopment activities in portions
of Redevelopment area No. 48,
River Avenue in the 23rd & 24th
Ward, District 1

Creating the Downtown Residential
and Citywide Loft Development
Task Force

Directing the Mayor's Office of
Business and Employment
Opportunities to operate a program
of technical assistance and support
to construction businesses owned
by minorities or women who are
tesidents of the City of Pittsburgh.
Such support will include, but not
be limited to estimating, bid
preparation, blueprint reading, bid
and performance bond acquisition

and any other business management

support needs identified by
minority and women owned
construction contracts

Page 102

PAGE
1044

1044

1197, 1262

1197, 1256

BILL
NUMBER

1871

1872

1896

1923

1926

Miscellaneous

SUBJECT PAGE

Resolution requiring that all 1197, 1256
contractors and subcontractors of
Major construction projects, funded
in whole or in part by city funds or
value, be required to submit to the
City of Pittsburgh monthly
employee data sheets which
identify name, address,
municipality, zip code, race,
gender, trade and skill level, for all
construction employees

Resolution of the City Council of 1197, 1289
the City of Pittsburgh determining

to incur lease rental debt in an

aggregate principal amount of

$37,610,000 by entering into a

supporting agreement with the

Public Auditorium Authority of

Pittsburgh and Allegheny County

and the County of Allegheny

Authorizing and directing the City 1248, 1396
Solicitor, Director of Department of

Planning and the Director of

Department of Public Safety

(Bureau of Police and Bureau of

Building Inspection) to establish a

Landlord Responsibility Initiative

Authorizing and directing the 1345, 1463
Director of General Services it

install an audio system, capable of

amplifying the comments and

testimony of the Zoning Board,

witnesses and observers present in

the Board and Commission hearing

room 200 Ross Street within 45

days of the passage of this

resolution

Designating the Chartiers Nature 1346
Conservancy to plan, build and
maintain the Chartiers Creek Trail

Page 103

Miscellaneous
BILL

NUMBER SUBJECT PAGE

1974 Restating Resolution No. 536 in 1352,
order to modify and correct certain 1452,1468 H
amounts and references

2005 Resolution amending Rules of 1382, 1505
Council, Rule EX (a)(2), Committee
on Public Works, Water and
Environmental Services and Rule X
(a)(2) by deleting references to
Water and Sewer

2032 Authorizing and directing various 1433, 1507
departments to take appropriate
action to have certain security
devices installed at police stations
within the city of Pittsburgh and to
establish Police Security Task Force

2033 Providing for an allotment of 1433, 1492
vacations days to certain employees
affected by Ordinance 13 of 1998

2040 Directing the City Solicitor to seek 1491
an injunction to prevent the transfer
of the Pittsburgh International
Airport and the Allegheny County
Airport to the Allegheny County
Airport Authority preceding or
following the County
Commissioners' final vote to
transfer assets

2090 Directing the Solicitor to prepare 1540, 2004
for formal introduction to Council
an Ordinance creating the
Neighborhood Infrastructure
Improvement Commission, no later
than 30 days from the passage of
this Resolution. Council shall hold
a formal public hearing prior to
action on the Ordinance. The
Ordinance creating and authorizing
the Commission shali contain, but
not be limited to the following
provisions

Page 104

BILL
NUMBER

2130

2138

Miscellaneous

SUBJECT PAGE

Amending the guidelines to 1588, 1747
effectuate warrant less arrests for
public drunkenness to include
guidelines for effectuating
warrantless arrests of persons under
the influence of a controlled
substance, as defined in the Act of
April 14, 1972 (P.L. 233, No. 64),
known as the Controlled Substance,
Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act,
except those taken pursuant to the
lawful order of a practitioner as
defined in the Controlled
Substance, Drug, Device and
Cosmetic Act, except those taken
pursuant to the lawful order of a
practitioner as defined in the
Controlled Substance, Drug, Device
and Cosmetic Act

Authorizing and directing the 1589, 1690
Director of Engineering &
Construction, in conjunction with
the Director of Department of
Public Works, to implement a
program to significantly enhance
the visibility of pedestrian
crosswalks and to develop a
Crosswalk Safety Campaign to
Taise the public's awareness of laws
governing pedestrian safety law to
increase the number of drivers who
stop for pedestrians at intersections
establish a dangerous intersection
hot line

Page 105

BILL
NUMBER

2164

2165

2168

Miscellaneous

SUBJECT PAGE

Resolution approving the 1625, 1680
Redevelopment Proposal dated
March 1998 including Modification
No. 6 to the Redevelopment Area
Plan, for redevelopment activities
in portions of Redevelopment Area
No. 10, East Liberty in the 11th
Ward of the City of Pittsburgh,
Council District No. 9, by inserting
language to require the City to
provide assistance for displaced
businesses.

Resolution authorizing and 1625, 1748
directing the office of the Mayor,
Director of the Department of
Public Safety, Chief of the Bureau
of Police, Chief of the Bureau of
Fire and Chief of the Bureau of
EMS to establish a "Baskets for
Babies Program." This program
shall place a basket from the
Baskets for Babies Program in each
of the City's Fire Houses

Resolution providing for the 1626, 1811
necessary consent for the Stadium
Authority of the City of Pittsburgh
(The Stadium Authority) to
terminate the long-term lease by
and between the Stadium Authority
and the Public Parking Authority
(The Parking Lease) and the sub-
lease to Alco Parking Corporation
(The Sub-Lease) encumbering
premises owned by the Stadium
Authority in the 22nd ward of the
City of Pittsburgh to amend both
the Basic Agreement by and
between the Stadium Authority, the
Public Parking Authority,
Pittsburgh Associates, L.P. and
Pittsburgh Steeler Sports, and the
consent decree of march 31, 1989

Page 106

BILL
NUMBER

2183

2195

2203

2298

2318

Miscellaneous

SUBJECT

Resolution authorizing the Director
of Finance to provide a written
analysis of the feasibility of
providing an offset to the business
privilege tax levy in relation to
employment of City Residents

Creating a Task Force to Study
Regulating the Towing of Vehicles
from Private Parking Lots

Authorizing and directing the
Office of the Mayor, Director of
City Information Systems, Director
of the Department of General
Services, Director of the
Department of Parks & Recreation,
Director of the Department of
Public Safety and the Chief of the
Bureau of Police to coordinate,
promote, purchase and implement
an Are You O.K. Program in the
City of Pittsburgh

Third party cooperation,
reimbursement and maintenance
agreement by and between the City
of Pittsburgh, The Sports and
Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh
and Allegheny County and the PA
Department of Transpiration in
connection whit he North Shore
infrastructure improvements

Designating Banks and Lending
Institutions to act as Depositories
for the year 2000 in accordance
with the Pittsburgh Code, Title
Two, Fiscal, Article III,
Depositories

Page 107

PAGE
1674, 1744

1717, 1992

1718, 1844

1885, 1961

1918, 1990

Miscellaneous

BILL
NUMBER SUBJECT
2336 Authorizing the us of $10 million

from the City's Operating Reserve
Fund in connection with the
proposed Neighborhood Needs
Program as presented in the 2000
Capital Budget

Motion

SPEAKER
Diven, Michael

SUBJECT

Motion to perform a performance
audit of the firefighters clothing
allowance

Ferlo, Jim Motion to table bill No. 1130 and
ordinance directing the Allegheny
County Board of Elections to place
before the qualified voters of the
City of Pittsburgh a referendum
question which would supplement
the City of Pittsburgh's Home Rule
Charter, Section 228, Independent
Citizen Police Review Board by
including the Housing Authority,
City of Pittsburgh Police
Department

Ferlo, Jim Motion to table the motion to

override Bill 2373

Ferlo, Jim Recommital on Bill 1895 - An

Ordinance amending Ordinance No.

28 of 1998 entitled, "An Ordinance
amending the Pittsburgh Code,
Title Two, Fiscal, Article I,
Administration, Section 201.11,
Tax Increment Financing
Registration,” by changing the
percentage of city residents to be
hired from 50% to 35%

Page 108

PAGE
1955

PAGE
327

1393

2039

1311

SPEAKER

Ferlo, Jim

Hertzberg, Alan

Motion

SUBJECT

Requesting a Legal opinion on
Council Bill 1784, Petition from the
residents of the City of Pittsburgh
tequesting a public hearing into the
actions of Chief Fadzen, head of
security for the Board of Public
Education

Amend by substitute Bill 846
Resolution authorizing a
Cooperation Agreement with the
Public Auditorium Authority of
Pittsburgh for the establishment of
a trust fund and the deposit therein
of earned income tax paid by
nonresident professional athletes
and other nonresidents who use
government owned sports facilities

Table Bill 994 Resolution directing
the Treasurer to make appropriate
changes to the City of Pittsburgh's
eared income tax regulations and
procedures so as to include the
requirement of all professional
sports players working in the City
of Pittsburgh on a part-time basis to
pay the City's earned income tax

Amendment to Bill 1197
‘Newspaper Vending Machine Task
Force Objective Report on
newspaper Vending Machines

Motion to reconsider Bill No.

2040 - resolution directing the City
Solicitor to seek an injunction to
prevent the transfer of Pittsburgh
International Airport and
Allegheny County Airport to the

Allegheny county Airport Authority

Page 109

PAGE
1070

254

257

1544

SPEAKER
Hertzberg, Alan

McDonald, Valerie

Onorato, Dan

Motion

SUBJECT PAGE

Motion to table Bill 229, a transfer 2007
of $115,000.00 from various code

accounts within the Department of

Public Works

Motion to cancel Public hearing 1279
concerning personnel and students
at the city school system

Motion to Untable bill 1974 - a 1433
Resolution of the City Council

determining to incur lease rental

debit in an aggregate principal

amount of $37,610.00 by entering

into a supporting agreement with

the Public Auditorium Authority of
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County

and the County of Allegheny

Motion to override bill 2212, a 1720
communication from the Mayor
submitting a veto of Council Bill
No. 1759, entitled "An ordinance
amending and supplementing the
Pittsburgh Code, Title Two, Fiscal
Article I, Treasurer, Section 201.11,
Tax Increment Financing
Registration, by adding a new
sections regarding commitment to
employ city residents at facilities
which are supplied by Tax
Increment Financing Registration,
by adding new sections regarding
commitment to employ city
Tesidents at facilities which are
supplied by Tax Increment
Financing

Motion to Recommit Bill 1379 Sale 537
of Property

Page 110

SPEAKER

Recommittal

Ricciardi, Gene

Udin, Sala

BILL
NUMBER

1854

2169

Motion

SUBJECT

Recommital of Bill 1450,
Resolution providing for the denial
of the addition of the property
located at 2500-2700 East Carson
Street, North Side to the existing
East Carson Street Historic District,
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007
of the Code of Ordinances

Requesting council to submit a
letter of the Board of Trustees of
the University of Pittsburgh to meet
with the students of the University
of Pittsburgh concerning the issue
that they are on strike about

Recommittal of Bill 1582, Contract
with Grant Street, Advisors in an
amount not to exceed $750,000.00

Recommit Bill 1823 - Contract for
the lease of Part of Parcel 2, 3rd
Ward, Dist. 6 Bedford Avenue at
Crawford Street (Parking Garage)
(Maglev)

Name Change

SUBJECT

Authorizing the changing of the
Name of Randall Street from
Gladstone Street to Moon Way in
the 15th Ward, 5th Council District
of the City of Pittsburgh

Resolution changing the name of

the Public Auditorium Authority of
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to
the Sports and Exhibition Authority
of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County

Page 114

PAGE
1011, 1015

718

979

1275

PAGE
1194, 1313

1626, 1744

BILL

NUMBER

1385

1784

2141

SPEAKER
Allen, Alicia

Andrews, Jonathan

Baumback, Billy

Benning, Joel

Berry, Chelsey

Burno, John

Cart, Morgan.

Petition
SUBJECT

Petition from the residents of the
City of Pittsburgh requesting a
public hearing to discuss URA's
sale of land on the LTV site to
UPMC for a Football Compound

Petition from the residents of the
City of Pittsburgh requesting a
public hearing into the actions of
Chief Fadzen, head of security for
the Board of Public Education

Petition from the residents of the
City of Pittsburgh requesting a
Public Hearing relative to Council
Bill No. 1896 - The Landlord
Responsibility Initiative

Pledgee
SUBJECT

Leading Council meeting of
November 16, 2001 in the Pledge of
Allegiance

Leading council's meeting of July
27, 199 in the Pledge of Allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of June
15, 1999 in the Pledge of Allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of
October 12,1999 in the Pledge of
Allegiance

Leading council's meeting of June
22, 1999 in the Pledge of Allegiance

Leading council's meeting of
November 30, 1999 in the pledge of
allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of
January 26, 1999 in the Pledge of
Allegiance

Page 112

PAGE
385

1070

1590

PAGE
1823

1224

988

1613

1026

1899

SPEAKER

Chavez, Shannon

Coennen, Joshua

Cohen, Paige

Combes, Michael

Constantine, James

Dawson, Nathaniel

Demanski, Dylan

Duttine, Katleyn

Fielding, Malik

Flanagan, Adam

Fuga, Shane

Galazy, Melinda

Pledgee

SUBJECT

Leading council meeting of
February 9, 1999 in the pledge of
allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of
March 23, 1999 in the Pledge of
Allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of
February 16, 1999 in the pledge of
allegiance

Leading council's meeting of
October 26, 1999 in the pledge of
allegiance

Leading council's meeting of
November 30, 1999 in the pledge of
allegiance

Leading council's meeting of July
13, 200 in the Pledge of Allegiance

Leading council's meeting of
March 29, 1999 in the pledge of
allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of
August 31, 1999 in the Pledge of
Allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of
February 2, 1999 in the pledgee of
allegiance

Leading council's meeting of April
13, 1999 in the Pledgee of
Allegiance

Leading Council meeting of
January 12, 1999 in the Pledge of
Allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of
October 5, 1999 in the Pledgee of
Allegiance

Page 113

PAGE
188

461

224

1708

1899

1139

504

1339

137

590

1566

SPEAKER
Gillespis, Katie

Hertzberg, Kara

Hirschfeld, Mark

Jackson, Miles

Lazzaro, Dana

Leslie, Brittany

‘Mack, Amanda

MeNeill, Brittany
Mead, Dan

Miller, Audrey

Miller, Nicole

Moore, JD

ONeil, James

ONeil, Valerie

Pledgee

SUBJECT

Leading council's meeting of
December 14, 1999 in the Pledge of
Allegiance

Leading council's meeting of June
29, 1999 in the pledge of Allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of
January 5, 1999 in the Pledge of
Allegiance

Leading council's meeting of
November 8, 1999 in the pledge of
allegiance

Leading council's meeting of
November 30, 1999 in the pledge of
allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of
August 31, 1999 in the Pledge of
Allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of
February 2, 1999 in the Pledgee of
allegiance

Leading council's meeting of April
20, 1999 in the Pledge of Allegiance

Leading council's meeting of July
27, 199 in the Pledge of Allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of
September 7, 1999 in the Pledgee of
Allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of June
15, 1999 in the Pledge of Allegiance

Leading council's meeting of April
20, 1999 in the Pledge of Allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of June
15, 1999 in the Pledge of Allegiance

Page 114

PAGE
1981

1059

1789

1899

1339

137

633

1224

1367

988

633

988

SPEAKER
Osterman, Jeffrey

Osterman, Jordan

Packler, Katie

Parrish, Dianna

Patil, Oona

Patton, Cotton

Praskovich, Mallory

Prentiss, Bria

Renkin, Kelsey

Romanello, Daniel

Rose, Timoty

Rosenblum, Sara

Seskey, Erica

Stano, Bobby

Pledgee
SUBJECT

Leading Council's meeting of
January 19, 1999 in the Pledge of
Allegiance

Leading council's meeting of June
1, 1999 in the pledge of allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of July
20, 1999 in the Pledge of Allegiance

Leading council's meeting of March
9, 1999 in the pledge of allegiance

Leading council's meeting of April
27, 1999 in the Pledge of Allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of May
11, 1999 in the Pledge of Allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of June
8, 1999 in the pledge of allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of
August 31, 1999 in the Pledge of
Allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of May
25, 1999 in the Pledgee of
Allegiance

Leading Council's Meeting of
September 21, 1999

Leading council's meeting of
November 8, 1999 in the pledge of
allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of
August 31, 1999 in the Pledge of
Allegiance

Leading council's meeting of April
13, 1999 in the Pledgee of
Allegiance

Page 115

PAGE
36

918

1178

378

676

779

957

1339

859

1474

1789

1339

590

BILL

SPEAKER
Stano, Nick

Stoller, Stacy

Sywyj, Andy

Waligorski, Michael

Wallace, Kadirra

Wallace, Tanis
Welsh-Spath, Jerry
Witkowski, Drew
Witkowski, Kayla

Zupanek, Anthony

NUMBER SPEAKER

2149

2148

Bellisario, Richard

Cook, Yvonne

Pledgee
SUBJECT

Leading council's meeting of April
13, 1999 in the Pledgee of
Allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of
January 26, 1999 in the Pledge of
Allegiance

Leading council's meeting of July
27, 199 in the Pledge of Allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of
December 7, 1999 in the Pledge of
Allegiance

Leading council's meeting of
February 23, 1999 in the pledge of
allegiance

Leading Council's meeting of May
17, 1999 in the Pledge of Allegiance

Leading council's meeting of July
27, 199 in the Pledge of Allegiance

Leading Council in the pledge of
allegiance on October 19, 1999

Leading Council's meeting of
March 23, 1999 in the Pledge of
Allegiance

Re-Appointment
SUBJECT

Reappointment as a member of the
Mayor's Business and Employment
Opportunity term to expire April
30, 2000

Reappointment as a Member of the
Mayor's Committee on Business
and Employment Opportunity term
to expire April 30, 2000

Page 116

PAGE
590

1224

1945

278

840

1224

1661

461

PAGE
1609, 1675

1609, 1675

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

2152

2151

1806

1271

1270

2150

1805

BILL

Herring, James R.

Kander, Gregg M.

McClenahan, Rober

McLaughlin, Irene

Simmons, William

Washington, Sheila

Williams, Christine

NUMBER SPEAKER

1502

1742

All Member

Ali Member

Re-Appointment

SUBJECT

Reappointment as a Member of the
Mayor's Committee on Business
and Employment Opportunity term
to expire February 28, 2003

Reappointment as a Member of the
Mayor's Committee on Business
and Employment Opportunity term
to expire April 30, 2000

Authorizing the re-appointment of
Robert McClenahan as a member of
the Human Relations Commission,
term to expire April 1, 2003

Authorizing the reappointment to
the City of Pittsburgh Magistrate
Court term to expire January 31,

2003

Authorizing the reappointment to
the City of Pittsburgh Magistrate
Court, term to expire January 31,
2003

Reappointment as a Member of the
Mayor's Committee on Business
and Employment Opportunity term
to expire April 30, 2000

Authorizing the re-appointment of
Robert McClenahan as a member of
the Human Relations Commission,
term to expire April 1, 2003

Read and Adopted
SUBJECT

Declaring April 21, 1999 as
Citiparks SeniorInterest Volunteer
Day

Declaring June 21 - June 28, 1999
as "Deaf Blind Awareness Week in
the City of Pittsburgh

Page 417

PAGE
1609, 1675

1609, 1675

1134, 1289

270

1609, 1675

1134, 1289

PAGE
634

1036

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1147

1247

1248

1249

1275

1479

1480

1535

1773

All Members

Read and Adopted
SUBJECT

PAGE

Declaring April 1999, "Child Abuse 506

Prevention Month" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Proclaiming January 25 - 31, 1999
as Community Champions
Jefferson Awards Week in the City
of Pittsburgh

Declaring the month of January,
hereafter to be Spirit of King month
in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring February 20, 1999 as
Diversity Awareness Week in the
City of Pittsburgh

Declaring February 12, 1999 "Gene
Adams Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Congratulating Yeshiva Schools of
Pittsburgh on their continuing
dedication to education and hereby
declares Sunday, February 21,
1999, "Sefer HaMitzvos Day” in
the City of Pittsburgh

Recognizing and commending
Sunni Ali Herndon for his
determination and commitment to
succeed

declaring April 19-25, 1999 as
"Sexual Assault Awareness Week”
in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring April 27, 1999 as
“Literacy Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring April 27, 1999 as "PACE
Day" in the City of Pittsburgh
Declaring June 1999 as "Sister
Cities Month" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Page 118

237

238

239

284

595

598

679

1062

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1979

2041

2072

1123

1146

1245

1272

1414

1481

All Members

Cohen, Dan

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

Declaring Tuesday, September 7,
1999, "Canice Kennedy Day" in the
City of Pittsburgh

Commending and thanking
President Bob O'Connor for his
dedicated years of services to our
community

Commending and thanking Jeff
Markel for his dedicated years of
service to our community and to
Israel

Commending and thanking
Shadyside Concerts for 18 years of
providing Pittsburgh's with the
opportunity to hear performances
by the City's finest musician in a
unique local setting

Commending the Central Blood
Bank of Pittsburgh and proclaiming
the month of January 1999 as
Volunteer Blood Donor Month in
the City of Pittsburgh

Commending the American Heart
Association and proclaims
Saturday, February 22, 1999 as
"Race to No Place Day” in the City

Commending and congratulating
Judge Robert E. Dauer for this bold
leadership and visionary approach
during his tenure on the bench of
the Allegheny County Court of
Common Pleas

Proclaiming April 7, 1999
“Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force Day"

Commending and Thanking Janice
Friedman for her dedicated years of
service to our community

Page 119

PAGE
1370

1476

1475

279

464

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1482

1534

1595

1596

1715

1743

1915

2041

2042

Cohen, Dan

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

Commending and thanking Bemard
Marcus and Daniel Shapira for their
dedicated years of service to our
community and to Israel

Recognizing the Bloomfield
Business District as Pittsburgh's
Own "Little Italy"

Declaring the Month of May
“Become A United States Citizen
month in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring the Month of May
“Disability Awareness Month" and
the week of May 17-21 1999
“National Barrier Awareness Month
in the City of Pittsburgh

Commending Pittsburgh Penguins
on their thirty-two years of proudly
playing hockey in the City of
Pittsburgh

Commending and thanking Nancy
and Richard Simon for their
dedicated years of service to our
community and to Israel

Congratulating Chatham College
and its President ester Barazone for
establishing the College's Global
Focus Program and convening the
Year of South Asia

Commending and thanking
President Bob O'Connor for his
dedicated years of services to our
community

Declaring Tuesday, September 21
1999 at "Dr. Norman Cohen Day"
in the City of Pittsburgh

Page 120

PAGE
600

677

785

782

989

1037

1344

1476

1478

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

2043

2049

2072

2157

2178

2230

2241

Cohen, Dan

Diven, Michael

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

Declaring, September 22, 1999 to
be "Carol and Brian Balk Day in
the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring Wednesday, September
15, 1999 "Frieda Shapira Day in the
City of Pittsburgh

Commending and thanking Jeff
Markel for his dedicated years of
service to our community and to
Israel

Thanking Frank Cahouet for his
dedicated years of service to our
community

Commending and congratulating
the Friendship community on its
beautiful new playground and
thanks all involved in this
successful collaborative project

Commending WDUQ 90.5 FM on
their 50th Anniversary and
proclaims December 15, 199 as
WDUQ Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Commending Dr. Dennis J. Hurwitz
and the UPMC Health System for
their commitment to Israel Bonds
and the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring March 26-28, 1999 at
National High School Wrestling
Championship Weekend in the City
of Pittsburgh

Page 121

PAGE
1479

1486

1475

1618

1662

1946

1803

506

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1221

1246

1413

1478

1504

1572

1628

1716

Diven, Michael

Read and Adopted
SUBJECT

Recognizing Zone 3 Commander
Douglas Johnson, Lt. Dan Quinlan
and Sgt. Jim Retsch and Crime
Prevention Officer Dan McQuilan
for organizing a blood drive to be
held at the Zone 3 Police Station
located 1725 Mary Street on the
South Side

Declaring May 8, 1999, P.A.C.T.
Day in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring March 30, 1999 as
Women's Center and Shelter of
Greater Pittsburgh Day

Declaring, April 13, 1999,
Pasqualena Mitchell Day” in the
City of Pittsburgh

Proclaiming April 18 - 24, 1999 as
“Week of the Young Child" in the
City of Pittsburgh

Commending the Pittsburgh Police
Department, Pittsburgh Fire
Bureau, Pittsburgh EMS Bureau,
University of Pittsburgh Police,
City of Pittsburgh School Police,
Housing authority, City of
Pittsburgh Finance Department,
Department of Engineering &
Construction, Mayor's Office and
City Council for making Holiday
Project 98 a success

Declaring May 17-21, 1999 as

Emergency Medical Services Week

in the City of Pittsburgh

Proclaiming June 19, 1999 as
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transfendered Pride Day in the
City of Pittsburgh

Page 122

PAGE
189

229

452

591

638

727

841

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1837

1838

1887

2073

2074

2075

2081

2108

Diven, Michael

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

Congratulating Schenley High
School Seniors Pete Finelli and
Tanisha Jones and Students from
John A. Brashear High School
Sophomores Marcus Delras and
Jillian Radley, coach by teacher
Nathan W. Geller for the National
Barbara Jordan Youth Debate on
Health

Declaring July 20, 1999 as
“Pittsburgh Junior Citizens Police
Academy Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring Tuesday, July 27, 1999
Brookline Boxing Club Day in the
City of Pittsburgh

Declaring October 3 - 9, 1999 to be
"Fire Prevention Week" in the City
of Pittsburgh

Commending Bell-Atlantic for it's
involvement wit the Bureau of Fire
and the Mercy Foundation and
thanking them for their assistance
in educating the citizens of
Pittsburgh

Commending the Mercy

Foundation for it's invaluable
assistance to the City of Pittsburgh's
Bureau of Fire

Declaring September 24, 1999
“Carrick High School Day” in the
City of Pittsburgh

Declaring October 5, 1999 as
“Pittsburgh Police Bureau
Volunteer Day” in the City of
Pittsburgh

Page 123

PAGE
1179

1181

1229

1519

1520

1534

1567

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

2179

2217

2312

2349

2366

2367

2372

1167

Diven, Michael

Ferlo, Jim

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

Declaring October 19, 1999 as
“Mon Moy Alliance Day" in the
City of Pittsburgh

Leading council's meeting of
November 1, 1999 in the pledge of
allegiance

Declaring December 6 - 13, 1999 to
be "Project Blue Light week” in the
City of Pittsburgh

Declaring December 17, 1999 to be
Pittsburgh Police Retirees Day in
the City of Pittsburgh

Thanking William Feineigle for his
service to the citizens of the City of
Pittsburgh and particularly to the
residents of the Brookline
Neighborhood

Thanking Mary Anne Miller for her
volunteer service to the citizens of
the City of Pittsburgh and
particularly to the residents of the
Brookline Neighborhood

Commending the Staff, Coaches,
parents and athletes who participate
in the Flag Football Program in
Arlington, Bloomfield, Brookline,
Cowley, Hill House, market House,
Northview Heights, Ormsby and
Warrington

Proclaiming January 25 - 31, 1999
as Community Champions
Jefferson Awards Week in the City
of Pittsburgh

Declaring January 28, 1998 as
“Rafael Noriega Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Page 124

PAGE
1665

1763

1909

1984

2002

2031

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1392

1437

1465

1534

1597

1599

1651

1678

1694

1716

Ferlo, Jim

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

Declaring March 18, 1999 to be
Absolutely Incredible Kid Day in
the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring the Pittsburgh Civic
Garden Center a civic and/or
service organization within the
context of the Local Options Small
Games of Chance Act

Declaring April 9, 1999 as Cathy
Frasca Day in the City of Pittsburgh

Recognizing the Bloomfield
Business District as Pittsburgh's
Own "Little Italy"

Recognizing Myrna Antonio-Hall
for organizing the 1999 Arbor Day
Poster Contest

Proclaiming the Summer of 1999 to
be Safe Bike Summer in the City of
Pittsburgh

Supporting the May 30, 1999 rally
regarding the federal budget that
has not increased funding for the
Veterans Affairs health care system

Extending special tanks to
Worshipful Master Nicholas F.
DelCimmuto and the officers and
members of East Liberty Lodge
#725

Proclaiming June 8, 1999 as "Talise
Manuel Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Proclaiming June 19, 1999 as
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transfendered Pride Day in the
City of Pittsburgh

Page 125

PAGE
421

560

676

788

794

860

921

959

990

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1739

1903

2016

2017

2076

2257

2258

2309

Ferlo, Jim

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

Urging all Member of the United
States House of Representatives to
vote No on HR 10 unless it
ultimately strengthens, not dilutes,
the Community Reinvestment Act

Declaring August 7, 2000 as
Pittsburgh Pirates Polish Festival

Night

Imploring interested parties to show
their support for our veterans by
contacting their congressmen and
senators and voicing their opinion
on this important issue that touches
the lives of us all

Proclaiming September 28, 1999 to
be Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
US Day in the City of Pittsburgh

Proclaiming the week of September
27, 1999 to October 3, 1999 to be
“Welcome Home Pittsburgh
Symphony Orchestra Week" in the
City of Pittsburgh

Declaring November 16, 1999 as
National Philanthropy Day in the
City of Pittsburgh

Lending support to the Anit-
Scofflwa regulation and encourages
Pennsylvania Congressional
members to support the successful
passage of this important and
meaningful legislation

Presenting County-Councilman
Elect Tom Foerster and Tasso
Katselas with the Award of
Outstanding Chievembent for their
remarkable work on the Greater
Pittsburgh Intemational Airport

Page 126

PAGE
1027

1287

1412

1417

1525

1824

1826

1900

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1695

1120

1223

1273

1418

1468

1483

1601

1629

1652

Ferlol, Jim

Hertzberg, Alan

Hertzberg, Alan.

Hertzberg, Alan

Hertzberg, Alan
Hertzberg, Alan

Hertzberg, Alan

Read and Adopted
SUBJECT

Commending all the entrants in the
1999 District 7 Memorial Day East
Contest

Congratulating Paul Spadafora on
his outstanding record, hard work
and dedication and wishes him
continued success in future events
and is proud to call

Proclaiming January 1999 as
Financial Literacy for Youth Month
in the City of Pittsburgh

Congratulating Frank Schnelbach
on his recent achievement in
receiving the Eagle Scout Award on
January 11, 1999

Commending the Kings & Queens
of Africa and congratulates all of
the recipients of the Sprit of Life
Awards

Commending Mrs. Evelyn Neiser
for her service to the Oliver High
School community

Declaring April 9, 1999 ad
Professor W. Edward Sell Day in
the City of Pittsburgh

Thanking thee Kings Knowthole of
the Sheraden Baseball Association

Declaring May 16, 1999 as Lou
Bucci Day in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring May 22, 1999 West End
Park Clean-up Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Commending Baskets for Babies
for assisting young mothers and
infants in the Pittsburgh Area

Page 127

PAGE
962

190

280

469

566

601

798

843

864

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1654

1679

1696

1716

1772

1774

1812

1839

1912

Hertzberg, Alan

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

Recommending the proposed West
Lake elderly housing project to the
URA for approval as a 202 HUD
Elderly Housing Project

Proclaiming June 10-13, 1999 "99
Toyota Mario Lemieux Celebrity
Invitational Days" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Congratulating James Lucas on his
recent achievement and commends
him for his outstanding
accomplishments in receiving the
Eagle Scout Awards on June 11,
1999

Proclaiming June 19, 1999 as
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transfendered Pride Day in the
City of Pittsburgh

Declaring July 4, 1999 "Chatham
Village Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring June 29, 1999 as "Tom
Jones Day" in the City of Pittsburgh

Congratulating the Catholic High
School Girls Softball Team, known
as the Crusaders

Proclaiming July 24, 1999 as Walk-
N-Roll For accessible Pittsburgh
Day

Declaring Saturday, August 14,
1999 "Dolfi Family Day" in the
City of Pittsburgh

Page 128

PAGE
868

926

966

990

1060

1064

1140

1185

1342

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1913

2019

2047

2082

2083

2114

2158

2182

2192

Hertzberg, Alan

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT PAGE

Congratulating Joel Ziolkowskion 1343
his recent achievement and

commending him for his

outstanding accomplishment in

receiving the Eagle Scout Award on
August 23, 1999

Declaring September 16, 1999 1421
PAWS JAM 99 Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Congratulating the West End 1484
Branch of the Carnegie Library on

its 100 years of service to the
community and declaring Saturday
September 18, 1999 "West End
Library Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Commending the West End-Elliott 1534
citizens Patrol

Proclaiming, September 29, 1999 as 1534
"St. Michael's Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Congratulating Mr. & Mrs. James 1581
Gould on their Golden Wedding
Anniversary

Congratulating Holy Innocents 1618
Parish on their 100 years as a
Catholic Community

Congratulating the West End 1673
Pulaski Society on its’ 90th

Anniversary and for its service to

the Community

Commending Richard Bruce, his 1709
traveling team and the many

volunteers who have "Painted Their
Hearts" out for over 14 years

Page 129

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

2238

2242

2329

2365

2366

2367

Hertzberg, Alan

McDonald, Valerie

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

Congratulating LaVerne Yorkgitis
on her 30 years of doing business in
the West End Neighborhood of the
City of Pittsburgh

Declaring November 7, 1999 as
Sophie Masloff Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring Mount Washington
Community Development
Corporation a Small Games of
Chance

Thanking Mr. Joseph J. Rodgers,
Sr., for his many years of service
and dedication to the residents of
the City of Pittsburgh and the
Sheraden Community

Thanking William Feineigle for his
service to the citizens of the City of
Pittsburgh and particularly to the
residents of the Brookline
Neighborhood

Thanking Mary Anne Miller for her
volunteer service to the citizens of
the City of Pittsburgh and
particularly to the residents of the
Brookline Neighborhood

Congratulating and commending
‘Youthbuild Pittsburgh, Inc. for a
job well done

Recognizing and commending
Angela Bonner for her outstanding
academic and community
achievements

Recognizing and commending
Aaron Johns for his outstanding
community involvement

Page 130

PAGE
1796

1803

1942

2002

298

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1146

1170

1223

1273

1274

1275

1276

1277

McDonald, Valerie

Read and Adopted
SUBJECT

Recognizing and commending
Ashley Birt for her outstanding
academic and community
achievements

Commending the Central Blood
Bank of Pittsburgh and proclaiming
the month of January 1999 as
Volunteer Blood Donor Month in
the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring January 6, 19099 to be
The World Premier of the Play,
Eating Dirt, Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Commending the Greater Pittsburgh
Council, Boy Scouts of America

Commending the Kings & Queens
of Africa and congratulates all of
the recipients of the Sprit of Life
Awards

Commending Elizabeth McCombs
for being instrumental in opening
the doors of knowledge to our
youth through books

Recognizing and commending
Sunni Ali Herndon for his
determination and commitment to
succeed

Recognizing and commending
Daniel Miller, Jr. for having a
vision and the desire to make it a
reality

Recognizing and commending
Courtney Clark for her outstanding
academic and community
achievements

Page 134

PAGE
299

190

280

281

284

285

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1278

1279

1280

1281

1282

1283

1284

1285

1286

McDonald, Valerie

Read and Adopted
SUBJECT

Recognizing and commending
Erica Davis for her outstanding
academic and community
achievements

Recognizing and commending
Kadirra Wallace for her outstanding
academic and community
achievements

Recognizing and commending
Carmela Malloy for her academic
and unselfish community
involvement

Recognizing and commending
Jessica A. Thomas of her academic
and community achievements

Recognizing and commending
Jessica A. Thomas for her academic
and community achievement

Recognizing and commending
Rachel Howze for her heroic
measures and assuring the safety of
others

Recognizing and commending
Jamelle Tyler for his academic and
unselfish community achievements

Recognizing and commending
Michelle Williams for her academic
and community leadership

Recognizing and commending
Dominique Johnson for her
outstanding community involvement

Recognizing and commending
Melvin Brently for his outstanding
academic and community
involvement

Page 132

PAGE
286

287

288

289

290

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1287

1288

1289

1290

1291

1292

1293

1294

1295

McDonald, Valerie

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

PAGE

Recognizing and commending 291
Tariq Walker for this unselfish
commitment to the community in

which he lives

Recognizing and commending 292
William Scaine for his high
academic achievements

Recognizing and commending 293
Amber Peterson for her academic
and unselfish community

achievements

Recognizing and commending 293
Anthony Minniefield for his
academic and unselfish community

achievements

Recognizing and commending 294
Mandela Schumacher-Hodge for

her academic and unselfish

community achievements

Recognizing and commending 295
Brian Grigsby for his academic and
community achievements

Recognizing and commending 295
Marlana Meyers for her outstanding
academic and community

achievements

Recognizing and commending 295
Fatimah Madyun for her

outstanding academic and

community involvement

Recognizing and commending 296
Brittany Hartwell for her academic
and unselfish community

achievements

Page 133

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1296

1297

1298

1345

1416

1417

1469

1470

1503

1506

McDonald, Valerie

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

PAGE

Recognizing and commending 298
Rebekah Herbert for the positive
image she portrays to others and for

her outstanding community
involvement

Recognizing and commending 297
Jerome White, Jr. for his academic

achievements

Recognizing and commending 298
Aaron Johns for his outstanding

community involvement

Commending the honorees for 1999 331
Black Trailblazers and KDKA Lift

Up Awards

Commending Mr. Grover Mitchell 468
for his commitment and desire to
educate our youth on the jazz of

yesterday

Honoring Louis "HOP" Kendrick 469
for a lifetime of service to his
family, his church, politics, his

county and the Pittsburgh
community

Commending the Pennsylvania Bar 566
Association Minority Attorneys

Conference

Commending the Homewood 567
Branch of Carnegie Libraries

Congratulating the Freedom Comer 636

Committee on this historic
groundbreaking event

Commending Best Friends of 642
Pittsburgh for caring and sharing

love and self-respect to young girls

at an impressionable age so they

Tay grown into beautiful self-

Tespecting women

Page 134

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1507

1508

1573

1631

1632

1633

1697

McDonald, Valerie

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT PAGE

Commending the Pittsburgh Job 643
Corps Center Community Relations
Council for their efforts to educate

and communicate with the youth of

today

Recognizing and commending the 643
Pittsburgh Chool for the Creative

and Performing Arts, CAPA for

their continuous efforts in

educating the public on the

importance of the Arts

Recognizing and commending 729
Black Women and Health Outreach

for longer Life and Empowerment
(BWHOLE)

Commending the Women of St. 845
James A.M.E. church

Honoring Dr. Jerome Taylor for the 845
may ways in which he has help to

make Pittsburgh the "Village" it

takes to raise a child

Declaring May 15, 1999as"UMO = 846
Jazz Orchestra Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Commending the National Black 847
MBA Association, Incorporation,
Pittsburgh Chapter for their

outstanding community

involvement and for giving our

youth a brighter tomorrow

Declaring the weekend of May 28, 966
1999 - May 20, 1999 as "Pittsburgh
Believers Convention" weekend in

the City of Pittsburgh

Page 135

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1698

1716

1775

1776

1841

1842

1886

1904

McDonald, Valerie

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT
Commending Mt. Ararat

Community Activity Center for
educating and servicing the entire
community. The Council also
Tecognizes and commends Dr.
Lottie P, Edward for 9 years of

dedication to Mt. Ararat

Community Activity Center

Proclaiming June 19, 1999 as
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transfendered Pride Day in the

City of Pittsburgh

Congratulating and commending
the Negro Educational Emergency
Drive for expanding their programs
to insure each young Black
American a chance to further their

education

Recognizing and commending Mrs.
Inez Edith Bames Hurst on her

100th Birthday

Commending the Community
Fitness Center favor continuing and
expanding a fitness program that
will enrich the lives of our youth

Declaring July 21 through July 25,
1999, "universal Circus Days” in

the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring July 27, 1999 as "Keith
Lawrence and Ron Tarpley Day in

the City of Pittsburgh

Commending Saint James A.M.E.
Church for its many programs, both

secular and community

Page 136

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990

1064

1065

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1191

1225

1288

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

2044

2077

2109

2159

2181

2193

2218

2239

2288

McDonald, Valerie

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT PAGE
Commending master Eddie Rose 1480
for achieving the highest height in

Martial Arts and for sharing his

knowledge and abilities with the
youth in the City of Pittsburgh

Recognizing and commending Dr. 1527
Frances J. Bames "the love lady"

for her strong commitment and

values on the Black Family

Commending Earl V. Jones, Sr., for 1568
his commitment and dedication to

"Peace on Earth" hoping to change

the world by example

Commending the Ladies of 1619
Ebenezer Baptist Church on their
Annual Women's Day Program

Saluting a musical genius, Mr. Billy 1671
Strayhom and honoring a musical

legend, Mr. Duke Ellington with the
production of Sophisticated Ladies

Declaring October 17-23,1999as 1711
"Business Women's Week" in the
City of Pittsburgh

Commending the NAACP State 1764
Convention for taking a leadership

tole in preparing our youth an dour

seniors for the new millennium

Declaring November 13, 1999 as 1797
“African-American Heart Disease
& Stroke Awareness Day”

Declaring November 22, 1999 as 1875
"The Corporate Collection Day in

the City of Pittsburgh "gently worn"
clothes drive

Page 137

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

2290 McDonald, Valerie

1166

1169

1246

1248

1249

1298

1348

O'Connor, Bob

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

PAGE

Wishing Mr. Eugene Lesesne a 1880

“Happy 102nd Birthday and

declares November 22, 1999 his

day in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring April 1999, "Child Abuse 506
Prevention Month" in the City of

Pittsburgh

Declaring January 24 - 30th as 82
"Catholic Schools Week in the City

of Pittsburgh

Declaring January 24, 2000 as 82

Catholic Schools Week in the City

of Pittsburgh

Declaring January 24-30,1999as 82
Catholic Schools Week in the City

of Pittsburgh

Declaring January 17, 1999 as 86
"Yeshiva Schools Day in the City

of Pittsburgh

Declaring May 8, 1999, P.A.

CT. 229

Day in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring February 12, 1999"Gene 238

Adams Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Congratulating Yeshiva Schools of 239
Pittsburgh on their continuing

dedication to education and hereby
declares Sunday, February 21,

1999, "Sefer HaMitzvos Day" in

the City of Pittsburgh
Declaring March 1, 1999 as

300

"Pennsylvania Black Conference
On Higher Education Week" in the

City of Pittsburgh

Declaring, Tuesday, March 2,1999 336
“Read Cross Month" in the City of

Pittsburgh

Page 138

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1349

1370

1415

1466

1467

1479

1480

1482

1505

1510

1535

O'Connor, Bob

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

Declaring Monday, March 8, 1999,
Christopher Meili Day in the City
of Pittsburgh

Declaring March 13 - March 20 to
be "St. Patrick's Week

Declaring March 23, 1999 as
“American Diabetes Alert Day” in
the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring April 6, 1999 as "St.
Barnabas Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring April 6, 1999 as Tartan
Day in the City of Pittsburgh

declaring April 19-25, 1999 as
"Sexual Assault Awareness Week"
in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring April 27, 1999 as
"Literacy Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Commending and thanking Bernard
Marcus and Daniel Shapira for their
dedicated years of service to our
community and to Israel

Declaring April 20, 1999 as
“Foreign Service Day" in the City
of Pittsburgh

Commending St. Francis Health
System for their ongoing devotion
to the community and declaring
April 17, 1999 as "Courage to
Come Back Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring April 27, 1999 as "PACE.
Day” in the City of Pittsburgh

Page 139

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337

379

466

562

564

595

598

641

644

680

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1574

1594

1595

1600

1602

1603

1653

1677

1681

1693

1742

1773

1809

O'Connor, Bob

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

Declaring the week of May 2
through May 9, 1999 as Municipal
Clerk Week

Declaring May 11, 1999 "Let's Go
Pens Day” in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring the Month of May
"Become A United States Citizen
month in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring May 1999 "WIC Month
in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring May 16, 1999, "Evelyn
Rosenberg Engelberg Day" in the
City of Pittsburgh

Declaring May 23, 1999, Julian
Falk Day in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring May 25, 1999, "Bridge
To the Future Day”

Congratulating Yeshiva Schools on
received the Blue Ribbon Award

Declaring May 29, 1999 as Paul
Gorman Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring June 11-13, 1999 as
"Kung Fu Days" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring June 21 - June 28, 1999
as "Deaf Blind Awareness Week in
the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring June 1999 as "Sister
Cities Month" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring July 6, 1999, "Kerotest
Day" in the City of Pittsburgh

Page 140

PAGE
730

781

785

797

799

800

868

919

928

958

1036

1062

1087

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1810

1838

1840

1979

1980

1981

2018

2020

2042

2048

2084

O'Connor, Bob

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

Declaring July 1999, “Burdekin
Shire Council-People to People
Student Ambassador Program
Month" in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring July 20, 1999 as
“Pittsburgh Junior Citizens Police
Academy Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring July 20, 1999 as "The Air
National Guard's 171st Air
Refueling Wing Welcome Home
Day in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring Tuesday, September 7,
1999, "Canice Kennedy Day" in the
City of Pittsburgh

Declaring August 28, 1999, "USS
Pittsburgh Day” in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring September 6, 1999 as
"The United Labor Day Parade Day
in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring August 17, 1999 "KDKA
Day in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring the week of September
18-25, 1999, "Financial Planning
Week", in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring Tuesday, September 21,
1999 at "Dr. Norman Cohen Day"
in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring September 15, 1999
“Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfield Day" in
the City of Pittsburgh

Proclaiming September 23, 1999 at
"Breast Cancer Awareness Month
in the City of Pittsburgh

Page 141

PAGE
1089

1180

1187

1370

1373

1375

1420

1424

1478

1485

1535

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

2111

2112

2113

2116

2117

2118

2119

2156

2180

2194

2221

2222

O'Connor, Bob

. O'Connor, Bob

O'Connor, Bob

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

Declaring October 8, 1999 as "Sons
of Columbus Day” in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring October 5, 1999 as
"Greater Pittsburgh Convention &
Visitors Bureau Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring October 5, 1999 as
“Wuhan China Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring October 1, 1999 as
"Sigma Chi Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring October 5, 1999 "Amir
Pilch Day" in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring September 28, 1999 "Dr.
William Uricchio Day in the City
Of Pittsburgh

Proclaiming September 29, 1999 as
"Father Scott Seethaler Day" in the
City of Pittsburgh

Proclaiming, October 12, 1999 as
"Networking USA Day" in the City
of Pittsburgh

Proclaiming October 23, 1999 as
“Shoot For the Cure Day” in the
City of Pittsburgh

Proclaiming October 26, 1999 as
Dolly Campbeil Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Proclaiming October 21, 1999 as
"U.S. Women's National Soccer
Team Day" in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring October 31, 1999 as
Andy Offerman Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Page 142

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1583

1584

1616

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1712

1766

1767

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

2223

2243

2244

2245

2246

2247

2248

2262

2263

2264

2265

2289

O'Connor, Bob

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

Declaring October 31, 1999 as
Taylor Allderdice Distinguished
Alumni Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring November 7, 199 to be
Albert Silvio Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring November 6, 1999 as
"Joseph Welsh Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring November 22, 1999 to be
“Joseph Bojalad Day” in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring November 7, 1999 as
“Herb and Edythe Green Day" in
the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring November 7, 1999 as
“Hans Frankenthal Day" in the City
of Pittsburgh

Declaring November 8, 1999 to be
“Bishop Maurice Trent, Sr. Day" in
the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring November 8, 1999 as
“Bishop Maurice Trent, Sr. Day"

Declaring November 26, 1999 as
"Dan Oshop Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring November 14, 1999 as
“Jewish Hall of Fame of Westem
PA Day in the City of Pittsburgh

Declaring November 12, 1999 as
"Mom's House Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring November 22, 1999 as
"Eyetique Day” in the City of
Pittsburgh

Page 143

PAGE
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1804

1805

1806

1807

1833

1834

1836

1875

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

2310

2311

2331

1168

1346

1393

1418

1538

1680

1694

O'Connor, Bob

Onorato, Dan

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT PAGE

Declaring December 1, 19999 to be 1906
World AIDS Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring December 4, 1999 tobe =: 1908
"Unity Day” within the City of
Pittsburgh

Extending the U.S. Marine Corps 1947
Reserve and the Post Gazette

Goodfellows program its best

wishes and heartfelt appreciation

for its service to our country

Extending its gratitude and best 86
wishes to Maggie Forbes and her
departure from the Pittsburgh

Children's Museum

Congratulating PCNC on its fifth 334
anniversary and wishes them many
more

Congratulating the Ukrainian 423
Selfreliance of Western

Pennsylvania Federal Credit Union

for providing services to the

community for the past 25 years

Commending Mrs. Evelyn Neiser 469
for her service to the Oliver High
School community

Congratulating the Pioneers Lodge 685
1 of the Croatian Fratemal Union

on the Celebration of their 105th
Anniversary and wishes them

continued longevity in the future

Declaring May 29, 1999 as "Jim 927
and Carol Funk" day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Proclaiming June 8, 1999 as "Talise 959
Manuel Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Page 144

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1740

1811

1813

2110

2115

2155

2219

2372

Onorato, Dan

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT PAGE

Congratulating the 1999 Old 1032

Allegheny/Spring View 12 and !
under and 10 and Under Hockey

Teams on an outstanding, exciting

and exceptional championship

season

Welcoming the Watss-Truman- 1088
Lowe-Spann-Haris families to
Pittsburgh

Congratulating the Order Italian 1142
Sons and Daughters of America
sponsoring the annual Triad

Celebration of the Church, The

Family and the Community

Declaring October 9, 1999 1572
"Columbus Day Parade and festival
Day" in the City of Pittsburgh

Congratulating the Officers and 1582
Reunion Committee Members as

well as Carl Monteleone and a

Happy 50th Reunion to the 1949

class of Oliver High School

Proclaiming October 16, 1999 as 1614
"Joel Benning” day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Recognizing and commending 1765
Kenneth James Kaloz for his
achievement of Eagle Scout

Commending the Staff, Coaches, 2031
parents and athletes who participate

in the Flag Football Program in

Arlington, Bloomfield, Brookline,

Cowley, Hill House, market House,
Northview Heights, Ormsby and
Warrington

Page 145

Read and Adopted

BILL
NUMBER SPEAKER SUBJECT PAGE
1221 Ricciardi, Gene Recognizing Zone 3 Commander 189

Douglas Johnson, Lt. Dan Quinlan
and Sgt. Jim Retsch and Crime
Prevention Officer Dan McQuilan
for organizing a blood drive to be
held at the Zone 3 Police Station
located 1725 Mary Street on the
South Side

1347 Ricciardi, Gene Declaring, March 3, 1999 as Daniel 334
A. Goetz Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

1502 Ricciardi, Gene Declaring April 21, 1999 as 634
Citiparks Seniorinterest Volunteer
Day

1536 Ricciardi, Gene Declaring April 27, 1999as WYEP 682
Day throughout the City of
Pittsburgh

1537 Ricciardi, Gene Declaring April 27, 1999 as 684
“Acorns and Oak trees Day" in the
City of Pittsburgh

1598 Ricciardi, Gene Declaring May 11, 1999 as 790
SeniorInterests Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

1716 ~~ Ricciardi, Gene Proclaiming June 19, 1999 as 990
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transfendered Pride Day in the
City of Pittsburgh

1717 Ricciardi, Gene Declaring June 17, 1999, Matthew 992
McCasky Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

1718 Ricciardi, Gene Declaring June 15, 1999 993
Opportunity Through Baseball Day
in the City of Pittsburgh

1887 Ricciardi, Gene Declaring Tuesday, July 27, 1999 1229
Brookline Boxing Club Day in the
City of Pittsburgh

Page 146

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1911

1914

1978

2046

2078

2220

2259

2260

2287

Ricciardi, Gene

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

Congratulating the 1999 South Side
Athletic Association Girl's Softball
Team

Declaring August 31, 1999 Tony
Accamando Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Commending the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Local #5 and Sargent Electric for
their efforts and accomplishments
in the spirit of being community
oriented neighbors

Commending the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Loca] #5 and Sargent Electric for
the efforts and accomplishments in
the spirit of being community
oriented neighbors

Declaring September 24, 1999 as
Frick Woods Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Resolving that Tuesday, September
28, 1999 be known as
SeniorInterests Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Declaring November 1, 1999 as
Tom Jones Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Commending the Felician Sisters
during the 125th Anniversary of
their Presence in North America

Supporting the City of Pittsburgh
Department of Parks and Recreation

Commending 199 Erin Dougherty
Bench Press Completion and
Benefit Committee

Page 147

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1343

1368

1483

1528

1765

1828

1830

1871

BILL
NUMBER SPEAKER

2332

1147

1247

1273

1371

1417

1484

1503

1509

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT

PAGE

Ricciardi, Gene Declaring December 5, 1999 as 1950
Joseph D'Andrea Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Udin, Sala Recognizing April as "Parkinson's 508
Awareness Month in the City of
Pittsburgh

Udin, Sala Declaring the month of January, 59
hereafter to be Spirit of King month
in the City of Pittsburgh

Udin, Sala Declaring February 20, 1999 as 237
Diversity Awareness Week in the
City of Pittsburgh

Udin, Sala Commending the Kings & Queens 280
of Africa and congratulates all of
the recipients of the Sprit of Life

Awards

Udin, Sala Honoring Mr. Oliver Randali 382
Montgomery, Sr. for his
outstanding achievements, hard
work and dedication

Udin, Sala Honoring Louis "HOP" Kendrick 469
for a lifetime of service to his
family, his church, politics, his
county and the Pittsburgh
community

Udin, Sala Honoring Judge Doris Smith for her 602
outstanding achievements

Udin, Sala Congratulating the Freedom Comer 636
Committee on this historic
groundbreaking event

Udin, Sala Commending the Pittsburgh Cancer 644
Institute for its outreach and
community efforts in educating the
Minority Communities

Page 148

BILL

NUMBER SPEAKER

1630

1694

1716

1741

1814

2021

2045

Udin, Sala

Read and Adopted

SUBJECT PAGE

Honoring Dr. Jerome Taylor for the 845
may ways in which he has help to

make Pittsburgh the "Village" it

takes to raise a child

Proclaiming June 8, 1999 as "Talise 959
Manuel Day in the City of
Pittsburgh

Proclaiming June 19, 1999 as 990
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transfendered Pride Day in the

City of Pittsburgh

Commending Sharon Wade, Alber 1034
Boxley, Diane Gatson, Jerome

Wasek, Rizieri Valles, Jeffrey

Trunick, & Anthony Novak for the

diligent and immediate response to

a near fatal tragedy involving

Kenya Johnson

Acknowledging the valued 1145
contributes of talent, generosity and
leadership represented by the Frogs

Club of Pittsburgh and

congratulates them on the

anniversary occasion

Congratulates the Harty Bible 1425
School Class of 1941 on this year
of Jubilee Celebration

Proclaiming September 21, 1999, 1482
Green Neighborhood Development

day as established by The

Pittsburgh Project PHAS, Equitable

Gas , the Western Conservancy,

The Pittsburgh History and

Landmarks Foundation, and

Conservation Consultants, Inc.

Page 149

BILL
NUMBER SPEAKER

2079 Uddin, Sala

2080 Udin, Sala

2261 Uddin, Sala

BILL
NUMBER

1235

1779

Read and Adopted
SUBJECT

Commending the Minority
Enterprise Corporation of Western
Pennsylvania for sponsoring this
worthy conference and further
commending them for their tireless
efforts to advance the
entrepreneurial efforts of minorities

Congratulating Bishop and Mrs.
Eugene M. Thorpe, officers and
congregation for 31 years of service
in Pittsburgh and wish them
continued success in providing
Ministry to the heart of the
Northside and beyond, as "God's
Minsitering Gifts

Joining the Department of African
Studies in honoring Professor
Dennis Brutus for the many ways in
which he has helped to ensure
justice for all humanity

Residential Parking Permit
SUBJECT

Implementation of a Residential
Parking Permit Program in the Mt.
Washington RPPP Area "N" so as
to change the parking management
plan which provides for he hours of
enforcement to be from 7:00 a.m. -
7:00 p.m. Monday - Saturday for
the north side of Grandview
Avenue to be from 6 P.M. to 2
A.M. Monday through Sunday

Implementation of Residential
Parking Permit Program Area "O"
in the Homewood South/North
Point Breeze area (Council District
Q pursuant to Pittsburgh Code
Chapter 549

Page 150

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PAGE
192, 308

1069, 1162

BILL

NUMBER

2058

2302

2334

2335

Residential Parking Permit
SUBJECT

Implementation of a Residential
Parking Permit Program in the
Oakland community pursuant to
Pittsburgh Code, Chapter 549" so
as to limit the number of
consecutive weekdays a visitors’
pass can be used in Area "D"

Implementation of a Residential
Parking Permit Program in the East
Allegheny Community Pursuant to
Pittsburgh Code, Chapter 549, so a
to increase the days of
enforcement and limit the number
of consecutive weekdays a visitors’
pass can be used in Area "F"

Amending Resolution 637/1984,
providing for the implementation of
a Residential Parking Permit
Program in the Oakland community
pursuant to Pittsburgh code Chapter
549, so as to limit the number of
consecutive weekdays a visitors’
pass can be used in Area "E"

Amending Resolution 6737/1986,
providing for the implementation of
a Residential Parking Permit
Program in the Allegheny West
community pursuant to Pittsburgh
Code, Chapter 549, so as to limit
the number of consecutive
weekdays a visitors’ pass can be
used in Area "G"

Page 151

PAGE
1489, 1603

1886, 1959

1955, 2024

1955

BILL

NUMBER

1137

1665

1666

2339

1052

2206

1139

Addition

Amending

Conveyance

Sale of Property

SUBJECT

Authorizing the sale of City owned
property in the 25th Ward, 401
Catoma Street, designated as Block
23G, Lot 366 (part), to Peter L.
Hervoyavich and Kathleen
Hervoyavich, his wife, for the sum
of $100.00

Authorizing the Sale of City owned
property on Weitz Way, 27th Ward,
Block 115-E, Lot 40 to Riat
Lorraine Borgese, for the sum of
$100.00

Authorizing the Sale of City owned
property on Weitz Way, 27th Ward,
Block 115-E, Lot 40 to Armond
Borgese

“Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act, having been
placed for sale to adjoining
property owners in conjunctions
with the City of Pittsburgh/City
Source Associates Sideyard
Program

Providing for the addition of the
property located at 920 Ft.
Duquesne Boulevard, Block and
Lot No. 009-N-245 in the Second
Ward, to the existing Penn-Liberty
Historic District, under section 513
of Chapter 1007 of the Code of
Ordinances

Sale of property located at 597-
7595-7593 and 7589 Kelly Street,
13th Ward, to Holy Cross
Neighborhood Development, Inc.
for the sum of $2,500.00

Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act, "effective
December 11, 1984

Page 152

PAGE
30, 91

878, 938

2005

266

1719, 1813

30, 202

BILL
NUMBER
1464 Conveyance
1874 Conveyance
1879 Conveyance
2135 Conveyance
2135 Conveyance
2339 Conveyance
1853 Dedication
1140 Petition
1238 Petition
1655 Petition

Sale of Property
SUBJECT

“Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act (See addendum
for listing of property)

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act, effective
December 11, 1984 - (See
addendum for listing of property)

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act, effective
December 11, 1984 - (See
Addendum for listing of property)

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act, effective
December 11, 1984

Providing for the filing of a
conveyance of certain property or
properties, acquired at tax sales in
accordance with Act No. 171 of
1984, "Second Class City Treasurer
Sale and Collection Act” effective
December 11, 1984

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act" effective
December 11, 1984

Accepting the dedication of
Gateway Boulevard and Riverfront
Boulevard in the 16th Ward, 3rd
Council District

Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act, “effective
December 11, 1984

Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act" (See addendum
for list of property)

Page 153

PAGE
1073

1198, 1290

1198, 1291

1678

1589

1955

1194, 1313

193, 304

876, 937

BILL
NUMBER

1873 Petition
1877 Petition
2134 Petition
2134 Petition
2136 Petition
2207 ‘Petition
2305 ‘Petition
2136 Petitions
1645 = Quit Claim

Sale of Property
SUBJECT

“Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act, effective
December 11, 1984 - (See
addendum for listing of property)

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act, effective
December 11, 1984 - (See
Addendum for listing of property)

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act, effective
December 11, 1984

Providing for the filing of a petition
or petitions for he sale of certain
property or properties, acquired at
tax sales in accordance with Act
No. 171 of 1984, "Second Class
City Treasurer Sale and Collection
Act” effective December 11, 1984

“Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act", effective
December 11, 1984"

“Second Class city Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act”, effective
December 11, 1984

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act, effective
December 11, 1984

Issue a quit claim deed for property,
6th Ward, Block 48R, Lot 25 to
Exxon Corporation for the sum of
$70,000.00.00

Page 154

PAGE
1198, 1290

1198, 1291

1677

1589

1719, 1813

1886, 1957

1678

851, 1001

BILL

NUMBER
1876 Quit Claim Deed
1878 Quit Claim Deed
2303 Quit Claim Deed
1138 Repealing
2205 Repealing
1875 Transfer

Sale of Property

SUBJECT

Authorizing the City of Pittsburgh
to issue a quit claim deed for
property designated as Block 61D,
Lot part of 160 in the 18th Ward of
the City of Pittsburgh to James C.
Pantelis, Jr., for the sum of $500.00

Authorizing the City of Pittsburgh
to issue Quit Claim Deed for
properties, designated as Block
60E, Lot 13, in the 29th Ward of
the City of Pittsburgh and Block
138A, Lot 190, in the 32nd Ward of
the City of Pittsburgh, to the Port
Authority of Allegheny County

Issue a quit claim deed for property
in the 32nd Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh, designated as Block
139H, Lot 250 to the Port Authority
of Allegheny County for the sum of
$5,700.00

Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act, "effective
December 11, 1984

Repealing items in Resolutions,
approved on various dates,
authorizing the sale of properties in
various wards of the City of
Pittsburgh, in accordance with Act
No. 171 of 1984

Authorizing the Mayor and the
Director of Finance, on behalf of
the City of Pittsburgh to transfer its
Tights, title and interest, if any to
certain property in the City of
Pittsburgh adjacent to Lincoln
Elementary School, to the School
District of Pittsburgh as it is needed
for future expansion

Page 155

PAGE
1298, 1291

1198, 1291

1886, 1956

1719, 1812

1198, 1291

REL Sale of Property - Acceptance

NUMBER SUBJECT PAGE

1448 Accepting the dedication of certain 610
property along Penelope Street, a
portion of Lot and Block 15-A-120
between a 12" Unnamed Way and
Spahrgrove Street, 19th Ward, 2nd
Council District

BILL Sale of Property - Amending

NUMBER SUBJECT PAGE

1429 Amending Res. 47/1999 which 482, 569
authorized the sale of a vacant lot,
100.22 x 87.81 located at 2604
Arlington Avenue, 16th Ward,
Block 13M, Lot 170 to Betty
Wasick to correct the purchase
price form $1,000.00 to correctly
read $750.00

BILL Sale of Property - Conveyance

NUMBER SUBJECT PAGE

1379 "Second Class City Treasurer Sale 384, 491, 534
and Collection Act" (See
Addendum for listing of property)

1380 "Second Class City Treasurer Sale 384 491 534
and Collection Act" (See 109
Addendum for listing of property)

1381 “Second Class City Treasurer Sale 384
and Collection Act" (See
Addendum for listing of property)

1563 Conveyance by the City of 693, 820
Pittsburgh certain properties in the
3rd and Sth wards to the Housing
Authority of City of Pittsburgh for
inclusion in the Hope VI Program,
District 6 (See addendum for listing
of properties)

Page 156

BILL
NUMBER

1564

1583

1829

1830

1214 Conveyance

1975 Conveyance

BILL
NUMBER

1448

Sale of Property - Conveyance

SUBJECT

Conveyance by the City of
Pittsburgh certain vacant lots in the
3rd and Sth wards to the Housing
Authority of City of Pittsburgh for
inclusion in the Hope VI Program,
Council District 6 (See addendum
for listing of property

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act" (See addendum
for listing of properties)

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act" - (See
Addendum for property Listing)

“Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act" - (See
Addendum for property Listing)

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act, effective
December 11, 1984

Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act" effective
December 11, 1984, having been
placed for sale to adjoining
property owners in conjunction
with the City of Pitsburgh/City
Source Associates Sideyard
Program - See Addendum for
listing of property

Sale of Property - Dedication

SUBJECT

Accepting the dedication of certain
property along Penelope Street, a
portion of Lot and Block 15-A-120,
between a 12' Unnamed Way and
Spahrgrove Street in the 19th Ward,
2nd Council District, City of
Pittsburgh

Page 157

PAGE
693, 820

743, 851

1151, 1254

246

1352, 1452

PAGE
520

BILL
NUMBER

1211 Deed

BILL
NUMBER

1316

1317

1382

1431

1432

1525

1526

1527

Sale of Property - Deed
SUBJECT

Issue a deed in form approved by
the City Solicitor, for property in
the 16th Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh known as 2700-2702
Spring Wage designated as Block
13 S, Lot 261 to Carl R. &
Kimberly Calio for the sum of
$500.00

Sale of Property - Petition

SUBJECT

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act" - December 11,
1984 - See Addendum for property
listing

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act" - See
addendum for property listing

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act” (See
Addendum for listing of property)

Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection - See addendum for
list of property

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act" - See
Addendum for listing of property

“Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act" - See
Addendum for listing of property

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act” - See
Addendum for listing of property

Page 158

PAGE
246

PAGE
303, 394

303, 394

384

482, 570

649, 761

BILL
NUMBER

1565

1584

1831

1976 Petition

BILL
NUMBER

2359

BILL
NUMBER

1562

Sale of Property - Petition

SUBJECT PAGE

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale 693, 820
and Collection Act” (See addendum
for listing of property)

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale 743, 851
and Collection Act" (See addendum
for listing of properties)

"Second Class City Treasurer Sale 1151, 1254
and Collection Act”

Second Class City Treasurer Sale 1352, 1452
and Collection Act" effective

December 11, 1984, having been

placed for sale to adjoining

property owners in conjunction

with the City of Pittsburgh/City

Source Associates Sideyard

Program - See Addendum for

property listing

Sale of Property - Quit Claim Deed

SUBJECT PAGE

Issuance of a quit claim deed for 1989, 2041
property, designated as part of

Block 115 E, Lot 40, in the 27th

Ward of the City of Pittsburgh to

Walter R. Lorenz & Clara M.

Lorenz, for the sum of $500.00

Sale of Property - Repealing

SUBJECT PAGE

Repealing items in Resolutions, 693, 820
approved on various dates,

authorizing the sale of properties in

various wards of the City of

Pittsburgh in accordance with Act

No. 171 of 1984 (See Addendum

for listing of property)

Page 159

BILL
NUMBER

1558

BILL
NUMBER

1420

1443

BILL
NUMBER

1083

1116

1557

Sale of Property - URA

SUBJECT PAGE

URA to acquire all of the City's 692, 832
right, title and interest, if any in and

to the following Publicly-owned

property in the city of Pittsburgh

Council District No. 3 - (See

addendum for listing of property)

Sewage Facilities

SUBJECT PAGE

Adopting Official Sewage Facilities 480, 542
Plan for Steelers Stadium
Development, 22nd Ward

Adopting an Official Sewage 519, 621
Facilities Plan for sewage services

adequate to prevent contamination

of waters and/or environmental

health hazards with sewage wastes,

and to revise said plan whenever it

is necessary to meet the sewage

disposal needs of the municipality

TIF
SUBJECT PAGE
Adopting the TIF plan presented by 267
the URA of Pittsburgh creating the
South Side Works Tax Increment

Financing District

Tax Incremental Financing Plan 363
presented by the URA creating the

East Liberty - Home Depot, USA

Tax Increment Financing District

Amending Section 3 of Resolution 692, 830
45/1999 entitled Adopting a Tax

Increment Financing Plan presented

by the URA of Pittsburgh creating

the Fulton Building Tax Increment

Financing District and making

certain findings (Council District 9)

Page 160

BILL
NUMBER

1791

1793

1860

2006

2092

2271

BILL
NUMBER

1060

TIF

SUBJECT PAGE

Authorizing the Urban 1094, 1201
Redevelopment Authority of

Pittsburgh to pursue a Tax

Incremental Financing Proposal for

portions of the Inner Triangle

Redevelopment Area District 6

Authorizing the URA of Pittsburgh 1095, 1201
to pursue a Tax Incremental

Financing Proposal or Proposals for

a Redevelopment Area to be formed

on the South Shore of the

Monogahela River

Authorizing the URA of Pittsburgh 1195, 1317
to pursue a Tax Incremental

Financing Proposal for portions of

the River Avenue Redevelopment

Area (Council District No. 1)

Adopting the Station Square Tax 1382, 1817
Incremental Financing Plan

Adopting the North Shore East 1541, 1939
River Avenue Tax Incremental
Financing Plan

Fifth and Forbes Development in 1839
accordance with the 1998 Center

Triangle Tax Increment Financing

Plan and the 1999 Center Triangle

Tax Increment Financing Plan

Transfer

SUBJECT PAGE

$50,000.00 from the Non- 246
Departmental - Personnel, Pension
Account to the Law Department's
Miscellaneous Services Account in

order to hire outside assistance to

help the Law Department with the
technical aspects of the cable
communications franchise renewal
process

Page 161

BILL
NUMBER

1150

1310

1350

1351

1352

1353

1358

Transfer

SUBJECT

$7,000.00 from Sub Class 010,
Salaries, City Council to Sub Class
150, Miscellaneous Services, City
Council

$15,000.00 from fund No. 1000,
Org. Code 999200, budget year
1999 Non-Departmental Citywide
to the Public Safety Police
Miscellaneous Services Fund,
budget year 1999

$16,000.00 from the Cable
Communications Trust Fund to the
Equipment Leasing Authority Fund
for the purchase of vehicles and
related accessories

$19,100.00 from the Building of
Bureau of Inspection Trust Fund to
the Equipment Leasing Authority
Fund for the purchase of vehicles
and related accessories

$360,000.00 from the Emergency
Medical Services Trust Fund to the
Equipment Leasing Authority Fund
for the purchase of vehicles and
related accessories

$5,500.00 from the Emergency
Medical Services Salaries Account
to Emergency Medical Services
Tuition Reimbursement Account
for EMS Personnel

$107,708.00 from various 1997
accounts Citywide to the Fire
Bureau's 1997 Salary Account in
order to resolve deficits in the 1997
Fire Payroll Accounts

Page 162

PAGE
60, 91

302, 393

337, 658

338, 658

339, 658

339, 430

340, 430

$7,000.00

BILL
NUMBER

1359

1403

1485

1522

1543

1657

1658

Transfer

SUBJECT

$128,274.00 from various 1997
accounts Citywide to the Fire
Bureau's 1997 Premium Pay
Account in order to resolve deficits
in 1997 Fire Payroll Accounts

Transfer the aggregate amount of
$10,164.90 from various codes to
Salaries, Regular Employees,
Account 511000, Fund 1000,
Organization 510000, Subclass 010,
Year 1998

Transfer of $50,000.00 from the
Confiscated Narcotics Proceeds
Trust Fund to the Equipment
Leasing Authority for the purchase
of vehicles and related accessories

$115,000. To the Special Parks
Program Trust Fund, Budget Year
1999 from the Special Summer
Food Service Program Trust Fund

$200,000.00 from various code
Accounts with the Department of
Public Works to other varied Code
Accounts within the Department of
Public Works

$500,000 from Code 45, health/Life
Insurance-Municipal Employees,
Non-Departmental Personnel to
Special Summer Food Service
Program Trust Fund, Department of
Parks and Recreation

$12,000.00 from Account 593100
to the Special Parks Programs Trust
Fund, Department of Parks and
Recreation

Page 163

PAGE
340, 430

424, 533

602, 659

648, 760

690, 763, 827

877, 938

877, 979

BILL
NUMBER

1686

1732

1761

1764

1796

1816

1818

Transfer

SUBJECT

$500,000 from PNC General Fund
Bank Account, Fund 1000, to the
Emergency Telephone Act Trust
Fund, as a temporary loan for
various operating expenditures
within the Emergency Operations
Center Department of Public Safety

$85.00 from City Council to the
Zoning Board of Adjustment Fund

$2,000.00 from City Council Sub
Glass Miscellaneous Services to the
Korean War Veterans Memorial

$25,000.00 from Account 568500,
Fund 1000, Organization 10300 to
Account 516000, Fund 1000,
Organization 103000, Mayor’
Office, City Information Systems,
This transfer is necessary to
compensate our staff for the extra
hours necessary to handle the
extensive volume of work related to
the Y2K projects and applications

$50,000.00 from Utilities, City
Information Systems, $74,000.00
from Miscellaneous Services, City
Information Systems and
$100,000.0 from Health Care
Department of Personnel to
Information Systems
Modernization, Department of
Finance

$300,000 from the Bureau of Police
to the Emergency Operations
Center, Department of Public Safety

$100,000 from within the Bureau of
Police, Department of Public Safety

Page 164

PAGE
934

1000, 1050

1045, 1073

1046, 1099

1095, 1198

1149, 1199

1149, 1253

BILL
NUMBER

1888

1891

1916

1925

1982

1983

1984

Transfer

SUBJECT

$50,000.00 from Organization:
123000, Account 511000, Fund:
1000, Sub: 010, Account: 51600,
Fund 1000, Sub: 020, Premium pay,
Department of General Services

Authorizing the transfer of
$200,000.00 from within the
Bureau of Fire, Department of
Public Safety

Authorizing the transfer of
$7,500.00 from Rent Office,
Organization: 121000, Account
561800, Fund 1000, Sub Account
140, Budget Year; 1999 To
Organization 121000, Account
516000, Index Code 1126515,
Fund: 1000, Sub Account 020,
Premium Pay, Budget Year 1999,
Department of General Services,
Bureau of Administration

$300,000.00 from Salaries to
Premium Pay, $150,000.00 from
the Bureau of Environmental
Services, both within the
Department of Public Works

$36,000.00 from the Local Law
Enforcement Block Grant Trust to
the Equipment Leasing Authority
for the purchase of two detective
vehicles and related accessories

$159,000.00 from the Bureau of
Police to the Bureau of Emergency
Medical Services. Department of
Public Safety

$8,000.00 from the Bureau of
Police to the Bureau of Emergency
Medical Services Department of
Public Safety

Page 165

PAGE
1247, 1292

1248, 1293

1344, 1451

1346, 1451

1378, 1454

1379, 1491

BILL

NUMBER

2010

2011

2022

2060

2061

2086

2087

Transfer

SUBJECT

PAGE

$16,000 from the Miscellaneous 1383
Service Account to Salaries

Account in the Department of

Finance in order to resolve deficits

in the 1997 Finance payroll accounts

$12,950 from the Miscellaneous 1383
Services Account to the Salaries

Account in the Law Department

and transferring $200,050 from the
Salaries Account to the Premium

Pay Account in the Department of

Public Safety, Bureau of Fire in

order to resolve deficits in the 1998

Law and Fire payroll accounts

$6,000.00 from Sub Class 010, 1432, 1550
Salaries, City Council to Sub Class

150, Miscellaneous Services, City

Council, Account 526125

$200,000.00 from the Special 1489, 1601
Summer Food Service Program

Trust Fund, Department of Parks

and Recreation to Code 45,

Health/Life Insurance-Municipal

Employees, Non-Departmental

Personnel

$40,000.00 from Salaries, Regular 1490, 1601
Employees to Premium Pay

$9,000.00 from OrganizationCode 1540, 1635
12100 to Organization 121000,

Miscellaneous Services Department

of General Services

$160,000.00 from the Bureau of 1540, 1636
Police to the Office of Municipal
Investigations, Law Department

Page 166

BILL
NUMBER

2088

2101

2122

Transfer

SUBJECT PAGE

Ten Million dollars from the City's 1540
operating reserve fund balance and i
the capital bond account to various

code accounts in various

Department sin each of the

following three years, FY2000,

FY2001 and FY2002 so support the
expenditures, appropriations needed

to fulfill work plan developed by

the Neighborhood Infrastructure
Improvement Commission

$3,000.00 from within the 1542, 1636
Department of City Controller;

from Miscellaneous Services

Printing to Supplies

$3,700.00 from Sub Class 150, 1677
Miscellaneous Services, City

Council, Account: 526125, Org:

101100, Fund: 1000, Budget Year

1999 to Sub Class 010, Salaries,

City Council, Account 511000,

Org: 101100, Fund: 1000, Budget

Year: 1999

$7,300.00 from Sub Class 150, 1587
Miscellaneous Services, City

Council Account: 526125, Org:

101100, Fund: 1000, Budget Year

1999 to Sub Class 010, Salaries,

City Council, Account 511000,

Org: 101100, Fund: 1000, Budget

Year 1999

Page 167

BILL
NUMBER

2131

2132

2202

2229

Transfer

SUBJECT

$911,000 from Organization
999300, Account 51100, Fund
1000, Sub-class 010, Budget Year
1999, to Organization 999300,
Account 574500, Index Code
004697, Fund 1000, Sub-Class 040,
Budget Year 1999, Department of
Personnel & Civil Service
Commission, Employee
Compensation

$5,000.00 from fund 1000, account
5121000, sub class 010
organization code sub-class 020,
organization 10900, Department of
Personnel & Civil Service
Commission, Salaries to Premium
Pay

$10,000.00 from Salaries, Regular
Employees, Account 511000, Fund
1000, Subclass 010, Organization
510000, Budget Year 1999 to
Supplies, Account 533400, Fund
1000, Subclass 100, Organization
500000, Budget Year 1999, all in
the Department of Parks and
Recreation

$60,000.00 from the Department of
Law, Salaries, Fund 1000,
Organization 108000, SUB 010,
Account 511000, Budget Year 1999
to Department of Law -
Miscellaneous Service -
Professional, Fund 1000, Re-
organization 108000, Sub 150,
Account 526100, Budget Year 1999

Page 168

PAGE
1589, 1744

1589, 1744

1718, 1811

1771, 1814

BILL

NUMBER

2230

2249

2252

2293

2299

2333

2350

2351

2357

Transfer

SUBJECT

$3,000.00 from City Clerk,
Miscellaneous Services, Sub Class:
150, Account 525500, Org: 101200,
Budget Year: 1999 to City Council
Education and Training, Sub Class
030, Account: 564300, Org:
101100, Budget Year: 1999

$33,000.00 from organization Code
122000 to Organization 12300,
Budget Year 1999, Premium Pay,
Department of General Services

$300,000.00 from Special Summer
Food Service Trust Fund, Parks &
Recreation to Code 45 Health Life
Insurance Municipal Employees

$350,000.00 from Emergency
Medical Services Organization to
Emergency medical Services
Organization

$115,000.00 from various Code
Accounts within the Department of
Public Works to other various Code
Accounts within the Department of
Public Works

$115,000.000 from Salaries to the
Solid Waste Trust fund both within
the Department of Public Works

$730,265.14 from the Bureau of
Police to the Law Department

$115,000.00 from Emergency
Medical Services Organization to
Emergency Medical Services
Organization

$39,448.00 from within the Bureau
of Fire, Department of Public Safety

$742,154 from various accounts
citywide to the Pension

Page 169

PAGE

1771, 1844

1807, 1886

1808, 1887

1884, 1928

2006

1885, 1961

1954, 1990

1988

1988, 2041

1989, 2041

BILL
NUMBER

2358

BILL
NUMBER

1154

2231

Transfer

SUBJECT

$160,000.00 from Finance,
Salaries, Fund, Budget Year 1999
to Non-Departmental - City - Wide
Judgements, Fund, Budget Year
1999

Transfer - Amending

SUBJECT

$500,000.00 from various amounts
within the Department of Public
Safety, Bureau of Police to the
Public Safety Training Account
Trust Fund, Department of Public
Safety, Bureau of Police, “by
decreasing the total amount of
transfer to $493,000.00 Dollars

Trust Fund

SUBJECT

Directing the Budget Director and
City Treasurer to collect and
deposit all payments received from
the State of PA Municipal Service
Agreement into STORM TEAM
TRUST FUND

Authorizing the City of Pittsburgh
to establish a trust fund and the
deposit therein a portion of the
City's Dog License Fee in order to
providing a funding stream in
support of the Department of Parks
& Recreation's Off Leash Exercise
Program

Page 170

PAGE
1989, 2041

PAGE
87

PAGE
60

1771

BILL
NUMBER

1156

1159

1203

1204

1205

URA

SUBJECT PAGE

Authorizing the URA of Pittsburgh 61
to submit an application to the PA
office of the Budget for a
Redevelopment Assistance Capital
Program in the amount of
$7,000,000.00 for the North Shore
Revitalization Project

Submit an application for Financial 61
Assistance in the amount of
$3,215,000.00 to the

Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania
Department of Community and
Economic Development for the

Housing Recovery Program,
Neighborhood Program,

Community Development

Investment Fund

Contract for disposition of land by 268
and between the URA of Pittsburgh
and 800 Waterfront

Disposition of Land by and 143
between the URA and Allegheny

Center Associates for the sale of

Parcel 3 (Block 8G Lots 206 and

207, 22nd Ward, District 1

Disposition of Land by and 309
between the URA of Pittsburgh and
Rycon Construction for the sale of

Part of Block 25N, Lot 305 in the

2nd Ward, Liberty Avenue between
Twenty Fifth and Twenty Sixth

Street, renovation of building for

office and warehouse use

Disposition Contract by and 143
between the URA and Rycon
Construction, Inc. for the sale of

Part of Block 25N, Lot 305,

Council District 6

Page 171

BILL

NUMBER

1396

1397

1398

1400

1401

1421

URA

SUBJECT

URA of Pittsburgh submit an
application to the Pennsylvania
Office of the Budget for a
Redevelopment Assistance Capital
Program in the amount of
$75,000,000 for the Pittsburgh
Steelers Football Stadium Project,
Council District 6

URA of Pittsburgh submit an
application to the Pennsylvania
Office of the Budget for a
Redevelopment Assistance Capital
Program in the amount of
$75,000,000 for the PNC Park
Baseball Stadium for the Pittsburgh
Pirates, Council District 6

URA of Pittsburgh to expend
$300,000 from the Industrial Land
Reserve Fund for the environmental
temediaton of the former Kerotest
facility, Council District 6

URA to transfer certain property
located in the 14th Ward designated
as Block 128P, Lot 7, Council
District 5

URA to acquire all of the City's
tight, following Publicly-owned
Property designated as Block 11-K,
Lot 19, in the Ist Ward - Rental
Housing Development
Improvement Program

Disposition Contract by and
between the URA and UPMC
Health Systems, related to entity to
be from the sale of part of Block
295, Lot 8, 16th Ward,
Redevelopment Area No. 55,
Carson Street, District 3

Page 172

PAGE
423, 544

423, 544

424, 544

424,544

480, 661

BILL
NUMBER

1458

1579

1613

1615

1616

1617

URA
SUBJECT

Directing the Director of Planning,
in conjunction with the URA to
develop a comprehensive
redevelopment plan for the LTV
Steel Company, Inc.'s former Coke
and By-Products facility and the
Irvine/Second Avenue commercial
corridor in Hazelwood and
furthermore, to develop strategies
for the possible acquisition of the
LTV property by the URA

Contract for Disposition by Sale of
Land by and between the URA of
Pittsburgh and Gildas A. Kaib, Jr.
for the sale of various properties in
the 18th Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh, District 3

Authorizing the URA of Pittsburgh
to acquire all of the City’s right,
title and interest if any to publicly
owned property in the City of
Pittsburgh District No. 3

Disposition Contract by Sale of
Land be and between URA and
Jeanine C. Bacon for the Sale of
Block 7B, Lot 380 in the Twenty
First Ward of the City of Pittsburgh
for $310.00, District 6

Disposition Contract by and
between the URA and Chartiers
Nature Conservancy, Inc. for the
sale of Parcels 12A and 12B, 28th
Ward, of the City of Pittsburgh,
District 2

Disposition Contract by and
between the URA and Chartiers
Nature Conservancy, Inc.

Page 173

PAGE
522

742, 832,
1053

811, 1053

811, 908

812, 908

BILL
NUMBER

1618

1619

1620

1685

1731

1792

URA

SUBJECT

Authorizing the URA to acquire
that property located at 477-479
Kilboume Street, District 5

Authorizing the URA to acquire
property in the 15th Ward of the
City of Pittsburgh

Authorizing the URA to acquire
that property at 161 Brahm Street,
District 1, owned by William Pegg

Disposition Contract Land by and
between the Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh and a.m.
Rodriguez Associates, Inc., or a
limited partnership to be formed,
for the sale of Block 29N lots 77
and 161, in the Sixteenth Ward

Contract for Disposition of land by
and between the URA and the
Soffer Organization or an entity to
be formed for the sale of parcels B
&C, 44 S. 26th Street EE. Carson
Street, proposed Gateway
Boulevard and the Monogahela
River Council District #3

Authorizing the URA of Pittsburgh
to submit an Application to PA
Office of the Budget for a
Redevelopment Assistance Capital
Program "RACP" grant in the
amount of $10,000,000 for the
Marketplace at Fifth and Forbes
Project, District 6

Page 174

PAGE
812, 908

812, 908

813, 908

933, 1016

999, 1053

1095, 1201

BILL
NUMBER

1822

1823

1824

2028

URA

SUBJECT

Contract for Disposition of Land by
and between the URA of Pittsburgh
and H.J. Heinz Company for
parcels 14, 114a, 16 and 17 (Block
24L, Lot 92 and Block 24H, Lots
136, 138, part of 140, 150, 158, 168
and 169), 24th Ward,
Redevelopment Area No. 48,
District 1

Contract for Disposition of Land by
and between the URA of Pittsburgh
and Western Pennsylvania
Magellan Development Corporation
for the lease of Part of Parcel 2
lock 2C Part of Lot 300) in the
Third Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh, District 6, Bedford
Avenue at Crawford Street (Parking
Garage)

Submit a 1999-2000 Application
for Financial Assistance in the
amount of $2,800,000.00 to the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Community and
Economic Development for the
Community Development
Investment Fund, Streetface
Program and Heinz Distribution
Center Project

URA to submit an application for
financial assistance in the amount
of $585,000 to the Commonwealth
of PA Department of Community &
Economic Development for the
Main Street Commercial
Reinvestment Program

Page 175

PAGE
1150

1150,
1263,1561

1150

1432, 1553

BILL
NUMBER

2094

BILL
NUMBER

1151

1152

1232

1376

1611

1612

1730

URA

SUBJECT

URA of Pittsburgh to acquire all of
the City's Right, Title and Interest,
if any, in and to the following
publicly-owned property in the 14th
ward of the City of Pittsburgh,
District No, 5

Vacation

SUBJECT

Vacating a portion of Rodman
Street, 40 feet wide from North
Highland easterly to its dead end in
the 11th Ward, 9th Council District

Vacating a portion of Fall Way,
between Serene Street and Admiral
Street, 24th Ward, 1st Council
District

Vacating an irregular portion of
Weitz Way, between Brighton
Woods Road and its Dead End in
the 27th Ward, 1st Council District

Vacating Shore Avenue 80’ wide,
from Allegheny to Galveston
Avenue, Former Reedsdale Street
from Allegheny avenue to its
easterly terminus in the 22nd Ward,
6th Council District

Vacating a portion of North Negley
Avenue and North St. Clair Street,
11th Ward, District 9

Vacating portions of Federal Street,
‘West General Robinson Street,
Stadium Drive East and North
Shore Drive, 22nd Ward, 6th
District

Vacating portions of Dalemount
Street, in the20th Ward, 4th
Council District

Page 176

PAGE
1541, 1654

PAGE
60, 100

192, 307

384, 491

811, 883

999, 1081

BILL
NUMBER

1855

1856

1857

2025

2026

2127

2128

Vacation

SUBJECT

Vacating a portion of Hankla Way
in the 19th Ward, 2nd Council
District of the City of Pittsburgh

Vacating Holtz Way and Unnamed
Way in the 3rd Ward, 6th Council
District of the City of Pittsburgh

Vacating a portion of S. 25th Street
from Sidney Street to its northem
terminus at S. Water Street in the
16th Ward, 3rd Council District of
the City of Pittsburgh

Vacating a portion of Almont Street
from Spokane Avenue to Santron
Avenue, 19th Ward, 4th Council
District

Vacating 10' Unnamed Way
between Oakland Avenue and S.
Bouquet Street, 4th Ward, 3rd
Council District of the City of
Pittsburgh

Vacating a portion of Murko Way
and 12' Unnamed Way in the 25th
Ward, 6th Council District of the
City of Pittsburgh

Vacating a portion of Murko Way
and 12" Unnamed Way in the 25th
Ward, 6th Council District

Vacating 10' Unnamed Way
between Elba Street and Centre
Avenue and a 5" Unnamed Way
from this 10" Unnamed Way to its
easterly terminus in the Sth Ward,
6th Council District

Page 177

PAGE
1194, 1459

1195, 1396

1195, 1313

1432, 1552

1588

1680

BILL
NUMBER

2128

2162

2199

2200

BILL
NUMBER

1107

1160

1173

1237

Vacation

SUBJECT PAGE

Vacating 10' Unnamed Way 1588
between Elba Street and Centre

Avenue and a 5' Unnamed Way

from this 10’ Unnamed Way to its

easterly terminus in the 5th Ward,

6th Council District

Vacating a portion of Ibsen Way 1625, 1747
between Ikon and Isles Ways in the

14th Ward, 5th Council District of

the City of Pittsburgh

Vacating a portion of Strauss Street 1718, 1815
from Irwin Avenue eastwardly

274.59 in the 26th Ward, 1st

Council District

Vacating a portion of Beckett Way, 1718,

in the 11th Ward, 9th Council 1815,1850
District
Warrant
SUBJECT PAGE AMOUNT
Thorp, Thomas - full and final 30

settlement of the action filed at
C.A. 95-2072 alleging personal
injury on or about July 17, 1995

Royster, John, settlement ofaclaim 61,202 $4,527.00
in which claimant's property was

damaged due to a razing of a three

stall brick garage by the Bureau of

Building Inspection

C&M Contracting, repair of a City- 87, 203 $10,305.16
owned wall located within the
Lower Allegheny Riverfront Park

Newcomer's Electric Contractor, 193, 304
payment for installation of holiday
lighting in Hazelwood

Page 178

BILL
NUMBER

1262

1373

1419

1425

1426

1427

Warrant

SUBJECT

Sipula, Jan, settlement of a claim in
which a City public works truck hit
and damaged claimant's vehicle

Tony Pampena Corporation in the
amount of $106,760.66

Frank J. Zottola Construction, Inc.,
cost not to exceed $15, 499.24 for
delay claim costs associated with
the Municipal Courts Access Road
project

Providing for the issuance of a
$3,003.00 warrant in favor of
Demetrius Waldon, settlement of a
claim in which claimant's vehicle
was in the City Tow Pound when
items were taken from his vehicle
on November 29, 19998

Providing for the issuance of a
$3,256.00 warrant in favor of
Gregory Rossiter, settlement of
claim in which claimant's sidewalk
and front porch were damaged
when a City Public Works truck
backed onto his property July 24,
19998.

Providing for the issuance of a
$17,250.92 warrant payable to the
Commonwealth of PA representing
the final payment required for
unclaimed funds for the year 1990
pursuant to the provisions of
Deposition of Abandoned and
Unclaimed Property Act

Page 179

PAGE
241, 343

491

480, 569

481

481, 569

AMOUNT
$2,858.62

$15,499.24

$3,003.00

$3,256.00

$17,250.92

BILL
NUMBER

1428

1453

1473

1524

1604

1644

Warrant

SUBJECT PAGE AMOUNT

Warrant in the amount of $6,870.70 482, 569 $6,870.00
payable to the Commonwealth of

PA representing the initial payment

required for unclaimed funds for

the year 1991 pursuant to the

provisions of Deposition of

Abandoned and Unclaimed

Property Act

USX Corporation and Bethlehem 521, 608
Stee] Corporation c/o Barry J.

Trilling, Esquire, full and final

settlement of the action filed

alleging the release of hazardous

substances from a landfill located in

Elizabeth Township

Commonwealth of Pennsylvaniato 568, 658
pay the City of Pittsburgh JTPA

Program's share of statewide on-

line computer system cost for the

period July 1, 1998 - June 30, 1999

Housing Authority of the City of 649, 761 $16,330.49
Pittsburgh in settlement of a claim

in which a City Police vehicle hit

and damaged claimant's vehicle

Noralco Corporation, costs directly 809, 888
telated to the repair and

rehabilitation of an unforeseen

party wall at 704-706 Second

Avenue

Sheraton Hotel Station Square, for 851, 937 $6,826.30
the City parks Senior Interest

Program Volunteer Recognition

Gala

Page 180

BILL
NUMBER

1660

1701

1702

1703

1704

1765

Warrant

SUBJECT

USX Corporation and Bethlehem
Steel Corporation c/o Barry Trilling
final settlement alleging the release
of hazardous substances froma
landfill located in Elizabeth
Township” by changing the name
of the payee to read USX
Corporation and Pepper Hamilton,
LLP

Barleman, John, T., 323 Pinecastle
Avenue, settlement of claim in
which water run off from improper
street resurfacing and lack of catch
basins caused property damage

Carter. Carole., 329 Pinecastle
Avenue, settlement of claim in
which water run off from improper
street resurfacing and lack of catch
basins caused property damage

Fratto, Mario & Carolyn settlement
of a claim in which claimants
vehicle was damaged by a City
Street Sweeper on April 6, 1999

Stoyanoff, Deborah, settlement of
claim in which claimant's sewer
backed up causing damage to her
basement on December 31, 19998

Loncar, Caro] A., full and final
settlement of an action filed at gd.
94-00820 and arising out of the
issuance of a summary criminal
citation against Ms. Loncar on or
about January 18, 1992

Page 181

PAGE AMOUNT

878, 938

970, 1072 $7,744.48

971, 1073 $8,400.45

971, 1073 $5,085.00

971, 1073 $8,404.13

1046, 1099

BILL
NUMBER

1789

1828

1893

1973

1986

1987

1988

Warrant

SUBJECT

Bally Design, $27,521.00, Triangle
Welding, $10,907.00, Christine
Davis Consultant, Inc., $7,900.00
for an aggregate amount of
$46,328.00 in conjunction with the
historic interpretive signage system
for the Heritage Trails

Pittsburgh Flatroll Company, in
settlement of a claim in which
claimants fence was damaged due
to the way vehicles are parked at
the City Tow Pound

Karkadoulias Bronze Art,
Monument Restoration work, cost
not to exceed $7,500.00

Meyer, Mary R., in settlement of a
claim in which claimant's sewer
backed up causing damage to her
property on February 28, 1999

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
$17,310.65, payment of the
tetainage held an extra work
performed on the Contract with
Spadafora Corporation in
connection with the construction of
EMS Station No. 6

Duquesne Light Company, city's
30% share of relocation costs
incurred by Duquesne Light
Company in conjunction with the
Columbus Avenue bridge

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, License Fee and
Accounts Receivable for annual
materials fee invoice

Page 182

PAGE
1094, 1215

1151, 1253

1248, 1293

1352, 1451

1379, 1491

1379, 1492

AMOUNT

$7,500.00

$17,310.65

$92,319.27

BILL
NUMBER

2030

2031

2059

2062

2099

2167

2204

Warrant

SUBJECT

Laidlaw, settlement of a claim in
which claimant's bus was damaged
due to a City ES truck March 22,
1999, $4,119.98

Yasko, Martin J., settlement of a
claim in which claimant's sewer
line was damaged due to City tree
roots on February 1, 1999

Wlodkowski, Edward -
reimbursement of costs incurred
from a private lawsuit resulting
from an encroachment authorized
by the City of Pittsburgh July 31,
1996

Camegie Library of Pittsburgh in
an amount not to exceed $5,487.58
in payment for utility costs for the
Sheraden Senior Citizen for the
benefit of the City without previous
authority of law

Issuance of a $6,000.00 warrant in
favor of Harold & Martha Jackson,
in settlement of a claim in which
claimant's suffered personal injuries
from an intersectional accident with
a City of Pittsburgh Fire vehicle on
December 3, 1997

McCullough, Lois - settlement of a
claim in which City tree roots
caused sewer pipe damage,
$6,670.00

American Legal Publishing
Corporation in payment for
professional services for the
Pittsburgh Code, at a cost not to
exceed $2, 523.50

Page 183

PAGE
1433, 1550

1433, 1551

1489, 1956

1490, 1604

1542, 1636

1626, 1744

1718, 1812

AMOUNT
$4,119.98

$3,367.00

$5,487.58

$6,000

$6,670.00

$2,523.50

BILL
NUMBER

2275

2276

2277

2278

2279

2294

2314

2355

Warrant

SUBJECT

Brothers & Sons, Inc., for the
purchase of equipment and supplies
in amount not to exceed $26,841.43

Lawniczak, Renee, full and final
settlement of the action filed at GD-
96-12506 personal injuries from an
intersectional accident with a City
of Pittsburgh Emergency Medical
Services Vehicle

Heidkamp, Kathleen, final
settlement of the action filed at
GD92-8808 for injuries sustained
due to an accident at a crosswalk on
Virginia Avenue

Kovacs, Daniel, full and final
settlement of alleged violation of
civl rights arising from an incident
on July 23, 1992

Stewart, Kevin R., full and final
settlement of an action filed at ca-
997-1240 and arising out of the
arrest of Mr. Stewart

Pennsylvania Automobile The
Prevention Authority in the amount
of $60,623.70

$15,000.00 Warrant in favor of
Mackin Engineering Company in
the amount of $15,000.00 to cover
costs associated with the design of
repairs to Cape May Bridge
sidewalk

Just Ducky Tours, Inc., costs
incurred for the hiring of Pittsburgh
Police to perform special detail at
the public river access in the South
Side, $2,020.00

Page 184

PAGE
1843, 1927

1843, 1927

1884, 1956

1918, 1990

1988

AMOUNT
$26,841.43

$60,623.70

$15,000.00

$2,020

BILL
NUMBER

2355

Warrant

SUBJECT PAGE AMOUNT

Just Ducky Tours, Inc., for 2006 $2,020.00
reimbursement of costs incurred for

the hiring of Pittsburgh Police to

perform special detail at the public

river access in the South Side, cost

not to exceed $2,020.00

Page 185

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE

Title Seven — Business Licensing...

Title Eight — Fire Prevention.........c.occccccsccsscssssnssssssasscecsnssscesececsescceuereceeess 78
Title Nine — ZOning..........csessecsessccecsescesssessesscsecesscsecsececceceeseasseseeseeesessee 78
Title Ten — Building.

186

BILL

NUMBER

882

1452

1511

1634

1684

1780

SUBJECT PAGE

Ordinance - Title One

Amending the Pittsburgh Code, Title 1 - Administration 887
Chapter 161 - Contracts, adding Section 161.32 -

Pittsburgh Works, by requiring a certain percentage of all
project work hours to be performed by City of Pittsburgh
residents

Administrative, Article XI, Personnel, Chapter 181, 521, 608
General Provisions, Section 181.09, Advance of Expenses,
by deleting "City Treasurer"

Title One, Administrative, Article Eleven: Personnel, by 647. 888
adding Chapter 186 to Recognize Domestic Partnerships

and Common Law Marriage Relationships with the

Context of City Employment (Sponsored by Mr. Cohen &

Mr. Ferlo)

Chapter 161 Contracts, Section 161.21 Acquisition and 848, 911
Disposal of Animals and Plants the Zoo, Aviary and

Phipps Conservatory, to delete reference to the acquisition

and disposal of Animals and Plants at the Zoo, Aviary and

Phipps Conservatory and to permit the Director of the

Department of Public Safety to purchase canines and

horses and to establish rules and regulations for such

acquisition and disposal of police animals

Title One, Article XI, Personnel - Section 181, General 933, 1002
Provisions, Subsection 181.10(a) Attendance by changing

the reimbursement rate from $5 per meeting to $15 per

meeting

Title One Administrative, Chapter 161 - Contracts, 1070
Section 161.33 - Pittsburgh Employment Opportunities

and Living Wage, requiring employers who receive city
assistance to sign an employment agreement and pay

employees a minimum living wage, creating the City

Assistance Advisory Committee, providing for

enforcement, due process and penalties for violations

Page 187

BILL

NUMBER

1827

1895

1404

1759

1815

1866

2316

SUBJECT

Ordinance - Title One
Title One, Administrative, Article VII, Procedures,
Chapter 161, Contracts, by adding Section 161.30 -
Requiring Contractors and Employers of employees hired
to staff hospitality operations to be signatory to collective
bargaining agreements where the City of Pittsburgh has a
financial or proprietary interest

Fiscal, Article I, Administration, Section 201.11, Tax

Increment Financing Registration,” by changing the
percentage of city residents to be hired from 50% to 35%

Ordinance - Title Two
Fiscal, Section 263.22 "Participation in The property Tax
Relief Program" paragraphs (a) and (b), by increasing the
maximum income limit for participation in the Property

PAGE

1151, 1253

1248, 1293

424, 533

Tax Relief Program and setting standards for certification;
and Section 263.22 "City Treasurer Duties" paragraph (b),

by clarifying filing requirements

Title 2, Fiscal, Article I, Administration, Chapter 201, City 1045, 1289,1635

Treasurer, Section 201.11, Tax Increment Financing (TIF
Registration, by adding new sections regarding the
commitment to employ city Residents at facilities which
are support by Tax Increment Financing

Title Two, Fiscal, Article IX, Property Taxes, Chapter 267, 1149, 1253

“Exemptions for Industrial and Commercial

Improvements, :by expanding the exemption authorized by

Chapter 267 to include the conversion of industrial
commercial or other business properties to commercial
residential use

Zoning, by creating a North Side Commercial Parking
Area Overly District under Chapter 907 "Development
Overlay Districts, Section 907.03 to establish a five year
moratorium prohibiting the use of vacant lots for
commercial outdoor parking facilities

1196

Title Two, Fiscal, Article IX, Property Taxes, Chapter 263, 2004
Real Property Tax Section 263.01, levy and Rate on Lands

and Buildings, by levying the real property tax for 2000

Page 188

BILL

NUMBER

SUBJECT

PAGE

ejV7—————O

2316

2317

2208

1261

2008

2137

Ordinance - Title Two

Title Two Fiscal, Article IX, Property Taxes, Chapter 263,

Real Property Tax Section 263.01, levy and Rate on Lands
and Buildings, by levying the real property tax for 2000

Title Two Fiscal, Article VII, Business Related Taxes,
Chapter 245, Earned Income Tax and 246, Home Rule
Tax, by fixing the rate of interest on certain delinquent
Eamed Income and Home Rule Taxes for 2000

Title Two, Fiscal, Article VII, Business Related Taxes,
Chapters 245, earned Income Tax and 246, Home Rule
Tax, by fixing the rate of interest on certain delinquent
Earned Income and Home Rule Taxes for 2000

Ordinance - Title Four

Title Four - Public Places and Property, Article XI, Parks
and Playgrounds, Chapter 473, Use Regulations, Section
473.05, Behavior, in order to create an exception that
would permit owners to have a dog off-lease in specific
designated areas of city parks and/or greenways and to
empower the Director of Parks & Recreation to ban any
dogs or other pets form any OLEA or any park per site.

Ordinance - Title Five
Traffic, Chapter 549, Residential Permit Parking Program,
Section 549.08 Visitors Permits, by changing the amount
of days available for visitor permit parking within a
specified period of time

Traffic, Article : Administration; chapter 503:
Enforcement and Control by adding Section 503.14
Regulation of Bicycle Traffic in Downtown and Business
District.

Title Five Traffic; Article I, Administration, Chapter 503,
Enforcement and Control, Section 503.07, Stop Points, by
establishing a process for the placement of STOP signs
and WATCH CHILDREN signs within the City of
Pittsburgh

Page 189

1918

2004

1719, 1852

241, 1010

1383, 1605

1589

BILL

NUMBER

SUBJECT

PAGE

2137

1136

2209

2210

2211

1260

Ordinance - Title Five
Amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh Code, Title
Five, Traffic, Article J, Administration, Chapter 503,
Enforcement and Control, Section 503.07, Stop Points, by
establishing a process for the placement of STOP signs
and WATCH CHILDREN signs within the City of
Pittsburgh

Ordinance - Title Six
Title Six, Conduct, Article 1, Regulated Rights and
Actions, Chapter 617, Smoking Pollution Control, Section
617.04, Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places,
Subsection 617.04(a)(14), Underground transit stations, to
allow eating and drinking within the confines of
designated areas within underground transit stations

Conduct, Article I, Regulated Rights and Actions
Subsection 617.04(a)(14), Underground Transit Stations

Title Six - Conduct, Article I, Dogs, Cats and Other
Animals, Chapter 633, Section 633.06 License Fee;
Exceptions, by increasing dog license fees by $2.00
effective for year 2000 Licenses

Title Six - Conduct, Article II, Dogs, Cats and Other
Animals, Chapter 633, Section 633.08 Dogs at Large
Prohibited, in order to create an exception that would
permit owners to have a dog off-leash in specifically

designated areas of city parks and/or greenways

Title Six - Conduct, Article II, Dogs, Cats and Other
Animals, Chapter 633, by adding Section 633.21 to create
Off Leash Exercise Area wherein persons are permitted to
have a dog off-leash in specifically designated areas of city
parks and/or greenways

Ordinance - Title Seven

Business Licensing Article VI, Service Businesses,
Chapter 765, Commercial Hauling of Municipal Waste, by
adding requirements to keep dumpster lids closed at all
times

Page 190

1689

101

1719, 1852

241

BILL

NUMBER

1922

2121

948

1206

1207

1251

1252

1253

1254

SUBJECT

Ordinance - Title Seven

Business Licensing, Article I, Sales Businesses, Chapter
719 Vendors.and.Peddlers, by making various changes

Title Seven Business Licensing, Article IX, Amusement
Businesses, Chapter 777, Mechanical Amusement
Devices, Section 777.01, License Required; Exception,
Section 777,93 Information Required, Section 777.05,
License Fees and Section 777.07, Revocation, Debarment
and Contraband Declaration, by adding specific language
and additional requirements to further prohibit mechanical
gambling devices

Ordinance - Title Nine
Pittsburgh Code, Title Nine, Zoning, Article V, "Use
Regulations,” Chapter 911 Primary Uses, Section
911.04.A.7 "Bed and Breakfast" by inserting new
standards for "Bed and Breakfast"

Zoning, Chapter 921, by changing from "C6-C"
Downtown Riverfront District Area C to “C6-B"
Downtown Riverfront District Area B all that certain
property bounded by Federal Street, District 6

Zoning, Article IV by controlling the development of
public sports facilities for major league franchises and by
revising the site development standards for urban open
space and structure height

Zoning, by changing the Zoning District Map Conversion
Chart to specify that the "M2" and "M3" Industrial
Districts are covered to UNC rather than NDI

Zoning, Section 925 by revising the Contextual Setback
regulations

Zoning, Chapter 911 by revising the definition of Bed and
Breakfast (Limited)

Zoning, Chapter 911 by revising the Use Table for
Religious Assembly (Limited) and Religious Assembly
(General)

Page 191

PAGE

1345

1587, 1763

438

143, 543

240, 1009

BILL
NUMBER

1255

1256
1257

1258
1259
1311

1519

1520

1643

1924

SUBJECT

Ordinance - Title Nine
Zoning, Chapter 901, by revising regulations pertaining to
uses which are institution, educational institution, or unit
group buildings thereof, and hospital or unit group
buildings
Zoning, to include the Urban Industrial District

Zoning, Chapter 908 by revising the Public Realm District
Regulations

Zoning, Chapter 911 by revising the Use Standards
Zoning, Chapter 911 by revising the Use Standards

Title Nine, Zoning, Article I, Chapter 921, Section
921.02, Zoning District Map No. 6 by changing from "RP"
Residential Planned Unit Development District to "CP"
Commercial Planned Unit Development District, Council
District 1

Title Nine, Zoning, Chapter 902, Section 902.03.A.
Zoning District Map

Title Nine, Zoning, Article IV, Chapter 910, by revising
the site development standards for height of structures in
the "DR-B", Downtown Riverfront, Sub-district B.

Amending the Pittsburgh Code, Title Nine, Zoning,
Article Il, Chapter 902, Section 902.03.A. Zoning District
Map Nos. 12 and 17 by changing Ron "R2"_ ("RT-2) Two
Family Residence and "R3" (RM-3) Multiple Family
Residence District to "RP" Residential to Planned Unit
Development District all that certain property bounded by
Murray Avenue, Forbes Avenue, Lot 304, Block 86-F in
the Allegheny County block and lot system.

" Grandview Public Realm Subdistrict C certain property
identified as 1106-08 Grandview Avenue

Page 192

PAGE

241, 1009

241, 1009
241, 1010, 1261

241
241, 1010
302, 660

648, 980

850, 1162

1346

BILL

NUMBER

1928

2224

1130

SUBJECT PAGE

Ordinance - Title Nine
Title Nine, Zoning, Article I, Chapter 902, Section 1346, 1784
902.03A. Zoning District Map No. 9 by changing from
"RI" (“RSD-2") One Family Residence District to "C3"
("LNC") Local Neighborhood Commercial District all that
certain property bounded by Pioneer Avenue, Trelona
Way, Lot 80, Block 62-R in the Allegheny County Lot and
Block System and Berkshire Avenue, 19th Ward

Ordinance - Title Ten
Amending the Pittsburgh Code, Title One - 1770, 1857
Administrative, Chapter 116: Department of Public
Safety, Section 116.03: Minimum Standard of Care

Ordinance
Directing the Allegheny County Board of Elections to 28, 1393
place before the qualified voters of the City of Pittsburgh a
referendum question which would supplement the Home
Rule Charter, Section 228, Independent Citizen Review
Board by including the Housing Authority, City of
Pittsburgh, Police Department

Page 193

MUNICIPAL RECORD

Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh

VOL. CXXXTIT January 5, 1999 No. 1
Mark Hirschfeld:

Municipal Record I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and

ONE-HUNDRED justice for all.

TETH COUNCIL
THIRT COUNC. The Chair:
BOB O'CONNOR wo» President
LINDA M. JOHNSON-WASLER.... City Clerk Thank you, Mark. We have on
JOHN R. MASCIO .. Deputy City Clerk

Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday, January 5, 1999

PRESENT:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato
Mr. Diver Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin

Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor
Ms. McDonald (Pres't)

The Chair:

Will you all please rise for the
pledge of allegiance and remain standing
for a moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the world.

We have a special guest with us
Mark Hirschfeld. He's 12 years old in the
sixth grade at Saint Margaret's. He is
accompanied by his father, a Pittsburgh
City fireman, Jerry, down at Station Five,
and he lives in Council District 2, Mr.
Hertzberg's District.

behalf of Council a flag of our city and
country.

PRESENTATIONS

We have one read and adopted to
be read into the record.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTS:

No. 1120 WHEREAS, It is
estimated that more that $141 billion will
be spent by teens this year and 25% of 18
and 19 year olds have their own credit
cards; and

WHEREAS, High school seniors
frequently are unprepared for many of the
critical financial decisions they need to
make after they graduate; and

WHEREAS, Nationally, for more
than a quarter century, many Americans
have been challenged to save even five
percent of their income - in contrast to the
10 percent recommended by the majority
of financial planners; and

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WHEREAS, The National
Endowment for Financial Education, the
Cooperative Extension System - USDA,
and The Acacia Financial Center of
Pittsburgh are sponsoring “Financial
Literacy for Youth Month” to encourage
educational programs to give young people
the financial tools they need to live
balanced, responsible and rewarding lives;
and

WHEREAS; This public awareness
effort will help teens leam about the
financial planning process and contribute
to their personal financial stability and,
consequently, contribute to the financial
stability of the City of Pittsburgh;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby proclaim
January, 1999 as FINANCIAL
LITERACY FOR YOUTH MONTH in the
City of Pittsburgh.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt the
resolution.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

We move to presentation of papers.
MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

No. 1121 Resolution Amending
Resolution No. 298, effective June 12,
1998, as amended by Resolution No. 445,
effective August 19, 1998, entitled,
“Resolution providing for an Agreement
or Agreements with various community
organizations for operational/

administrative expenses, maintenance,
purchase of equipment and/or
rehabilitation of neighborhood facilities
for the benefit of residents of the City of
Pittsburgh, at a cost not to exceed
$1,134,945.00” so as to reprogram funds
in City Council from Garfield Playground
(-$10,000) to: Garfield Heights
Community Advisory Committee
(+$5,000) and District 7 Equipment
(+$5,000). —(SPONSORED BY MR.
FERLO)

No. 1122 Resolution amending
Resolution No. 291 effective June 1, 1998
as amended by Resolution No. 362,
effective June 25, 1998 and Resolution
No. 453 effective August 19, 1998,
entitled “Providing for the filing of a
Community Development statement by the
City of Pittsburgh with the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban
Development for a grant in connection
with the 1998 Community Development
Block Grant Program; providing for the
execution of grant contracts and for the
filing of other data providing for required
assurances; providing for execution of
payment vouchers on letter of credit and
for certification of authorized signature;
the deposit for the funds in a bank account
and providing for the payment of expenses
within categories”, so as to reprogram
funds in City Council. —(SPONSORED
BY MR. FERLO)

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Housing, Economic
Development & Promotion.

The Chair:
Thank you. There are no other

presentations. We will move to unfinished
business. Is there any unfinished business

to come in front of Council?

Next on our agenda is Committee
Chair Reports. We will be starting next
week and I would like to start with
Council Districts One and Two next week,
Mr. Onorato and Mr. Hertzberg. So you
can give a report on your committees next
week.

There are no
Committees today.

Reports of

We will move now to motions and
resolutions.

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
Mr. Onorato:

Mr. President, it just came to my
attention a few minutes ago, actually about
a half-hour ago, and I just think that as a
body we should do something. I am not
picking to pick a fight but I think it is the
right thing to do.

On New Years Eve, on
December 31st, there was a weekly five
o'clock mass down at Saint Mary's and I
guess because of the mix up with First
Night, this city ticketed everybody that
was at church.

Now if we are going to try to
promote downtown and be friendly, I
would ask that and I want to do this in a
public forum today, that we ask the police
officer or whoever gave the tickets around
Saint Mary's at the five o'clock mass to
forget their bookiet and to let the traffic
court judge pull these tickets. Because it
was just, these are the streets they park on
every single Sunday. It was, I am
guessing, I am guessing they were ticketed

because First Night started at four. I am
not sure that’s the reason. But there were
tickets given because there were no
parking signs up. I know First Night starts
that night, however this really left a bad
taste in a lot of people's mouths.

I think maybe we can say hey it
was a bureaucratic mix up. But I don't
think these tickets should stick. They are
$42 tickets. I am prepared to state publicly
I want to give an order to the Chief
Magistrate to say this was a bureaucratic
mix up based on the First Night timing and
that Saint Mary's Church and the patrons
that go there on Sunday and Saturday night
Mass should not pay a ticket.

1am making a Resolution and have
the Clerk send that message to somehow
get the numbers that relate to the tickets
that were given at five o'clock to six
o'clock around the church, if somebody
goes in there to waive the fines and fees.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

You mean they didn't tow the cars?
They are really being generous.

Ms. McDonald:

Another subject matter. I would
like to make a motion to cablecast two
Public Hearings scheduled for Tuesday,
January 12th at the 2:00 p.m. Bill
Numbers 1019 and 1020. They are
resolutions regarding tax increment
financing for I guess the central business
district.

———————————————— eee
lle

And, Wednesday, January 20th at
two o'clock Bill Numbers 1053, 54 and 83
and 84 regarding tax increment financing
for the Southside Works Project, two days.

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ferlo:

I have two unrelated issues, Mr.
President. 1 don't know if other colleagues
wanted to discuss the Public Works
situation. I went down to the Complaints
Center this morning and thanks to the
Supervisor there I got a breakdown of calls
that had been made into the Mayor's
Complaint Center. I know we also
obviously in our own district offices, our
downtown offices as well, I fielded some
calls in my home over the weekend and
there seems to be radical difference in the
number of complaints both in terms of icy
streets and/or requests for salt boxes.

I find it interesting this year if my
information is correct that we dispensed
with the usual logistical list that we had
been maintaining for many years if not
decades as to where the locations of salt
boxes should be. In somebody's judgment
or wisdom the decision was not to use the
list but wait until people called and
actually asked for it. Maybe that's a way
of cleaning or gleaning a list, 1 am not sure
that was the best way to figure out a
reorganization of the salt boxes. I am little
upset that we were not notified about that.
It would have been a lot easier at least in
my Council district given the rapport I
have and I think also my other colleagues
have with community groups and block
watch committees, I think we could have
together worked out the issue of the salt

boxes. I don't think it was correct to just
dispense with the list and wait for
everyone to call and complain. I don't
think that's a proper way to figure out the
resources of Public Works and the
division.

Having said that, the combined
complaints as of the last few days to the
Complaint Center at least both for salt
boxes and/or report of icy streets, is quite
an inequity and disparity between the list.
If you look at the First Division by their
reporting there are 155 complaints. My
division, the Second Division is down to
66. The Third Division has 109, and then
jump up to the Fourth Division, which has
310 and the Fifth Division 75. There is a
radical kind of disparity between the
number of calls.

Now obviously some of these
divisions contain streets and alleyways and
hillsides and problemsom roads maybe to
some extent greater. In my own respective
Council District which is mostly, which is
all in Division Two under the
reorganization, most of my calls came
from some streets in the Stanton Heights
Community and from the Polish Hill
Community in particular.

I am not an expert like the Public
Works officials about the salt and the
problem of the snow and ice for the last
week, but having been around the streets
for a long time and just observing and
commion sense, it seemed to be in the early
days of the actual snow fall before it got to
be ice, if we can follow this, there were a
lot of trucks out actually plowing. So in
effect, a large number of streets more
likely the main roads were actually cleared
of snow. When there was a down pouring
it seemed as though those first streets once

they were salted before it got so cold that
the salt did work, it was all right. The
secondary and tertiary streets that weren't
really plowed got to be the actual sheeting
of ice. So they were beyond the ability to
actually plow and remove and then the
effectiveness of the salt was not working
below 20 degrees.

So in a way we had kind of an
unusual compounding of weather and
inclement situation and inclement weather
but it wasn't at least in my -- I will try to
better understand this from the director. It
doesn't seem until like last night or
yesterday that they decided recognizing
that the salt is not going to work that they
may have purchased some sand or some
other kind of material to give people some
traction.

1 am not sure exactly all the details.
I am not saying we need to have a Post
Agenda. We have enough meetings, but at
some point if we could have a formal
memo from the director and/or Mr. Barley
who I heard on the news this morning
giving us some appraisals as to what his
experience has been over the last week.
‘What is the current situation why there is
this kind of inequity and disparity in the
number of complaints? 1 would like to
know about the salt box situation because I
have had to fill a lot of calls for request of
salt boxes and in any other related issues
that could kind of bring us up-to-date.

Hopefully as we try to do each and
every year, we try to learn from the
experience. If I have a street in Stanton
Heights like Somerville and it continually
never gets done because it is a dead end,
can somebody please note that and actually
maintain a management? I know God
forbid Public Works should ever have a

management information system. It is
something I have been asking for ten years
and [ may as well forego it because neither
is it going to appear.

I would ask that we get some kind
of response. I am not just concemed about
a response from the immediacy of today. I
would like to understand from a
management point of view what has
happened the last week? And what is
going to change systemically in Public
Works? What is going to be different if
God forbid we have another snowfall or
ice capade in the next few weeks, which
very well might happen? So I would like
to know those specifics, but also
Management wise what is the deployment
of resources and what systemically might
be changed or improved?

Now having said all that, I also
want to say because I was on the streets a
lot also in the evening hours, I think the
Public Works staff, the truck drivers I
think did a heck of a job at least in my
Council District. I can't speak, I mostly
traveled around in my community. But I
think they worked very hard and it is tough
out there and the weather situation was
bad. I know a lot of them just worked
straight through maybe got a cup of coffee.
So I do want to thank the staff, both the
management staff and the drivers and the
laborers, the supervisors and the foreman.
I think they put their best effort forward.
So I would just like to generally ask for
that kind of response.

The Chair:

Coincidentally, Mr. Hertzberg's
report is due next week. I would ask him
as Chair of Public Works through what
you said and I was also curious --

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Mr. Ferlo:

I don't want to put Councilman
Hertzberg on the spot, it’s not his

The Chair:

I don't mean to put him on the spot,
but if he would follow up with Ralph
Kraszewski to get the answers.

Mr. Hertzberg:

I want to try to arrive at an
objective analysis too. I think it’s easy to
find people that have complained and it is
hard to really know what really happened
out there. I know Councilman Ricciardi
several times warned us during the fall that
he felt there would be major problems this
year with the snowfall. He felt that the
management of the new plan of shrinking
the one division out had caused problems.
Whether that's really happened or not, I
think we need to objectively analyze.
Hopefully we can do that during the next
week and hopefully we won't have if at the
extent that there are some severe
problems, I hope we can resolve them real
quickly and I am going to get right on it.

The Chair:

I was actually with a truck I guess
Friday or Saturday night, or Sunday night
and the gentleman did an excellent job. In
fact it was the first time I have seen, he
went out of the way to do some scraping
where it was solid ice and tried to clean
some parking lots and business districts.
But I think it was his first, possibly first
time in the neighborhood. I was showing
him a couple of streets. And the salt, I
don't know if the salt mixture was right,

that is an issue. And also call backs, it
was a holiday weekend, maybe some
people couldn't be reached.

I am curious is there a form or if
you know it's a snow day and it’s a holiday
weekend, is there a number they would
call in to see if they are needed? I mean
people aren't sitting around waiting for
their phone to ring. So I would hope the
foreman and the employees would have a
direction to at least they would know to
call in if they are needed. So, all of those
issues should be addressed.

Mr. Diven:

Yes, sir on the same issue. I don't
want to direct any of my criticism towards
any of the guys that were out working on
the trucks; I think they did a fantastic job.
I do have concems like Councilman
Hertzberg and Councilman Ferlo as to the
management of the department. I can tell
you I fielded a number of calls at home
over the weekend from people that were
saying their street wasn't touched. I know
that we had over a hundred calls in my
office especially from the Carrick
neighborhood, which virtually went
unattended to during the storm. It is just
not acceptable to myself and I am sure to
the other colleagues.

I am anxious to see a report and
start to make sure that the next time this
happens, the next time we get a major
snowstorm that the Carrick neighborhood
isn't forgotten about. I think people are
going to hold us accountable for why their
street wasn't plowed and I don't want to
see that happen.

Mr. Udin:

On the same subject. If
Mr. Hertzberg might make note of whether
or not we can distinguish on a street map
what is an A street and what's a B street or
what is a C street? If people understood
and was able to see perhaps on Channel 17
or whatever the city cable channel is in
their area exactly where we are and when
they can expect that the city might show
up on their street? If they have a grid ora
map understanding whether their street is
an A street or a B street? And how we
determine what is an A street and B street?
That we're able to demonstrate to the
public that these are objective assessments
that are made based on the size of the
street and traffic. I would certainly not
expect that there are employees although
there are some people who called my
office thinking that there are certain
employees who have the liberty to decide
where they will go and which street they
will clean and which ones they will not,
that's the public's perception. I don't
believe that that is the case.

But if we could inform the public
more clearly about what the City's strategy
and rationale and approach is for cleaning
the streets in the snow storm and which is
A and B and C, I think that would be
helpful as well.

Mr. Cohen:

I just want to follow up with what
Councilman Diven said that is that there
was not in the neighborhoods that I
represent an adequate delivery of snow
removal services. There just wasn't and I
would like to find out why. I don't know
whether it was because of the holiday
weekend or whatever. I am certain we will
talk to Director Kraszewski today but that
just hasn't happened. From what J am

hearing, it seems like there was kind of
spotty services around the city. It needs to
be more even and I would like to find an
answer to that.

The Chair:
It was definitely not even.
Mr. Onorato:

Mr. President, I do want to thank
the ladies and gentlemen that have been
out there 24 hours working. Obviously
there seems to be some problems and we
seem to have this discussion every time we
have a snowfall at least in the last seven
years I have been here. But the one issue
that just bothers me that I think we can
resolve today and it is a minor one, but it
actually turns out to be a big one and that
is the salt boxes. I was at a meeting last
night and I didn’t know that the salt box
issue or the redistribution of them were
changed again. That was the biggest
criticism last night. People wanted my
head because their salt boxes weren't there.

I think what happens here if you
think about that study that was done,
Competitive Pittsburgh Study, while the
majority of it was a healthy study to go
through, this is one of the problems you
have with the study. If you recall in the
study they said to eliminate the salt boxes
because the amount of salt that was being
used can save the city. What you don't
measure in a study like that is that these
salt boxes are in areas where trucks don't
go. If you remove the salt boxes, it isn't as
though you save money, what you do is
you just then give up on those streets all
together.

Those salt boxes represent a

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——oooo Oe

volunteer force out there that you can't
even evaluate. Everywhere there is a salt
box means there is a volunteer city
resident that is going in there on their own
time, their own labor, scooping up in a
bucket, in a coffee can and throwing it
down a steep hill or a pair of steps. We
don't replace that service. So any time they
removed a salt box, now we are saying
basically not only are you not going to
have a salt box with salt, we're not coming
out to do it either.

Can we at least agree today to get
the salt boxes exactly where they were last
year in the next 24 hours? Let's ask the
Public Works Director to get them out
there, It is not that expensive. And the
way this typography of this city is, we
want our residents to walk out their front
door that live on a hill that is like this to
throw the salt on there immediately. Let's
get them out there. I am in favor of doing
it now and putting the boxes back where
they should be. It is a great service for the
community and we're getting a benefit
from volunteer service and labor from our
Tesidents who are willing to do it if we
give them the salt and the boxes up there.
[hope in the next 12 hours those boxes are
up everywhere.

Mr. Udin:

Just on the salt boxes.
Mr. Ferlo:

We should remind you not only do
our residents pick up the paintbrush, but
they also pick up the salt can.

The Chair:

It is amazing and we ought to be
thankful that our residents are willing to

do that. I mean they are asking for it.
Mr. Onorato:

Yes we want the boxes,
Mr. Udin:

I didn't want to jump in front of
Mr. Ricciardi, but on the salt boxes, I just
wanted to remind you some of the
recommendations that came to the
Competitive Pittsburgh Task Force came
from the department. In fact, most of their
information came from the department
itself. So I know that on the discussion of
the salt boxes there were some salt boxes
that just stayed full of salt, unused from
year to year. It was not a useful, good
placement of that salt box.

I would hope that rather than go
exactly back to the way it was before, that
we would look carefully at where are they
being used? Were they desired? And, put
the boxes where they're needed rather than
just where they were.

Mr. Onorato:

That is fine, I don't mind doing
that, but we don't have the luxury now
because we have ice on all of our streets. I
would rather get the boxes out there and
then what Councilman Udin suggested is a
good point, at the end of three months, see
what boxes are still filled and mark that
for next year so you don't put them in
those locations. As of today, I need the
salt boxes back in my district. I want them
back where they were last year, and I want
the people to have the opportunity to salt
their steps and their streets and sidewalks.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you, Mr. O'Connor. I will
be very brief. First, I would like to thank
Mr. Ferlo for bringing those numbers
forward. But it does show that the
neighborhoods that are represented by
Councilman Diven and myself have nearly
double and sometimes triple the number of
complaints of other divisions.

Several months ago as Mr.
Hertzberg who chairs Public Works stated,
that I had thought that there could be some
problems forthcoming and I was hoping
that Public Works would begin to address
those problems. I know they are preparing
astudy. But I will have to say, and I need
to say that under the previous management
supervision in the division throughout the
years, I did not have the problem in the
neighborhoods that I represent. I am
trying to be very cautious with my words
because there are a lot of good men and
women that have done a fine job out there.

Let me give you an example, when
I saw things were going wrong in my
division, I immediately contacted Mr. Jack
Barley who really began to address the
problem. To such an extent that he
himself started driving a truck. Now I
think that is dedication on his part, but
when we have to take a management
official, a white-collar gentleman and put
him on a truck that shows you that
something went wrong.

I want to say that Mr. Barley
knows what went wrong. I know what
went wrong, I am not going to embarrass
the individuals here today. But I know
there is going to be disciplinary action
taken in my district.

Now, the message I want to send

out to the district that I represent is that
Mr. Barley and the other supervisors and
the laborers that they are working very
diligently over the next few days and we
are going to get this cleaned up. And, it
goes back to what we all say that the most
important service that we can deliver is
one that is in the Public Works
Department.

I just hope that Mayor Murphy
begins to hire those individuals, those
vacancies and get them working as soon as
possible. But something drastically went
wrong in the division that is represented by
Mr. Diven and myself and disciplinary
action is going to be taken. It is a pity and
it is a shame, but I hope those actions are
taken immediately. Because I stated
before, you cannot take a supervisor, your
number two man, your top foreman that
has never worked in the Neighborhood
District Three that I represent and put them
over their because they don't know the

typography.

Before we had a gentleman like
John Terlecki, John Radcliffe, they knew
the Carrick area, they knew South Side
Slopes, they new Brookline, they new
Southside, they new Beltzhoover. I didn't
have these problems. Now we have
supervisors, we have foreman that you
know everyone always champions this
thing of transfers. Transfers are good in
the police department, transfers are good
in Public Works, I question transfers. I
would rather people from the
neighborhood that know the
neighborhood.

1 will compliment Mount
Washington, I was in Mount Washington
last night, and I will tell you it’s clear. The
roads I was on, they did a very fine job in

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———— ESE“

Mount Washington. A lot of people lost
work in Beltzhoover, Allentown, and in
the Slopes because they can't get off the
hillside. I was on Pius Street last night,
there was an accident, four cars were in an
accident. I hope those people bring a suit
against the city. I urge them to. Maybe
they will tell us to get on the ball here.
Thank you.

The Chair:

My major problem, I just want to
mention, was Lincoin Place. We had no
problems in Lincoln Place when the
County was doing the 31st Ward.

This change in structure thankfully
a couple of trucks went up to Gates Manor
yesterday and cleaned it up, but it was two
days too late.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I want to mention that about
Lincoln Place, you know and that goes
back to what Mr. Ferlo said that we are not
experts in Public Works. Still, I think we
have been around here long enough that
we really have some productive things to
mention. I accept that, Mr. O'Connor. I
had thought that during the summer
months that my division could have
handled Lincoln Place during the summer
months, but during the winter months,
Mr. Dailey should have handled Lincoin
Place. It is just commonsense because of
the logistics and travel time.

Thate to say I was right but it looks
as though Mr. O'Connor and I, we were
right about that.

So I urge the Public Works
Department to please at many, many times

they should really listen to some of our
advice. We have been around a long time
and we know, I always say no one knows
our districts better than we do. That
includes police officials, that includes the
administration, and that includes officials
from Public Works and the URA. No one
knows our districts better than us. Thank
you.

The Chair:
You're right. Next subject.
Mr. Ferlo:

I know we are going to try to get
some information for next week but the
weather conditions are such that I would
ask and they may have already been doing
this and I don't know, but especially Polish
Hill, Stanton Heights, the neighborhoods
that I represent. If there is some attempt to
use sand or some other material other than
the salt that can give folks some traction
since it is not clear that they can actually
clear the ice. I would ask that they at least
see if that's appropriate and if they can
communicate back to Council President or
through Councilman Hertzberg, if they can
get back to us on some of the immediate
issues separate from the longer range
issues that were discussed here today.

The Chair:

I would ask that if there are target
areas such as Polish Hill or Slopes, I
would take Mr. Hertzberg's lead and get
him that information so he gets the help
right a way. The other areas are fairly
clean some of the areas that need attention
should be addressed right a way.

Mr. Udin:

No, they are not. Please don't
make that assumption that the only areas
that need to be cleaned are the ones that
were mentioned at the table.

The Chair:

Whichever ones, I would address
to Mr. Hertzberg so he can funnel this
information and get it done.

Mr. Ferlo:

But hopefully someone has some
route slips. Somebody should know
generally where trucks have been. It is
obvious that some trucks haven't been
anywhere at no time with any material. I
am not a full time staff person, it’s not my
job to figure this out, but someone needs

to be figuring this out.
The Chair:
All right. Let's let Mr. Hertzberg

know --
Ms. McDonald:

We are just jumping in at will it
seems today. I would like to also add to
Councilman Hertzberg who would
convene a meeting that my understanding
is that from the supervisors is that they're
very short staffed. We can go round and
round and pop out the logistics, it is no
different than when I was a School Board
member and discussing transportation. It’s
a very complicated issue, it’s not easy. It's
easy to say this street should have gotten
cleaned and that. Forget that, you need to
talk to people who have this all on a
computer and look at how difficult it is
managing it.

I look forward to the discussion
because I would like to leam myself. But I
would also like for Councilman Hertzberg
to bring forward discussion as to the short
staffing. Are our divisions short staffed?
You can have all the efficiency you want,
but if you don't have the manpower, you
don’t have the people to do the job, I don't
care how efficient a system is. It's not
going to work. So I think that's going to
be a critical point. Are we indeed short
staffed? Because legislatively it may fall
back on Council to try to resolve that issue
in terms of staffing and to redo the budget.
I don't know.

But I would like to know as
Councilman Ricciardi said if theyre going
to, when are they going to be hiring
people? I would like to know when too
and at what level are they at? Are they at
so minimum a level that they cannot
effectively take care of a snow and ice
storm that we had this weekend over the
holidays?

The Chair:

We know they are 52 positions
short in Public Works. We put it into the
budget. So the results are being seen I
guess. Maybe in the summer you don't
know that but right now you do see it, and
they should be filled.

Mr. Ricciardi:
Lhave a different issue unrelated.

Colleagues, Jast night I had an
opportunity to hold a neighborhood
meeting in Allentown and also to attend an
Allentown Business Association Meeting.
The number one problem that people

continue to bring up to me and we have
mentioned it over and over and over and
that is some open-air drug markets
throughout City of Pittsburgh and also in
District Three. It has come to my attention
and hopefully the information is wrong to
be perfectly frank with this body, but we
now have a skeleton crew. We have
downsized our narcotics squad.

J hope that information is not true
and J would hope that Mr. Diven will have
an opportunity chairing Public Safety to
ask for a report from Chief McNeilly
regarding that matter. Open-air drug
markets are just not only detrimental to the
neighborhood, but they give a sign of
blight. It's a Public Safety issue, it just
makes people feel insecure in their
neighborhoods, It is just the beginning of
additional problems, over and over and
over.

It is interesting because most of us
and I think all of us we all know where
they are occurring. Several years ago I
presented legislation that was vetoed by
Mayor Masloff that I thought would give
the police officers an additional tool to
target open-air drug markets throughout
the City of Pittsburgh. They have become
so entrenched in certain neighborhoods
and certain street corners in my own
district.

As a matter of fact, several years
ago Chief McNeilly did a very fine job in
clearing up one open-air drug market in
one of my Hill Top communities, but a
couple other ones have unfortunately
established themselves. 1 think
Councilman Sala Udin had mentioned one
comer in the neighborhood that he
represents he is having a problem.

So I would like to see several
things. I would like to see how we are
targeting these markets? Chief McNeilly
can please tell us what resources are we
giving them in terms of people, in terms of
time, in terms of the equipment, and also
for the people out there that are screaming
for help? Hopefully our Weed and Seed
money is going into prevention type of
programs. Those are people who really are
asking for help, not those people who are
trying to escape jail terms and are willing
to go into a program in order not to be
sentenced to a jail term.

I realize we can't just be cranking
people into the court system, putting them
back out onto the street where they are
doing the same thing. But maybe there are
some people that are really out there
looking for some help and we can look
into using the Weed and Seed Program for
those individuals. But I think there is
definitely a problem out there and I am
just surprised that we are not doing a better
job targeting these street corners and
breaking up their sophisticated -- and it
has become a sophisticated drug sales
throughout the City of Pittsburgh.

I really hope that Chief McNeilly
and Executive Assistant Tom Cox can let
us know what is the program? What are
their ideas on this and how are they
addressing the issue? It is bad out there
and in certain neighborhoods they are
suffering more than others. I mean drugs
are prevailing through all segments of
society and all neighborhoods. But the
people that are sort of hiding it and doing
it behind closed doors, we are not being
effected as much as those individuals that
are doing it out on the street corners and
those individuals that are doing it out on
street comers should be the easiest people

to, I would think, to arrest, to put into the
judicial system. Either to get them help
through prevention or to actually get them
jail terms.

So maybe, Councilman Diven, if
you could look into this and let’s see what
Chief McNeilly says in terms of resources.
Hopefully it is not true what police officers
have told me that he has taken several
people out of the squad and is putting
them back to patrolling the neighborhoods
just in cars. I hope that's not true.

Mr. Udin:

I am glad to hear other Council
members speak on the issue of open-air
drug markets. I have been singing this
song for years on this Council. Sometimes
it feels like I am the only one who feels the
pressure of the problem.

It is a question of, I think,
resources and’ strategy. I don't think this
city has either a plan that is an aggressive
attack nor the resources to implement that
plan. We have not raised it up to the level
of priority that is necessary to generate that
kind of an attack. As a result, we have
built up kind of a tolerance for open-air
drug marketing as long as it is in certain
neighborhoods. For me, it is unacceptable
and I think that if this Council makes it a
high enough priority, then the
administration will make it a high priority
and the law enforcement agencies will
make it a high priority. But it is not just
the Chief of Police. It will require a
comprehensive strategy on the part of a
number of law enforcement and judicial
bodies in order to make it work as well as
social service agencies necessary to make
it work.

But we have to decide what kind of
city are we going to be in. Are we going
to be a city that tolerates certain pockets of
open-air drug marketing? Or are we going
to have an aggressive attack against a zero
tolerance posture against open-air drug
marketing?

I would be the first to join with you
Councilman and any other Council
colleagues who want to help develop a
strategy that is effective against open-air
drug markets.

Mr. Ferlo:

No way do I want to convey to my
residents or my constituents that I haven't
been rigorous and vigorous in this battle
for the last ten years. I recognize that we
still on a citywide level have critical areas
as Councilman Udin has rightfully pointed
out. But I am not willing to accept and
characterize at least involvement relative
to my district as not being responsive.

Not only myself, my staff, but
more importantly neighborhood block
watch = groups, community _ based
organizations, COP officers, the zone
officers, the squad cars, you name it, we
have tried to work very diligently on this
issue of drug trafficking. Not only in an
open-air area, because it has happened in
my Council district at least during my
tenure. We also have had problem in
muisance houses. We have got crack
houses. We have had certain intersections
where it has been more prevalent all of
which we have had nuisance bars, which
have been a focal point.

I am pleased to see the leadership
of Councilman Udin on one similar bar
that we had in the Lawrenceville

community; it took five years for the LCB
to close. We had a lot more information
than apparently on the surface has been
available so far with Mr. Udin's battle. So,
I agree with his characterization that there
are critical areas throughout the city. I am
not willing to accept that people haven't
fought back. I think we have fought back.
I think the issue is how do we work more
effectively and how do we maybe better
coordinate the resources that we have out
there? Because I think to some extent his
observation is correct.

It was one of my initial criticisms
of the Weed and Seed Program when it
was first introduced in the Hill District
community. It seemed to me that even
though we targeted one area it was going
to basically be transported or moved up to
the Public Housing Authority
communities. In effect, that is what
happened now. It seems to be back where
it was any ways despite the fact that we
had a four-year or maybe longer Weed and
Seed initiative.

So I look forward to the discussion
and I think Councilman Udin's point that
there are other levels of the problem. I
mean one of the things that has frustrated
many of my block watch folks and
residents is to see effective police work
and arrests only to see people out on the
street the next day. So, this is a broader
problem that we need to have a discussion
on. Maybe we want to, you know, involve
some other levels from the judiciary to
other levels of people that have something
to do with the problem.

I don't think it is just the issue of
the community and the residents and the
police and Chief McNeilly. I think we
need to try broadening out the discussion.

Mr. Diven:

Yes, sir. I have had a number of
Meetings with our District Attorney Mr.
Steven Zappala and talking about this
issue in particular. One of the things that I
get a sense though from our own
department is that we are not making it a
priority that we should make it. I know
that there are a lot of resources out there
that we can tap into, but for whatever
reason we have got kind of an attitude, our
department has kind of an attitude that like
that's something we are going to do. We
are going to do it in the future. We are
going to do it in the future. There hasn't
been any sign to me that there was intent
to go out and attack this problem head on
from the administration of our Police
Bureau.

I have had probably about four or
five meetings with Mr. Zappala. I have
had meetings with people from our
Building Inspection because one of the
things that I thought we needed to be
doing not only bringing our law
enforcement part of the equation to the
table, we also need to be looking at taking
down some of the condemned houses that
are right in the direct vicinity of some of
the open-air drug markets. So that when
the police come in and make a presence
that drug tread doesn't move from the
street into an abandoned, vacant building
that has been slated to be taken down, but
for whatever reason because of the
backlog has not been a priority for our
Building Inspection to take down. And
that's the kind of thing we need to put
together.

I think we had a conversation

during the budget where we talked about
bringing all the players on the same page

and getting them to work in unison
together with each other. I have been
pushing for that since earlier last year. As
of this point, I am not satisfied with the
response I have gotten from our city
department. So I think we can make a lot
of ground up and do a lot of good things
provided they make it a priority and follow
it through.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Just in closing, two items. I agree
with my colleagues regarding we need a
plan of action and we have to bring all the
players involved including District
Attomey Steven Zappala who was kind
enough yesterday to attend my
neighborhood meeting.

But just in closing, I would like to
make a motion that our City Controller
does a full scale audit on the Weed and
Seed money that has come into the City of
Pittsburgh, which I believe now is over
one million dollars and the success of the
program.

I have received some information
and I find it very distressing if it is true
that some of the Weed and Seed money
has been going for such marketing items as
banners, as pizza parties, T-shirts,
uniforms for baseball teams. If that
information is correct, I am very disturbed
about that. Because that Weed and Seed
money was supposed to do two things.
Number one, enforcement and number two
prevention programs. Prevention
programs, helping people, enforcement,
getting people into the judicial system,
getting people behind bars, not for pizza
parties, not for uniforms. If that
information is true, J am going to be very
disturbed and ] am going to contact federal

authorities after we do our audit.

I would like to make a motion to
City Controller Tom Flaherty to perform
an audit on all Weed and Seed money here
in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

I would like to take a few minutes
first to congratulate Mr. Ferlo on an
excellent Christmas Party last week.

Mr. Ferlo:
Holiday Party.
The Chair:

Holiday Party. You really packed
the place. And we certainly want to
congratulate our Man of the Year, Mr.
Udin. He looks like he should be a high
school principal maybe on this picture if
we don't get the kids to school on time.

I have a little quiz for Council
members. I was curious if you wouldn't
recognize any of these names. John
Moore, Robert Sheehan, E. F. Roush,
James W. Jack, any of those names
familiar yet? These two might spring a
better hint for you, W. A. McGee,
Constantine Gallagher. Please pass out the
answers for my colleagues.

This was the first City Council of
the century and back in 1900 we actually
had two Councils. One a Select Council,
35 members and a Common Council 35
members. It was the 80th Council of the

City of Pittsburgh and actually, ladies and
gentlemen, it did not include the 130,000
residents of Allegheny, the city of
Allegheny, which is now known as the
North Side. So we had 70 members of
Council the first in 1900 that was the first
Council of the century. If you haven't
realized we will be the last Council of this
century and there are only nine of us. So
actually from 70 to 9 that is pretty good
productivity, I guess.

Mr. Udin:
Ferlo wasn't on that was he?
The Chair:

Actually I have the books that were
the history of it. Where they didn't have
computers, so we still have the books from
two Councils right here in front of us. The
one is just about going to make it, I don't
know if it will make it another 100 years.

Mr. Onorato:

I notice in the minutes, Mr.
President, they talk about the installation
of salt boxes.

The Chair:

Since this is the last Council of the
century --

Mr. Ferlo:

I don't like the way you say that,
Mr. President.
The Chair:

Of this century, we'te getting old,
Jimmy. If you realize looking around we
have in this Council itself we have 65

years of experience on Council together. I
think it’s an exceptionable Council, and I
am very honored and proud to have served
with all of you and most of you for eight
years.

There is a little sad part of it,
because two of us probably won't be here
next year. We will be running for other
offices and I feel strongly that those two
will get elected. So we will have a newer
at least two new members next year to
start the new millenium.

Oddly enough to how our Council
has changed, one of the reasons I ran for
Council eight years ago was when I looked
at the Council of ‘90, ‘91, no one had
children at least of high school or grade
school age. So I kind of didn't feel
represented. Now you look at Council,
there are two kids, three kids, Ms.
McDonald has three kids, Mr. Onorato
when I met him he had a little baby, now
he has three, you have one. I know I have
three kids, but I have two grandchildren so
we have our own way of growing the city
now. So I think Council has really
changed.

There are a couple of areas I feel
that really need our attention and I would
like to focus on this year because I think it
is very, very important. Financially the
city has had problems for as long as I can
remember, at least the last 15 and 20 years.
I think we have to bring that to a head as
we struggle through each budget time we
don't want to go into the next century with
the same problems.

So actually, Mr. Sala Udin our
Finance Chair has already started. He's
formed a Tax Restructuring Committee,
which has business and government
leaders, members from the Universities,

putting his head together and has a
committee trying to restructure and see
what our future tax structure should be to
pull us out of these lasting probiems. I
believe with Scott Kunka, his new
assignment should really be to assist you
full time at this and Chuck Crawford his
assistant. We look forward to that and,
Mr. Udin, I would ask you to do it
by-monthly report on your findings and
where we are and where we are going with
that committee.

Secondly, I have heard from many
of you especially during budget time of the
growing Public Safety costs, especially in
the Fire Bureau. I have asked Michael
Diven who Chair's our Public Safety to
chair a committee and looking at merging
our Fire Department and our EMS. I think
we have to sit in a room and start
pounding this out. Other cities whether it
be Phoenix, San Francisco, we seem to be
one of the last of the cities holding on to
the old structure. I know there are
problems and it won't be easy. But I think
we will never solve the problem unless
you get everyone in a room and start
talking about it.

T have talked to the two chiefs and
the two union representatives and they are
certainly willing to assist you and start
pulling this together. And I want to make
it perfectly clear we have probably the best
EMS and best fire service in the country.
Our goal should be to have a better or
higher quality service and a more efficient
price, That's the only restrictions I would
put on it. I would support it as long as
those things and it was more beneficial to
our constituents,

The Cable Bureau, our TCI
contract is up in October. We have been

off and on talking about it for a couple of
years. It is going fast and I have the
utmost confidence in Mr. Cohen who
chairs that to roll up his sleeves and report
to us again on an at least by-monthly
Teport where they are. Whether it is not
going well or it is going well, whether we
have to hire outside consultants, whatever
because you have championed TCI for the
last few years and we can't find ourselves
in October throwing up our hands.

Also, I have been meeting with
most of you one on one, I want to make
better use of our cable system. I think it is
a great tool. I think we can use it better to
meet and address issues with our
constituents and bring in guests however
we want to form it. But I think it's a tool
that we have to use to make our city much
better and all of us can benefit from it.

Next, I know Council will continue
I think quality of life has been an issue
since I have been here. I know each and
every one of you addressed those on a day
to day basis. When anybody ever questions
Council or the Mayor's Office or whatever
I say well I think this Council is worried
about their district has major concerns and
just hearing the last hour whether it be
snow removal, drug problems,
refurbishing of the street face program for
businesses, parks, soccer fields, swimming
pools since Parks and Recreation go under
zoning, this Council has done an excellent
job and I know we will continue to do
that.

Finally I would like to take
something on myself with all of you. I
believe we have to start building better
bridges with Harrisburg. So that will be
something I want to take a lead on with all
your support. This is something that's

been neglected for many, many years. We
have set a meeting up next Thursday at the
Sheraton for breakfast meetings with us,
the Allegheny County legislators and the
State Senators. Also, I have invited the
School Board. I have met with the new
President Ron Suber and he is very
supportive of this initiative.

Education is probably the most
important thing that faces us as a city. It
determines where, whether you are going
to live in a neighborhood, whether you are
going to raise your family in Pittsburgh or
whether you are going to move out.
Unfortunately a lot of people have been
voting with their feet. The schools are a
major, major issue. I know working
together we can start resolving some of the
issues. We don't want to run the schools,
we don't want to run the School Board, but
if we are going to grow our city whether it
be infrastructure, Nine-Mile Run,
highways, schools, we need a partnership
with Harrisburg. That money to make our
schools better and to make our lives better
here depends on our relationship with
Harrisburg. So that will be a very, very
important meeting. I think it is going to be
open-minded.

I have asked Mr. Udin and
Mr. Suber to start the agenda with clearly a
budget address to the legislators what our
budget concerns are. What the School
Board budget concerns are and as
Harrisburg goes into their April, May,
June deliberations on their budget that they
will know where we are and try to form a
partnership. This isn't about Plan B, it is
about our whole city and our region.

So those are some of the initiatives
and certainly we want to continue the good
work we have done on all other aspects.

But I believe we have come a long way
together and Pittsburgh is a better place for
it because of it and because of your efforts.
T look forward to making this year the last
of our century with exception of one for
this City Council.

Mr. Udin:

I want to congratulate you,
Mr. President, on the fine leadership that
you have provided to this Council
following in the footsteps of our President
Emeritus Ferlo and tell you how pleased I
am to hear you laying out a structure of
goals and priorities for the coming year.

I think it is critical that Council
begins to function independently as we
have discussed with a clear set of goals
and objectives and priorities that are
citywide. That we have a clear legislative
agenda for Harrisburg under your
leadership and you can rest assured that I
will certainly be as helpful and committed
as you are in pressing forward this agenda
for Council. Thank you.

Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. President, I have another issue
but I do want to say and embellish
Mr. Udin's comments. I think you’re off
on a great footing for the New Year if not
the next millenium. JI certainly want to
join and help you in any way. We had a
good discussion yesterday about the Cable
Bureau and how we can better utilize the
cable forum for Council. Make it more
interactive, make it a forum to discuss
topical issues, make it a forum to educate
the public about what is going on in the
city to involve their input on strategic
issues that this Council is confronted with.
Anything I could do to be helpful I would

like to join in to support the initiative. So
I want to thank you.

The Chair:

Maybe I didn't mention, Mr. Udin,
Mr. Diven, any of our committees are
certainly open to all members without
naming committees. So it is a very open-
minded body and certainly thank you for
your support.

Mr. Ferlo:

I think as a follow up too, I know
when we traveled to.Harrisburg and during
and prior to the holidays right after the
debacle I guess you would call it that the
administration with the stadium situation,
we met with Mr. Dewesse and Mr. Veon
and others. I thought it was a great
meeting but all of us on this Council have
for and relationships with the elected
delegation and I think your idea of
involving them more and meeting with
them face to face is a step in the right
direction.

I know each and every colleague
can be very helpful in that communication
process with the delegation and from our
respective areas. So, I think that is a step
in the right direction. Anything we can do
to continue to explore that, but I would ask
that we take up for discussion this year
Councilman Udin's concern that he raised
during the budget deliberations with Mr.
Kolling. That is the idea that this Council
might want to entertain the hiring of our
own individual or firm. I am not sure what
form it would take to act as a lobbying
representative for us on strategic issues in
Harrisburg and DC. I would hope that
maybe through this discussion we could
bring that back up again. I have an

unrelated issue though.
Mr. Cohen:

Very briefly, I want to thank you
also for laying out some very important
priorities for 1999. As far as at least in my
tenure that has not been done before and I
welcome it. I appreciate it. In fact, what I
would ask you to do if you would consider
it, is to put your remarks in writing or at
least the priorities that you laid out in
writing, circulate them to other Council
members and perhaps give them an
opportunity to add a couple of others. So
that we really do begin the year with a
Council priority list. Which is not to say
that other issues won't come up that we
will react to or maybe even have a
proactive posture on. But I think it would
be helpful.

I think focus our minds on what is
important for the future of Pittsburgh to
have a list of priorities obviously non-
binding, but a list of priorities that we all
can agree to and maybe even sign on to.
So I appreciate that.

Just briefly, with respect to TCI, 1
have long of course been an opponent of
TC's rates and services thinking that they
have been insensitive to our customers.
We now enter into a new type of situation
where we have to negotiate with TCI. We
are going to have a transfer issue to
AT&T, That is going to happen this
month and there also, of course, is going to
franchise renewal, major franchise renewal
and negotiations. I assure you that we
will be tough and we will try to get as
many benefits as we can for the city. I
look forward to talking to every Council
member individually on this issue.

In my view the whole issue of
franchise renewal and telecommunications
in Pittsburgh is as important as Plan B is to
the economic development of Pittsburgh.
Because when you hand out this municipal
record from 1900, back then they were
talking about building roads and bridges,
we need to build a telecommunications
system that will allow us to exchange
information in commerce in a way that
will really allow us to compete into the
next century. So J appreciate your words
and your allowing me to chair that
committee. Thank you.

The Chair:

A agree with you. I have it in
writing. I will give you copies of it and
any other priorities. 1 think it is.a good
way to keep score so we feel good about
ourselves and try to accomplish things.

Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. Chairman, I know the hour is
getting late I will try to be brief. I am
submitting legislation next week so I just
want to summarize the concer today. We
have an existing ordinance that has been
on the books for a good number of years
that is inequitable, it is antiquated, it is
unenforceable, it is counterproductive, it
poses a financial hardship, it stifles small
business and entrepreneurs, it is
prejudicial, and it is down right
Neanderthal. It is called Chapter 719
Vendors and Peddlers.

I have been working on an
ordinance, actually I am a little bit upset
because the straw that broke the camel’s
back was an article in the paper regarding
a food vendor in Market Square from
Beaver County. A farmer who has come

in at the request of the Downtown
Partnership or the Market Square
Association. I applaud him, I think it’s
great to have a food vendor in Market
Square. I am personally upset that it
happens to be somebody from Beaver
County when there are a lot of home
grown entrepreneurs that wanted an
opportunity to have a vending cart there.
It is completely illegal.

The administration can say through
power and through influence that they
have given this individual the prerogative
to be there. It is a violation of the city
code of ordinances. It just brings home a
problem that exists with the ordinance.
We have a completely unfair ordinance
that needs to be changed. I would ask that
until my bill is introduced next week, until
we resolve this matter, that we have a
moratorium and a _ suspension of
enforcement in citations for that chapter of
the city code, that Building Inspection and
Public Works to some extent enforces it is
completely unfair. It is not only unfair
flagrantly with the Market Square
situation, it is unfair with Mr. Bonisore
(phonetic) in Oakland who not only
occupies and illegally the corner but also
takes some 24-hour basis and I don't know
how. I don't know whom he is paying or
making contributions to, but he has two
big parking spaces with big step vans
there. I don't know how that happens.

We have the East Liberty situation;
Ian list you about 20 examples where the
situation is completely unenforceable. I
feel sorry for BBI and the inspectors
because they have no way of enforcing this
ordinance. There has been special
treatment. Words don't describe how
upset I am about the way this is done. I
think we need a progressive ordinance in

a 8 ee

this city that allows vending opportunities
at strategic appropriate locations. But I
think it should be fair and equitable for
everyone to have a shot at it. I think it
should be done with some thought and I
think it should be done with some income
to the city.

I am resentful over this past week
with the food vendor now appearing in
Market Square, I can remember an African
American gentleman that I tried to help in
East Liberty. This is back even before
Councilwoman McDonald's tenure, I am
going back eight, ten years ago. Who was
continually harassed. He had a food cart.
I mean I think of him everyday. I thought
of him when I read that article in the paper
with this farmer from Beaver County
showing up in Market Square. I thought
wouldn't it be nice if this guy had that food
vendor cart since he was harassed for ten
years down in East Liberty. I know BBI
will remember the gentleman.

I am only saying what we have is
just terrible. It is unfair. I don't even
know -- the words don't describe how
upset I am about this. I have a draft of an
ordinance I am going to submit something
next week to get it into the books for
public debate and discussion. But in the
mean time, we should not be issuing any
citations and chasing anybody off the
street because it is not fair. It is
prejudicial. As far as I am concemed, if I
were a food vendor I would be down there
today in Market Square, if I could sustain
the cold. But it is completely unfair that
this farmer from Beaver County Market
Square with some covey out of approval
by whom I don't know. It didn't come
through this Council. It is a violation of
the code of ordinances.

I am saying suspend any citations.
As far as I am concerned, it is fair game
for anybody to be down in Market Square
selling anything. Having said that, I will be
introducing an ordinance next week and I
would ask that we get a public debate and
discussion on this whole issue.

The Chair:

I apologize; I see at least two hands
up.

Mr. Ferlo:

I have nothing against Beaver
County by the way.

The Chair:

I see at least two hands up and I
have to be a Pallbearer at a friend of mine
mother's past away and I will tum it over
to Ms. McDonald.

Mr. Ferlo:

I apologize for taking so long.
(Ms. McDonald took over the Chair)
Mr. Ferlo:

Tam done.

Mr. Udin:

Same subject, Ms. McDonald. I
have been working since November with
Solicitor Craig Straw on an ordinance that
would amend the vending code in the city.
My immediate focus was downtown, but I
would be glad to join with Councilman

Ferlo in co-sponsoring perhaps a bill that
would change the vending practices in the

SEESSaa—=— lS

city, update them and make them more
modem. I am surprised that Mr. Straw did
not bring that to Mr. Ferlo's attention. But
I have been, it has kind of been on the
back bumer in the Solicitor's Office, I have
been pushing for them to come forward
with the Solicitor's legal views on the
matter.

So I would look forward to
working with Councilman Ferlo on this
matter and hope that the Solicitor’s Office
is able to move this item closer to the front
burner.

Mr. Ferlo:

Let me make it clear, when Mr.
Straw left me, I made it clear that if he
wanted to be a successful assistant city
solicitor he should do one thing and that is
to maintain confidentiality when he is
working with colleagues. He has done that
since the day he left.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. I would be very
interested in working with Mr. Ferlo and
Mr. Udin on this. Over the years I have
received a number of complaints about
vendors both downtown issues, telephone
calls, letters and also Grand View Avenue,
Mount Washington and the complaints are
a variety of different things. People that
want to be vendors, and can't be vendors.
Merchants that have fixed locations that
are paying every kind of tax on earth and
that are competing with vendors that aren't
licensed, and don't pay any kind of taxes
and just spring up overnight.

So there are a lot of issues here and
I got to agree, whatever is on the books is
not working at all. It doesn't seem to be

fair, it doesn't seem to be eliminating the
problem, so I want to commend both
Councilman Ferlo and Udin for bringing
this up and I look forward to being able to
come up with some practical solutions to
the problems and getting it in place.

President Pro Tem:

Thank you. We look forward to
that. Just to add to Councilman Ferlo is
that I too would like to join the situation as
far as street vending. In East Liberty it has
not disappeared and it does go back way
before my tenure here on Council. The
problem that I find is that if you do rewrite
the ordinance the vendors in East Liberty
are Aftican American they don't live in
Fox Chapel, they are a very modest means
that they have and they are just trying to
eke out a living. Sometimes you know
living from hand to mouth you know day
by day.

So you don't want, I did not want
to address a legislative piece that would
target them. So what I have been trying to
do is work with Commander Bryant at
Zone Five and the vendors and East
Liberty Development, and East Liberty
Business Association and East Liberty
Chamber of Commerce to get everybody
on the same page, to try to work out some
amicable resolution to this. And, thus far
it has been I would say it has done a lot.
But it is still not solved.

So again, we are dealing with the
vendors in East Liberty. In fact the URA
has committed to helping financially to
assist the vendors to be able to live up to
the code, to have carts that have wheels on
them, to have some type of facade so that
it would look more like a welcome to East
Liberty than just we are on the street trying

to sell our wears. So, again between
police, between the businesses we are
trying to work it out. But I agree with you
that there needs to be a total overhaul of
some kind.

I appreciate your leadership on that
and, again, I think that this is one case
where all Council members are all singing
basically the same tune. So I think that
this needs to be a piece that maybe all
Council members can co-sponsor taking
the lead of Councilman Ferlo. So, I would
appreciate also discussing that with you
since it would help.our area as well.

Now lastly, our City Clerk had
asked me if you would want to make a
formal resolution on a moratorium of
enforcement of that ordinance.

Mr. Ferlo:

I don't know how my colleagues
feel, but I feel very strongly that what we
have is completely inequitable and cannot
really be enforced. I think it is unfortunate
if there are any citations being written.
And, as far as the gentleman and I know a
number of the African American vendors
in East Liberty, if I were them I would get
a food cart and I would be right down in
Market Square making some money.

President Pro Tem:

So is there a formal motion to
place a moratorium on the ordinance.

Mr. Ferlo:

I would like to ask that we send an
advisory memorandum to the
administration asking them to consider a
moratorium.

Mr. Cohen:

Point of order. I am not sure, I
maybe wrong here, I am not sure we have
the legal authority to put a moratorium on
legislation. I would be very receptive to
Councilman Ferlo's bill and reading it and
considering it. But if it is on the books, I
am not sure we actually have the legal -- I
have never seen before whether we have
the legal authority just to say arbitrarily
that we can enforce some laws and not
others. I think the better way to do it is
rewriting the legislation.

Mr. Ferlo:

There has been sometimes when
we have done a moratorium on ordinances,
but I think what is more important is that
we convey the discussion here today by
Councilman Hertzberg, Mr. Udin and
everybody who spoke and convey that
discussion to the administration and to
Chief Cimino. I think that would be
enough for them to respond to the concern.

President Pro Tem:

Thank you. Okay. There is a way;
there is a correct parliamentary way of
doing this but Councilman Ferlo, what is
your will?

Mr. Ferlo:

T think it is more important that we
convey the discussion that just took place
to Chief Cimino and the Mayor and elicit
their response to this issue of the
enforcement.

President Pro Tem:

So, ask the City Clerk to draft
some correspondence to that effect.

Mr. Ferlo:

And certainly anybody who has to
appear before a city magistrate can take
this discussion. I don't see how any judge
can rightfully enforce the ordinance.

President Pro Tem:

Thank you. Any other business
under motions and resolutions?

Mr. Cohen:

Having said that, any one who is
willing to stand out there today in five-
degree temperature to sell anything,
probably shouldn't have to sustain any
penalties.

President Pro Tem:

You bring up a good point,
Councilman Cohen, because that is the one
area that would resolve the problem in
East Liberty. Many of these individuals do
not want to be in inclement weather
whether it is raining or snowing or just
plain cold out there. It would be good to
have an incubator, some type of facility
they could go inside. But again, that is
money.

So, any other discussion under
motions and resolutions?

Need a motion to approve the
minutes.

MR. ONORATO moved to approve the

minutes.

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. ONORATO moved to adjourn the
meeting.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.

And with the motion made by Mr.
Onorato, the meeting adjourned.

MUNICIPAL RECORD
Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh

VOL. CXXXHI January 12, 1999 No. 2

Shane Fuga:

Municipal Record I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
tepublic for which it stands, one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and

ONE-HUNDRED justice for all.
THIRTIETH COUNCIL

The Chair:
BOB O'CONNOR...

« President

LINDA M. JOHNSON-WASLER.... City Clerk Thank you, Shane. You had quite
JOHN R. MASCIO ...ssssseeseee Deputy City Clerk a chorus come with you. We have a very
special presentation for you, a flag of our
Pittsburgh, PA city and country. Mr. Ricciardi, please
Tuesday, January 12, 1999 come up with us.
PRESENT: As you may have heard, we have a
i couple of other special guests. If Council
Mr. Mr. ti members will tum around, I believe we
Mc it ME tai have some special children from Woolslair
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin School. Councilman Ferlo's District and
Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor they are visiting today as part of a Kids
Ms. McDonald (Pres't) Around Town Program sponsored by the

League of Women Voters.

The Chair: This program includes the students
to the positive role of city government,

All please rise for the pledge of introducing them to the positive role of
allegiance and remain standing for a city government of Pittsburgh. Early this
moment of silent prayer for peace and morning they gave a special award to our
hope throughout the world. President Emeritus, Jim Ferlo. We are
going to redo it actually so the whole city

We have a very special guest, can see what the kids are doing and show

Shane Fuga. He's 11 years old, in the fifth their appreciation for Councilman Ferlo.
grade at Phillips Elementary School. He is ‘You want to show your signs?
being accompanied by the school librarian *
Jackie Kimmel. They reside in Children:
Councilman Ricciardi's District Three. ‘
Shane, will you please lead us. Good morning, Mr. Ferlo. We are

em
—=— ESSE

the second graders from Woolslair's
Elementary School. We are here to thank
you for helping us to get the guardrail
installed in front of our school.

Because of this guardrail, we are
much safer than before. The cars and
buses that drive by are less of a danger to
us.

We are also beginning to
understand about how our local
government works. We are leaming that
we can make a difference when we see
things that need to be changed.

We also want to let you know how
much we enjoy marching with you around
our school, saying go slow, go slow.

We would like to present you with
a certificate that shows our thanks. We
also have a picture of us by the guardrail
for you.

Now we would like to present
words about you using the letters in your
name.

J is for jolly.

Lis innovative.

Mis for moral.

F is for fairness.

E is for exploring.

Ris for responsible.

Lis for lawful.

Ois for outgoing.
When you put ail of those together,

what does it spell?
Jim Ferlo.

Thank you for helping us, Mr.
Ferlo.

Mr. Ferlo:

First. on behalf of Council
President Bob O'Connor and all of my
colleagues up here. Councilman Diven,
Councilman Hertzberg, Councilwoman
McDonald and Councilman Onorato and
Councilman Ricciardi who is also, here we
want to thank all the students from
Woolslair and especially the League of
Women Voters also for your democracy
project. We thank you very much.

I know Councilman Onorato has
been gracious in the past to work on this in
the North Side schools and I know my
other colleagues will be working with Mrs.
Murzin and others from the League on the
democracy project.

We had a little session here earlier
today and many of the students were
curious about the building and the table
and the media and the lights. We
answered a lot of questions.

They're doing a great job at
Woolslair School. We want to applaud the
principal Mr. DiPucci and the teachers and
the administrators, but I especially want to
say a warm hello and a thank you to ail the
great students that took the time to come
down here today. I am very honored at
this award. I want to thank Commander
Costa from the Police Bureau and
Assistant Deputy Director Mr. Booker
from the Department of Public Works who
helped resolve some of the safety issues at
Woolslair School. So thank you very

much and God bless you all. Thank you.
The Chair:

You want to come up here so you
can get a picture with the Councilman?
That was a great presentation.

Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you, Mr. President. We will
take a group shot.

The Chair:
We have one read and adopted.
PRESENTATIONS
MR. COHEN PRESENTS:

No. 1123 WHEREAS, Shadyside
Concerts, now celebrating its 18”
Anniversary, is led by Artistic Director
Charlotte Day and is Pittsburgh’s leading
chamber music series; and

WHEREAS, Shadyside Concerts
features many of our area’s finest
professional musicians, including
members of the Pittsburgh Symphony as
well as young musicians from Carnegie-
Mellon University and Duquesne
University and ;

WHEREAS, Shadyside Concerts
are held in the First Unitarian Church in
Shadyside, a setting that offers exceptional
acoustics in space ideally suited for
chamber music performance, and is in the
process of being made fully accessible;
and

WHEREAS, Shadyside Concerts, a
non-profit organization, offers affordable

admission to its ten scheduled concerts,
which makes these performances available
to a wide audience; and

WHEREAS, Shadyside Concerts is
planning to expand its mission of serving
the local music community by sponsoring
a competition for local high school string
quartets; and

WHEREAS, Shadyside Concerts is
celebrating its 18" Anniversary this year.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh commends and thanks
Shadyside Concerts for 18 years of
providing Pittsburghers with the
opportunity to hear performances by the
City’s finest musicians in a unique local
setting.

MR. DIVEN moved to adopt the
resolution.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
MR. COHEN PRESENTED:

No. 1124 Resolution approving the
transfer of ownership of the City of
Pittsburgh cable communications from
Tele-Communications, Inc., d/b/a TCI of
Pennsylvania (“TCI”) to AT&T
Corporation (AT&T) as a result of TCI’s
pending acquisition by AT&T.—
(SPONSORED BY MR. COHEN)

No. 1125 Resolution providing for
an agreement or agreements, or use of
existing Agreements and/or a Contract or
Contracts, or use of existing Contracts,
and for the purchase of materials, supplies

and equipment and/or services in
connection with the Renovations and
Maintenance of Various Public Buildings;
and providing for the payment of the costs
thereof, at a cost not to exceed $50,000.00.

No. 1126 Resolution providing for
an agreement or agreements, or use of
existing Agreements and/or a Contract or
Contracts, or use of existing Contracts,
and for the purchase of materials, supplies
and equipment and/or services in
connection with the Renovations and
Maintenance of Various Public Buildings;
and providing for the payment of the costs
thereof at a cost not to exceed $65,000.00.

No. 1127 Resolution providing for
contracts and agreements or the use of
existing contracts or agreements for the
purchase of equipment, materials, supplies
and services, for rehabilitation and
removal of under ground and above
ground storage tanks and providing for the
payment of the costs thereof, at a cost not
to exceed $700,000.00.

No. 1128 Resolution Authorizing
a Cooperation Agreement or Agreements
which provides for the transfer of funds
not to exceed Four Hundred Eighty Three
Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Dollars
($483,680.00) to the City of Pittsburgh
Equipment Leasing Authority for the
purchase of vehicles, radios and equipment
for use by City of Pittsburgh Departments
and Authorities.

No. 1129 Resolution Authorizing
a Cooperation Agreement or Agreements
which provides for the transfer of funds
not to exceed Three Million Seven
Hundred Sixty Five Thousand
($3,765,000.00) Dollars to the City of
Pittsburgh Equipment leasing Authority

for the purchase of vehicles, radios and
equipment for use by City of Pittsburgh
Departments and Authorities.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Lands, Buildings and

Procurement.
MR. FERLO PRESENTED:
No. 1130 An Ordinance

Directing the Allegheny County Board of
Elections to place before the qualified
voters of the City of Pittsburgh a
teferendum question which would
supplement the Home Rule Charter,
Section 228, Independent Citizen Review
Board, by including the Housing
Authority, City of Pittsburgh, Police
Department. —(SPONSORED BY MR.
FERLO)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

No. 1131 Resolution further
amending Resolution 87 effective March
13, 1996, as amended by Res. No. 263 of
1997, effective May 22, 1997, entitled:
“Resolution providing for an Agreement
or Agreements with various community
organizations for operational/
administrative expenses maintenance,
purchase of equipment; and/or minor
rehabilitation of neighborhood facilities
for the benefit of the residents of the City
of Pittsburgh, at a cost not to exceed
$108,000.00, chargeable to and payable
from Code Account 1805 (180505)
Miscellaneous Services, Recreation, in the
Department of Parks and Recreation.” By
changing Southwest CDC for Broadhead,
Fairywood, Westgate Assoc. $2,000.00 to

read Oakland Westwood Athletic
Association $2,000.00 and Westside
Youth Committee $2,000 to Windgap-
Chartiers Athletic Association $2,000.00. -
—(SPONOSRED BY MR.
HERTZBERG)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Parks, Recreation and
Youth Policy.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

No, 1132 Resolution Directing the
City Law Department, Department of
Personnel, and .:the Civil Service
Commission to report to City Council on
the feasibility and cost of performing an
investigation of civil litigation on
applicants for City: of Pittsburgh police
officers, in addition to the standard
criminal background investigation. —
(SPONSORED BY MS. MCDONALD)

Which was read -and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

No. 1133 Resolution Providing for
a Cooperation Agreement or Agreements
with the Housing Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh for the administration and
implementation of the “Central Relocation
Agency” at a cost not to exceed $148,800,
chargeable to and payable from the 1998
CDBG Program “Central Relocation
Agency,” Account #566402, Fund #2610,
Organization #810000, Subclass C-1998,
Project #2215888, Budget Year 1998, --—
(PRESENTED BY MR. RICCIARDI &
MR. UDIN)

No. 1134 Resolution Providing for
a Cooperation Agreement or Agreements

with the Housing Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh for the administration and
implementation of the “Central Relocation
Agency” at a cost not to exceed $350,000,
chargeable to and payable from the 1999
CDBG Program “Central Relocation
Agency,” Account #566402, Fund #2610,
Organization #810000, Subclass C-1999,
Project #2215888, Budget Year 1999. ---
(PRESENTED BY MR. RICCIARDI &
MR. UDIN)

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Housing, Economic
Development and Promotion.

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

No. 1135 Resolution Authorizing
the Mayor and General Services to enter
into an Agreement or Agreements with
Laurel Bank to enable them to place an
ATM Machine in the Pittsburgh Municipal
Courts building located at 660 First
Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to suspend
Rule 8 by providing for consideration of
the bill until or after the 8th calendar day
following the meeting in which the bill
was introduced so the bill will be on the
agenda this Wednesday.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Also,

No. 1136 An Ordinance amending

the Pgh. Code, Title Six, Conduct, Article
I, Regulated Rights and Actions, Chapter

617, Smoking Pollution Control, Section
617.04, Prohibition of Smoking in Public
Places, Subsection 617.04(a)(14),
Underground transit stations, to allow
eating and drinking within the confines of
designated areas within underground
transit stations. —-(SPONSORED BY
MR. UDIN)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Planning, Zoning & Land
Use.

No. 1137 Resolution authorizing
the sale of City of Pittsburgh owned
property in the 25" Ward, 401 Catoma
Street, designated as Block 23 G, Lot 366
(part), to Peter L. Hervoyavich and
Kathleen Hervoyavich, his wife, for the
sum of $100.00.

No. 1138 Resolution repealing
Resolutions, approved on various dates,
authorizing the sale of properties in
various wards of the City of Pittsburgh, in
accordance with Act No. 171 of 1984.

No. 1139 Resolution providing for
conveyance by the City of Pittsburgh of
certain property, under Act No. 171 of
1984, entitled, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

No. 1140 Resolution providing for
the filing of a petition or petitions for the
sale of certain property or properties,
acquired at tax sales in accordance with
Act No. 171 of 1984, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

No. 1141 Resolution establishing a
committee to recommend revisions to
Section 719, Vendors and Peddlers of the
City Code, and any other provisions of the
Code that pertain to vending and peddling
in the City of Pittsburgh.
(SPONSORED BY MR. UDIN).

MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:

No. 1142 Communication from
City Controller Tom Flaherty submitting
the Special Report on new Homeowner
Survey, 1997-1998,

No. 1143 Communication from
City Solicitor Jacqueline Morrow
submitting the Claims Report for
December 1998, the Final Quarterly
Report for 1998 and the Annual Report for
1998.

In Council Tuesday, January 12, 1999.
Read, received and filed.

The Chair:

Motion to receive and file.
MR. FERLO moved to receive and file.
MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Any unfinished business to come
in front of Council?

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

re
aaa eee

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. I think
this is the appropriate time just to talk
briefly about a bill that was introduced
today on the transfer of the cable system
from TCI of Pennsylvania to AT&T. It
actually is a change of corporate control
technically, and J just wanted to let other
Council members and the public know
what the process will be. Today we
introduced a bill regarding that transfer.
We have until January 31st to reach a
decision on that issue.

With your help, Mr. President, we
scheduled a Post Agenda Meeting on
Thursday at two o'clock to discuss the
number of issues surrounding this transfer
with representatives from TCI and
representatives from AT&T. We have
asked for representatives from both
corporations to come to City Council that
day to discuss the financial, technical and
legal issues surrounding the transfer.

We will then discuss among
ourselves any conditions that we would
attach to that transfer resolution, have a
preliminary vote a week from tomorrow
and a final vote the following Tuesday. I
just wanted to tell other Council members
what the plan of action will be on that and
if anybody has any questions at all, please
feel free to contact me.

Mr. Ferlo:

First, 1 want to thank Councilman
Cohen for his work and leadership on
these issues. There is at least three
separate and distinct issues that this
Council and the public needs to be looking
at and thinking about. Some are
immediate like the AT&T's/ TCI merger

and longer range the issue of the
consulting group that we have engaged to
work long range on the issue of our over
all communications policy in the City of

Pittsburgh.

And, thirdly the issue of the
Tenegotiated contract of the franchise
renewal with AT&T/TCI whatever the
new animal is going to be called. I assume
it will be called AT&T since they are the
bigger folks on the block. But at some
point we need to get the public involved as
Councilman Cohen and others have
pointed out.

We had an informal meeting
yesterday. Councilwoman McDonald and
myself and Mr. Cohen with a number of
community group leaders from the East
End including Mr. Redwood from our
Cable Advisory Group also very active on
community access issues. We are trying to
begin to layout and expand on one of the
principles that we are concemed about we
begin to negotiate the cable franchise
renewal and that is the issue of community
linkage and community access whether it
be the cable to the Internet and the like.

So I would hope that we can have
the Post Agenda Meeting cablecast just so
we can begin to try to get the word out to
the community about these different issues
and how they begin to be involved. But in
terms of the hearing on the AT&T merger,
the Justice Department apparently has
already agreed and reviewed it and is not
challenging any anti-trust action.

There are significant issues about
what will happen with the merger whether
it be whether or not the Corliss facility and
employment will be maintained in this
city. There are at least a couple of

communities around the country that
actually have intervened in the issue and
are raising some challenges. I would ask
that we get something in writing from the
Law Department explaining why Portland
or maybe a couple of other communities
that Mr. Cohen can maybe talk about have
chosen not to approve and are seeking
some course of action before the FCC.
But if we can get some of that information
prior to the hearing Thursday and also for
the meeting Thursday to be cablecast, I
think it would be helpful.

The Chair:

I believe to be clear that's a Post
Agenda Meeting Thursday.

Mr. Ferlo:

I know, but I wanted to know if we
could have a Post Agenda cablecast just so
people could know more about the issues.
The Chair:

It is not a Public Hearing yet.

Mr. Ferlo:

No, but I think having it cablecast
is --

The Chair:

Yes, I just wanted to clarify it is
not a Public Hearing. We have a motion
to telecast the Post Agenda.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.

Mr. Cohen:

Mr. President, we also should ask
that the other members of the Franchise
Renewal Negotiating Team be there
including Guy Costa, Jacqueline Morrow,
Rodney Akers and probably John
Staudacher also should be there from CIS
and certainly a representative from the
Cable Committee. Thank you.

The Chair:

Thank you. We have an
appointment of Eric Momberger.

MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1010:

Resolution approving the
appointment of Eric Momberger as a
member of the Contracting out Regulation
and Review Committee for the evaluation
of proposed outsourcing of the Emergency
Medical Services billing function.

The Chair:

Any discussion?
approve.

Motion to

Mr. Ferlo:
Roll call vote please.

The ayes and noes were taken

agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald
Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

(Mr. Ferlo voted no.)
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Anything else under unfinished
business?

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes, I will
unfinished business.

take this under

Colleagues, regarding the Public
Hearing that I motioned for and that all of
you supported regarding the development
on the LTV site. Because of the cold
weather and some of the streets are very
difficult to navigate, I don't believe there
will be a need for the Public Hearing for
two reasons.

First of.all, there is going to be a
hearing in the Southside of Pittsburgh
January 19th at 7:00 p.m. at Good Will
Industries, allowing all the residents of the
Southside and the abutting communities to
attend that meeting. I will be able to hear
their comments there. Also, all colleagues
are invited. So that will save us some time
on logistics.

So if there is no objection by this
Council, I am asking that a Public Hearing
not occur here because of logistic reasons
and it will be substituted for the
community meeting on January 19th at
7:00p.m. at Good Will Industries.
Everyone in the City of Pittsburgh is
invited especially the Southside
community to hear presentations from
developers, the URA and others regarding
development on the LTV site. Thank you.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:
Anything else unfinished business?

The children have been so well
behaved out there from Woolslair. A
couple raised their hands and probably
wanted to ask questions. Do you guys
know how to yell Happy Birthday to
someone? Are you ready? It is
Councilman Cohen's Birthday.
Councilman Cohen you just want to stand
up and we will just yell Happy Birthday.
We won't say how old he is today. You
want to wish him a happy birthday?

(Children sang Happy Birthday.)
Mr. Ricciardi:

We also have another birthday in

the chambers. Our Sergeant at Arms,
Officer Victoria Mohney. So it is
Victoria's birthday also.

The Chair:

Well you can take half the kids for
cake and ice cream to your house and Dan
can take the other half. If you want to
leave, they have been very good today.

We now move to Committee
Reports from District One, Mr. Onorato.
Planning Zoning and Land Use.

CHAIR REPORTS

Mr. Onorato:

Mr. President, the only issue I am
going to talk about today because it is
going to hit all of us real soon, that is the
Zoning Code. As I told you, after we
passed the Zoning Code we developed a
committee. The committee has been
meeting regularly, actually twice a month
now and there is even an all day working
session planned this Saturday,
January 16th.

Mr. Hertzberg:

I thought it was from nine to
twelve,

Mr. Onorato:

Well, my guess is it is going to be
all day. That was being optimistic
numbers. We have the opportunity to be
there all day to really give some of the
bigger issues the time that it needs. I want
to thank a lot of the people that have been
participating because they have been
putting in a lot of time, volunteer time to
deal with some tough issues.

But I want to assure my colleagues
I was trying to figure out a way how to do
this to get the nine of us involved. I talked
about it the last time I gave a committee
report and I am going to explain how it
will end up dealing with all these issues
because it is ultimately our decision on
every issue that comes forward.

We have the committee narrowing
down any particular issue on the Zoning
Code by proposing draft amendments that
will be brought forward to Council. The
amendments will come forward with some
of them unanimous support, some won't
have unanimous support, some of them
will actually have opposition from the

committee. But ] thought it was only fair
to at least allow all of the amendments to
come forward as a form of discussion. I
would hope that we take the amendments
and it won't be-- we are not talking a
hundred amendments, we are talking
maybe 10 to 20 key issues that we just run
through them one by one and we vote
them up or down. The five people here
decide the policy on each amendment and
then we bring it to closure eventually.

So this weekend there is an all day
session or a half-day session. The time
frame for Council and these are tentative
time frame times. We are going to try to
live within these time frames that there
would be introduction of the bills, the
actual amendments on February 16th.
They will then waive rule eight on the 16th
would be Council's Committee Meeting
where we can actually make a motion to
hold for a Public Hearing to have outside
input and have it scheduled immediately
so that we can have the public make any
comments on the proposed amendments
and any possible new amendments if it
comes from a colleague. Then possibly
have it back in Council's Committee on
March 16" and have final action by
Council on March 23".

That's the time line that we have
been working under to at least bring this to
a closure or bring it to discussion. This
doesn't mean that the amendments that
come forward from the committee are the
only issues that get discussed. As you well
know, any nine of us can bring anything to
the floor. But it is a way to bring the
committee discussion to an end and to
hand it over to Council for debate. That is
the time frame. If anyone has any
suggestions or any recommendations they
can tell me now or send them to my office

=
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and I will make sure the committee takes
up your suggestions. But that's what we
are proposing at this point and that is the
time line we are working under as of
today.

The Chair:

Can we ask a couple of questions
on that?

Mr. Ferlo:

I am not totally clear on the
procedure. I appreciate the good work of
Councilman Onorato and the fact that this
group is meeting. Unfortunately it meets
at a time that I have not always been able
to get there, at eight o'clock in the moming
on Monday moming. I am worried that
the last folks I saw trailing out of the room
were mostly downtown real estate
interests, which are great ] want them to
have some input. But I am just concemed
about the procedure. If we are making
changes to the Zoning Code they would be
introduced by a colleague, they would be
forwarded to the Planning Commission for
a report and recommendation.

Mr. Onorato:

I am sorry. That is happening.
That was my fault. You're right.

Mr. Ferlo:

So are we then saying that we are
going to receive whatever kind of report
whether it is positive, negative on any one
issue, we will then discuss it and then
decide amongst ourselves whether we
want to forward it back to the Commission
or is Mr. Onorato saying that whatever the
document is will be forwarded to the

Commission?
Mr. Onorato:

I actually only gave you Council's
time line. Before February 17th when they
get introduced to Council, it really starts
on the 26™ where the Planning
Commission is hoping to have a Public
Hearing on these amendments.

On February 9th the City Planning
Commission is continuing the hearing if
they need to continue it. On February 16th
is when it will be presented at Council
from the Commission. So they will
already review them all.

I do want to point out I am sorry
you only saw some real estate people come
out of the meeting, but I can assure you
that there are a lot of community
representatives in the room also. They
also have sub-committees working outside
of the bigger committee that meets here in
Council. So there are some
sub-committees working on specific areas
too. But as you can imagine this
committee has been so big I think we have
20 members on it. It is kind of hard to
have a working committee that size, but
it’s been working. We have had
sub-committees and community
representatives have been present at all of
them and the final protection will be this
Council on any issue because we're going
to decide the five of us on what gets
passed and what doesn't.

The Chair:

Did we put a voluntary six-month
time line on all of these?

Mr. Onorato:

EON OOO

What we did is when we passed the
original bill it doesn't go into effect until
the date that we are using, February 25 or
26. I think it was the 25". Then the
second six months we were going to come
back after a year once it is implemented to
see if there were any problems once we are
using it. That is what the committee will
do next year. But we are at the end of that
six-month period at the end of February.

Mr. Ferlo:

This is totally a sidebar issue. But
this Council has been on record for over a
year asking that the Planning Commission
and the Zoning Board Room at the Ross
Street location get an appropriate sound
system. I keep attending meetings as late
as last week in front of the Zoning Board,
you cannot hear in the room. I don't think
it is just the fact that I am losing part of my
hearing, the fact of the matter is it is a very
difficult room to hear in and there is no
working sound system in the room. There
are a lot of times there are very large
Public Hearings there; it is very difficult
for people to have sense of order and
participation.

So I would ask once again for the
50th time if the administration, Director
Hirsh, whatever money they need, I am
sure we can find a few thousand dollars to
come up with an appropriation. I want to
implore upon my colleague, Councilman
Onorato. If Councilman Onorato could
maybe take this up being Chairman of
Zoning, but there are too many people that
go to that room and cannot understand or
hear what the proceedings are both before
the Zoning Board and the Planning
Commission. Maybe we will ask Director
Costa to take it on he seems to get things

done around here.
The Chair:

I will leave that up to Councilman
Onorato a request with Director Costa to
look into that. I agree with you. It's really
not set up for large meetings either.

Again, if it is a large meeting, I
don't know if they would want to use our
chambers. Probably again a large meeting
or some other facility in the city it is not
fair to the public. Okay.

Thank you Mr. Onorato for that
report. Now move to District Two,
Councilman Hertzberg Public Works.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you, Mr. President. First, I
am sure at the top of everyone's list is the
question of snow removal. Hopefully you
have all received a memorandum dated
January 6th from Ralph Kraszewski, the
Director of the Department of Public
Works. It is a lengthy memorandum. It
has first a kind of short summary of the
snow and ice control program. But then as
aI believe this is 20 some page booklet the
snow and ice control program and just if
you are wondering this street has been
reconstructed it doesn't look like this any
more it is Wall Bridge in the West End. It
may be because it used to be the worse
street in the city.

I won't read this report in its
entirety, but I will highlight some of the
areas that I think we had some questions
on at the last meeting. One being how our
Public Works Department delivers the
service. In each division the streets are
classified into one of three categories,

primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary
routes are salted first and continue to
receive salt treatment as required to
maintain traffic flow. Primary routes are
the main arteries that provide access to
hospitals, schools, major access roads and
fire stations.

Secondary roads are salted after the
primary system has been completely salted
and plowed. Exceptions are made in the
event of an extreme emergency including
fires and heart attack calls. Secondary
Toutes are usually residential streets and
thoroughfares.

Tertiary routes are those streets and
alleyways that have little traffic on a
regular basis. These streets are salted and
plowed after the secondary routes are
completed.

Some of the other highlights of the
hand out are that the staff of Public Works
during the winter changes the shifts so that
we have people that are on duty 24 hours
so that they can react to a snowstorm or
clean up at night. So they actually change
shifts where we may not have people
working all night during the good weather
months, during the winter weather months
the shifts are changed and there are people
working 24 hours.

Also our vehicle availability.
There are a total of 30 6-ton dump trucks,
34 4-ton dump trucks, 39 tractors, 5 one-
ton dumps, six multi-purpose trucks, 77
pick-ups and six salt cars. Which is about
200 or so pieces of equipment.

As far as the salt capacity. First
salt and calcium chloride. The First
Division has 5,000tons of salt and
3200 gallons of calcium chloride. The

Second Division has 5000 tons of salt,
3200 gallons of calcium chloride, Third
Division has 800 tons of salt, 3200 gallons
of calcium chloride, Fourth Division
800 tons of salt, 3200 gallons of calcium
chloride. Fifth Division 5,000 tons of salt,
3200 gallons of calcium chloride. The
Seldom Seen facility has 5,000 tons of salt
and 3200 gallons of calcium chloride and
the heavy equipment facility has 900 tons
of salt and 3200 gallons of calcium
chloride.

I think salt boxes were one of the
topics that came up last week -as to
whether there has been something different
that happened with salt boxes a new
policy. The answer I have received from
several members of the Public Works staff
are that, no, nothing has really changed.
Council members have a concem if there
is a salt box that isn't filled or appears to
have been removed, that could have
happened for a lot of different reasons
including vandalism and theft. But if there
are salt boxes that you believe should be in
a particular spot or need to be filled, please
contact the Department of Public Works
they haven't changed the program. At least
that's what they tell me.

The issue of salt and the
temperatures and salt not working, as I
mentioned before, each of the facilities has
calcium chloride that is supposed to work
at the lower temperatures. As far as
cinders, cinders are used. We do use that
to try to make the traction better when
temperatures are very low.

On to some other areas in Public
Works. Our street resurfacing program in
1998, 78 miles was resurfaced at a cost of
about $7.5 million and it was within the
budget at a cost of $96,245 per mile.

SSS OOS

Playground retrofits, six of eight retrofits
were done at a cost $317,000. Two are on
hold until 1999 because of manufacturer’s
problems.

Access ramps. Public Works
completed 491 of 570 ramps at a cost of
$211,396. The department met its in-
house goals. However, cold weather
hampered the contractors that were
working on it. And the balance of the
ramps will be completed by the early
spring of ‘99.

Park reconstruction. 265 -- $3,000
was spent on fence repairs at 21 of 26
facilities. The remaining five are in
progress. Twelve courts of eight facilities
were renovated. Concrete repairs at four
of eight facilities were done and the
balance in progress. Playground
renovations at two facilities were done.

Public Works completed and
opened the criterion bicycle course in
Highland Park December Ist.

Christmas tree drop off was open
on Saturday January 9th and again it will
be open January 31st from eight a.m. to
two p.m. at the different Public Works
sites that accept Christmas trees. Also
during the week from Monday through
Friday from eight to two Christmas trees
can also be dropped off at the Public
Works drop off sites.

On January ist the refuse
collection people started a semi automated
recycling collection program. The
recycling trucks have automated cart
tippers to dump 95-gallon containers. This
program is being used at all
non-residential stops. What happens is the
trucks that pick up the recycling materials

now if the commercial facilities have the
uniform 95-gallon size containers and they
are not the large dumpsters, they are a little
bit smaller. They look a little bit different.
They are something kind of between a
dumpster and the regular garbage can. But
the uniform ones now fit with the truck so
that the trucks now have a hydraulic lift.
All you do is wheel them, they have
wheels on the containers. You wheel them
to the trucks then the trucks will be lifting
those. That is going to save some backs.

Public Works replaced 2538 square
yards of concrete slabs at a cost of one
$98,449 dollars and 1728 of bricks, block
stone was replaced at a cost of $131,444,
That completes the report.

The Chair:

There are a lot of positives in
Public Works, certainly the bike course
and the parks, Right now we will probably
pay a little more attention to the snow
removal.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes, thank you. Mr. President and
colleagues, first I would like to thank
Councilman Hertzberg for his report
regarding Public Works activities. This is
not a reflection on Councilman Hertzberg,
but I remember several years ago an
elderly woman in the Southside taught me
the most important civic lesson. At that
time, Mr. President, I was shopping at one
of our neighborhood delis and she asked
me where I have been. I was very proud at
that time so I was writing and working on
a piece of legislation. I started telling her
about the piece of legislation I was
working on and all the time I was putting
in and the great opportunity, that it passed

on City Council. She goes, Gene that is all
nice, but guess what, that tree still hasn't
been pruned. That really taught me a lot.

What I am saying for those people
that are listening throughout the City of
Pittsburgh and in particular the division
that is represented by Councilman Diven
and myself are probably saying the same
thing. That report was very nice, but when
1 look outside my window I have a real
problem navigating our streets. So that's
what I would like to look at.

We have to look at policy now and
some innovative ideas. Colleagues, I
listened very closely when all you speak
and last week Mr. Ferlo brought up a very
good point when he said we should not
micro manage the department. He had
believed or he had stated that we had
competent staff and they should be doing
the job. So I thought about that and I
thought we have a solid management
team. We have fine men and women
working in Public Works so what is the
problem? Because no matter what anyone
says in Public Works or the administration
and I spoke directly with the Mayor
yesterday, there is a problem out there.
We are talking about building new
neighborhoods on the LTV site, I see the
City of Pittsburgh and administration
coming up short and I see their
shortcomings in delivering services to our
traditional older neighborhoods.

On that note, Mr. President, I want
to compliment you because you're thinking
of innovative ideas, new ideas, such as
plows on garbage trucks, no different than
what I have heard that they do in the City
of Philadelphia. I want to thank you for
bringing that forward. With that said, I
thought well we have the same

management team, we have had the same
men and women, same amount of
equipment, we have consolidated into five
divisions, it was supposed to work better.
Is there a problem, I believe I have
discovered one.

That problem goes back to several
years ago, I believe two years ago,
colleagues, when the current
administration entered into a cooperation
agreement with Allegheny County
regarding sharing services to be more
effective for city and county workers, city
and county taxpayers. I think that
cooperation agreement when it came to
Allegheny to Public Works, the City of
Pittsburgh came up short.

Let me show you why. I have been
getting calls from drivers throughout the
City of Pittsburgh, but especially in my
division. Right now the City of Pittsburgh
is responsible for a host, a whole array of
county roads in the City of Pittsburgh.
Example, Becks Run Road. It is a county
road, the City of Pittsburgh takes care of
Becks Run Road, which is in my district.
Becks Run Road is a four-lane highway. It
takes a driver four to five hours to properly
plow and salt Becks Run Road. Plus
county roads receive a high priority and
they go first.

Other county roads that the
Department of Public Works, city workers
are taking care of, Wagner Street,
Mountain Street, Route 885, Mifflin Road,
all the way to Century DI Mall. All
bridges in downtown Pittsburgh, all ramps
off of West Carson Street, Crane Avenue,
McNeilly Road, Route 88 all the way to
Pioneer Avenue. If you go to the North
Side, North Side District goes all the way
out to West View. If you go to East End

eaaESa6NaarnNaaeeeeooo eee

they go beyond East Hillis.

Now the agreement at that time
was that if we take this, what would
occur? Allegheny County, inept
Allegheny County goverment nun by the
majority of Commissioners Dawida, and
Cranmer would take Lincoln Place and
East Carnegie. This year Allegheny
County, Department of Public Works said
we can no longer take Lincoln Place. We
don't have a substation out there. So they
gave Lincoln Place back to the City of
Pittsburgh, but did the City of Pittsburgh
return any Allegheny County roads back to
them for their responsibility? It appears
not.

Now, let's talk about East
Camegie. The fine people that live in East
Camegie, we are talking about three
primaries and six secondary streets. Please
keep this in mind. Three primary and six
secondary streets. To properly plow and
salt those streets and this comes all from
the laborers of City Public Works, people
doing their job. It only takes four to six
hours. So Allegheny County Department
of Public Works is giving us maybe eight
hours of work, that eight hours of work
we're eating that up just on Becks Run
Road.

I thought there was a problem. We
have the same strong management team.
We have the same strong men and women.
But it appears and I will say this publicly,
Mayor Tom Murphy's strong relationship
with Michael Dawida in order to help bail
Mike Dawida out of this inept
government, has sold out our own city
taxpayers. We're buried in snow taking
care of their responsibility,

So what I am asking this
information though that has been relayed

to me by laborers. So let's hear it from the
directors. I want, and I am sure this will
be supported by all, I would like to pass a
motion, a resolution. I think that the
Director of the Public Works should report
to us all roads and bridges, a list of all the
roads and bridges under Allegheny
County's jurisdiction that we take care of.
I want to know the mileage of those roads
and bridges and I want to know how long
it takes to do those roads and bridges. I
want to know in return how long it takes
Allegheny County’s Department of Public
Works to do East Carnegie. That's the
problem. We're coming up on the short
end.

So yes, Councilman Ferlo is right, I
am not going to micro-manage. I think our
staff is doing a fine job. But when it
comes to policy, we screwed up big time.
I will say that. I said that to the
administration. They're worried about the
LTV site. I told the administration
yesterday worry about my streets. That's
what I want to worry about.

Let me just end with this. She
taught me a civic lesson. Yesterday at six
am. Michael Diven and I toured Carrick.
We went looking at Carrick; it's a disaster,
not just Carrick a lot of other roads in my
district. We split up. 1 went down
towards St. Basil and I had that report that
was presented by the Public Works Chair.
The gentleman was very upset and I pulled
out that report and I said I think we are
trying to do the best we can. He told me
what to do with that report.

And let me tell you, I am telling the
administration the same thing that they can
do with that report. I want to know about
this cooperation agreement that we have
with Allegheny County and I want to pass

SSS

the resolution. I think we should know by
Friday. Motion for the resolution.

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Can I just chime in one second?
Mr. Ricciardi:

I complimented you, Mr. President,
be careful how you'chime in.

The Chair:

You're 100 percent right because
four years ago we made a deal with
Lincoln Place. I represented Lincoln
Place. The county and West Mifflin had
salt trucks, a salt facility there. They in the
sumer before they took it over they went
up with their operators, studied the area
and we never got one complaint in Lincoln
place. That agreement fell apart for
whatever reason or excuse. The drivers up
there now some of them | talked to have
never been to Lincoln Place, have no clue
where it is at. So the people at Lincoln
Place certainly agree with you and if this
thing can be put back into place, other
wise it was a disaster the agreement.

Mr. Cohen:

I want to also comment on this
snow and salt removal. I will be brief,
Mr, President. There is something wrong
with the City's response to snow and salt
removal in the city and certainly in the
neighborhoods that I represent. Well,
Mr. President, there is something wrong
when Council offices, and I am sure all of

us are included, but I don't know if
anybody got bombarded more than mine.
When Council Offices get bombarded by
angry residents unable to get to work or to
drive on city streets, there is something
wrong when after several days, it has been
a week, many streets in my district remain
snow covered and alleyways completely
untouched.

My staff did a map of the
neighborhoods I represent, highlighted the
streets that have not been done and streets
upon which we have received complaints,
and it was virtually half of my district.
The system is broken and it needs to be
repaired. I don't blame Ralph Kraszewski
and the Public Works employees. I rode
through the streets of my district on Friday
aftemoon, with Ralph Kraszewski, with
Bob Booker, and J do think that they are
doing the best that they can. But we do
not have enough personnel. We don't have
enough of the right equipment including
tri-axle snowplows, which we used to have
and we just don’t have any more, The
larger snowplows and certainly one of the
reasons I voted against the 1999 budget.

What I am asking for, Mr.
President, after having a pretty difficult
week last week and certainly my residents
having a very difficult week, is for a
performance audit to be conducted by
Controller Tom Flaherty which would
study the personnel, the equipment and the
policies of our snow removal operations. I
spoke with Assistant City Controller Tony
Pecora this morning, who told me that they
would be able to conduct such a
performance audit. The audit should
include, I think, many of the questions that
have been raised by other Council
members. Including what the effect was
of switching from six divisions down to

SSS EOE

five divisions. What the effect was just on
snow removal now, I want to focus solely
on snow and ice removal. Whether we
have enough personnel and if not, who we
need and where we need them. Whether
we have the right equipment including
your suggestion, Mr. President, about
equipping garbage trucks with snowplows
and certainly whether we have the right
snowplows for the City of Pittsburgh.
And, also whether our salt purchase
procedures are efficient because we ran
out of salt as well.

Tjust think we need an independent
look at logistically what needs to be done
to remove our snow and salt from the City
of Pittsburgh streets and whether we have
enough resources to do that. I would ask
that in a motion that we ask City
Controller Tom Flaherty to perform an
audit.

MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Diven:

I would like to clear up my position
regarding Public Works. I can tell you
how frustrated it has been for my office
especially the people who work in my
office who handle the bulk of the
constituent services. We have received
over 1,000 calls regarding snow removal.
I have been inundated on the weekends, in
the evenings at my home by people who
are frustrated and I don't blame them.
That's why my phone number is listed in
the phone book. If people have a problem
and I can help, I would like to do the best I
can. But there is just an overwhelming cry
from the people who live in Carrick,
Brookline and Overbrook about no action

to remove the snow on their streets. And
the thing that bothers me is when you hear
about it was a weird storm, there was ice,
there was snow. I understand that, I
understand that your Public Works guys,
the people out on the streets are working
12 hours and working very hard.

But the thing that frustrates me is
in all the calls that we have received only a
handful of them came from Beechview
and Banksville, which are in the Fifth
Division that are also in my Council
District. So to have a handful of calls
balanced out by over 850 calls or close to a
thousand calls from the neighborhoods
like Carrick, Overbrook and Brookline but
then to have two other neighborhoods
where you virtually get almost no calls at
all, something is wrong. I am not pointing
my finger at any one particular person or
whether it be I think the ultimate
Tesponsibility lies with the Mayor. I will
point my finger at him, but as for the
Director of Maintenance or the supervisor,
I am not going to go into naming names.
But what I have said to the Mayor and
what I have said to the Director of Public
Works is that this is unacceptable. We
have got a real problem and it has got to be
straightened out.

I know I spent a lot of time looking
at streets, talking with Public Works. I
think the thing that frustrates my office is
when you receive a call from a constituent
who is frustrated because it has been two
days after a snowfall has hit and their
street isn't plowed. You take that street
name and you forward it over to Public
Works and then the following day you
receive a call back from that same person
who says are you going send a salt truck
out or not. The following day it was three
or four days where we got calls from the

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same people regarding their streets,
regarding nobody has been out there to
plow or salt those streets. That's just
unacceptable.

The thing that bothers me is that in
the Fifth Division I will praise people
when they do the right job. In the Fifth
Division we did not have problems like
that. We had a great system in place. I
received calls from people in Brookline
when they go to work the first thing they
do is cut over to Beechview. They know
the roads are passable so there is a
problem there. Iam not going to single
out one person. We need to sit down and
have all these facts and figures. I am not
going to settle for typical excuses like the
storm was overwhelming or we couldn't
get this person out or I think that they are
all excuses. Someone has to own up and
take responsibility.

I know that my office worked very
hard to try and make sure that people were
satisfied with the service. We even got
complaints from people that had called the
divisions and didn't like the attitudes of the
people who answered the phones at the
divisions, that just adds fuel to the fire.

I would like to send a message to
the Public Works Director and to the
Mayor. That we have to have a
responsible, customer friendly service that
we provide even in tough times. I would
hope that we can, through our resolution,
get a complete picture of what went
wrong. Not so we can yell at people or
punish people, but so the next time we are
hit with a storm of this magnitude, that we
have everything in place to handle it and to
make sure that we don't go through the
same kind of -- ] mean it has been a week
straight where our phones have been

Tinging off the hook about complaints that
we, myself have called in three or four
times and there has been no response or no
action.

So I appreciate Council's support
on getting a performance audit and getting
that information so we can deal with facts
and figures instead of excuses.

Mr. Ferlo:

I don't want to beat up on my
colleague, Mr. Hertzberg. He works very
hard as the Chairman of Public Works and
more importantly, he works very hard in
his district. I think it was a good report
because I think he embellished all the
different kinds of activities and functions
and services that the Public Works
Department provides throughout year.

Unfortunately, I do think and I
have been here for a good number of
years, and I don't know why it's this year. I
have a number of suspicions that the snow
removal and the intervention by the Public
Works is not as good as it has been in the
past. More importantly, there is great
inequity in the level of service throughout
the city where some divisions seem to be
doing a better job, other divisions a lesser
job by the constituent’s complaints and
calls. I think we need to work and to get
to the bottom of this. I wish we were
talking about this during the April months
when everything is past tense and we can
just reflect on the past.

The fact of the matter is we don't
know what is going to happen in the next
three or four weeks and we could, God
forbid, have some very serious rain storms,
sleet and in fact tonight and tomorrow we
still might have a bad situation on our

hands. So, really there is an immediacy
here to try to intervene and talk with the
Mayor and the director or the staff about
some of the problems and how would we
intervene right now to try to take some
corrective action.

While my colleague was speaking
about the voluminous volume of salt it’s
stock piled in the salt domes and all that, I
was glad that we had salt. I was thinking
of the faros of ancient Egypt that would
hoard the grains of wheat for keeping them
away from the populace. In a way the
issue is not how much we have, as so
much as how do we get the darn salt out
onto the streets and the byways and the
alleyways of the City of Pittsburgh?

I am pleased to at least in my
division we're blessed with a great
supervisor Mr. Jamison, he is a great
administrator, good hard worker and we
have a great staff on our division. I am not
saying we haven't gotten problems in my
communities, we have in particular parts
of Morningside and Polish Hill have
consistently called asking for intervention.
I would note that in my Council District
many of the primary, secondary routes are
getting cleared better maybe than
Councilman Diven and Mr. Ricciardi's
districts’ but the tertiary routes are still a
major problem. At least in my Council
District, people live on tertiary routes.
People live in small streets. Some people
even call them alleyways but that's
primarily residents for many of the people
that I represent and they deserve at least
some level of quality service as much as
the primary and secondary routes.

I think we need to get to the bottom
immediately with Mr. Ricciardi's concern
about the bad deal and whether or not it is

a bad deal with the county. Mr. Cohen is
raising a long-range issue about a
performance audit that's great.
Mr. Hertzberg to his credit has asked us
for a quality of performance review
although over all Public Works
Department all of which we support and I
applaud that. We are not getting the
accurate information in all do respect to
my colleagues. The fact of the matter is
the salt boxes were not put out. There is a
conscience decision by someone so I
would have to say that he is not getting
correct, honest information from the staff.

The fact of the matter is salt boxes
were slowly trying to be weeded out and
not be put out by the administration.
That's a fact. That's in my division.
Maybe the other divisions that Mr.
Hertzberg is aware of is the case, but I
know for a fact in my area and not just my
division, but the neighborhoods in and
around that I represent. The fact of the
matter is there was not the uniform system
of delivery of salt boxes that we have had
in the past. There is a conscience effort to
get rid of the salt boxes and that is a
problem. The salt boxes are the way that
many residents roll up their sleeves and
help us combat the snow problem.

I mean I know some Public Works
folks and I was at the division over the
weekend on Hamilton Avenue, only to see
residents pull up and try to get some salt.
It is not that they were hoarding the salt
moving out to the suburbs, they were
grabbing the salt because they live on hills
and back alleyways and streets where they
are used to going to the salt boxes to help
our Public Works force intervene. So as
much as the Tom Sawyer philosophy of
the administration rolling up their sleeves
and helping clean the vacant lot, I would

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SSS ETS

ask that they extend that kind of pro active
philosophy with the battle against snow
and snow removal.

The citizenry wants to be involved.
Iam not expecting 80-year-old individuals
who are frail to get out and do that. But
we have a lot of people that think nothing.
I think Mr. Sivit (phonetic) from the
Polish Hill up above Blessing and Ridge
Street, he is one man clearing the hillside.
Both with snow removal and cutting the
grass in the summer and the spring and the
fall months. He goes and gets that salt.
Where does he use it? He doesn't take it
home and put it on his potatoes, he takes
that salt and spreads it out on Blessing
Ridge Street, Lisbon Street so the people
can get down from the Hill District back
down to the Bigelow Bridge to the back
area, I mean we should thank him and
give him a medal.

The fact of the matter is there are a
lot of people like that around the city that
help out in this critical time. Let's get the
salt boxes out there. If we need to build
some more, don't wait to build them in
January. Build them over the summer
months with some interns if you have to.
Mr. Onorato's summer youth whatever.
But there are all kinds of management
information things that need to be done
better. So I have to respectfully still raise
some concerns with Mr. Hertzberg's
observations.

I think we need a face to face
meeting with the Mayor ASAP to talk
about some of the critical problems.
Maybe his observation is different. ] know
he has been out there. I know he's
working hard. Maybe he is hearing a
different story. Maybe his impression is
different. He raises a good point, that you

know if we don't have money we can't hire
new staff. I respect that. But even looking
at past years with the current complement
of employees, management and laborers,
we are not seeming to do as good of a job
as we have in the last couple of years. We
actually have been blessed. We have to
admit, we actually had a better winter. We
have this chaos in this last couple of
weeks, and I think unfortunately we are
going to have a couple more bad weeks of
rain, sleet, and bad weather.

So, could we please maybe have a
meeting with the Mayor, raise this issue of
a performance audit, raise the issue of the
county agreement and talk more
immediately about how we get back on
footing? I have heard other rumors about
some of the folks not wanting to work the
shifts. There is a collective bargaining
agreement going on right now. Some
people are telling me that Public Works
folks are a little bit upset and they are
hesitant to do certain work. I don't know if
that is true or not, but I think we need to
get to the bottom of this and work with the
Mayor, work with the community and try
to intervene and get a handle on the
problem.

Mr. Udin:

Yes I support the call for the audit,
as well as the report on the county city
cooperation. But I think we need
something quicker. I would suggest that
we call the Public Works Director, Ralph
Kraszewski, to the table tomorrow and ask
him to be prepared to give us his
perspective and his report of what the
situation is? What the needs are? What
the shortcomings are? I would like to have
the benefit of hearing directly from the
Department Director before we decide

ooo

how to fix it. We need to decide what is
broke.

I don't know if that should be done
at the meeting tomorrow of the Standing
Committee or in a special Post Agenda
that perhaps Mr. Hertzberg might convene.
But it needs to be something that is done
within the next, this week, within the next
couple of days.

Mr. Hertzberg:

It is your committee. You mun the
Finance Meeting tomorrow. If you want to
do it then, that is fine either way.

Mr. Udin:

If there is no objection, then can
we send a notice to Mr. Kraszewski to ask
him to be available tomorrow?

The Chair:

Yes, we will request that he be
here.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I think that is an excellent idea by
Finance Chair, Mr. Sala Udin. Hopefully
he will have that information regarding
county roads tomorrow also. I think
Mr. Sala Udin will agree that's important
for us to have tomorrow.

The Chair:
Anything else on the snow issue?

Mr. Hertzberg:

Maybe the final comments from
the Chairman. J just I don't want to make
excuses for anybody, but I can just relate

my own personal experience. I was out of
town with my family between Christmas
and New Years. I retumed home very
early in the morning on January 4th. As a
result, I wasn't able to do any work on my
driveway and my walkway during the
period when I am told that it snowed and
rained and got very cold.

I worked about two hours a day,
every day from last Monday through
Saturday just to get the ice cleared from
my driveway and my walkway. I mean
this was not an average problem for snow
removal. It was the most difficult problem
you could ever have. This is a more
difficult snow removal problem than a
blizzard. It just is there, is that type of
three to 4-inch thick ice is the most
difficult thing to get removed from the
roads that there is, I think. I am not trying
to tell any constituent they don't have a
problem. I think they do, But I hope they
will bare with us a little and our
employees. I think you know and there
maybe tougher times ahead for them this
winter. Who knows what the weather will
be?

But I think we need to be sure to
send our Public Works people a message
that we support them in their efforts. I saw
one employee out working on Friday
evening. He had a 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
driving a salt truck. He told me he was
going to be due out Saturday again at
3:00 p.m. to work another shift. I ran into
him again Saturday at two o'clock and he
said he was driving all night at the end of
his shift when again the weather changed it
went from a rain to a freezing situation.
He wasn't quite aware but he actually slid
with his truck and got into a minor
accident. He looked shaken up but at 3:00,
he was back out working again. I think

that's typical of all of our workers in
Public Works.

I think although we need to be
critical, and whatever problems there are,
we need to get to the bottom of those
problems and find a way to solve them and
make this the most efficient it can be and
make it better. There are problems I don't
dispute that, we need to let our Public
Works employees know that we support
them and we don't need to be beating on
them. I don't think they are the problem. I
think they are very hard workers, very
dedicated and very. good people.

Finally, as far as and all I can do is
tell you I don't have the ability to go out to
every single division and check on the
paperwork. But what our supervisory
people in Public Works are saying as far as
disparity from division to division or
neighborhood to neighborhood, they are
able to check. There are what they call
route sheets. Every person that is assigned
to do snow removal is given a piece of
paper that says you're doing this street, this
street and this street and this street. They
have to check them off. I am being told
that those route sheets are being filled out.
So it appears the streets at least as much as
they are able to keep up with them and do
them in the order which I think we have all
got to agree, that is probably the best way
to do things. You have got to get the roads
that have the most traffic first or nobody is
going to get anywhere any time.

They indicate that uniformly
around the city these route sheets indicate
that things are getting done and in the best
way that they can be.

The Chair:

If I can just add one quick word? I

was fortunate enough I guess I worked for
a Greek immigrant for 20 years. There
were no bad ideas, he just taught me how
to make them better ideas. I came up with
the idea about the garbage, the snow plows
on the front of the garbage. Everyone I
have talked to likes the idea except one
person. I won't pick on that one person.
He happens to be in that division. Well he
ought to at least say hey we tried and we
looked at and we called Chicago. If we are
going to do all of this, but it won't work. I
have heard excuses well they will stick out
three feet. Well, gee can you buy smaller
ones?

I think everyone is going to roll up
their sleeves and support the workers. Just
as each one of you said the workers are out
there 12 hours a day, 18 hours a day.
What J am disappointed in some of the
leadership where they don't use any kind
of entrepreneur spirit. You're right we're
going to do a committee, a survey. By the
time Mr. Flaherty does an audit, in July no
one is going to pay attention and you know
where our customers out there, the
residents of Pittsburgh will tell us what to
do with that audit. Plows forget about the
garbage you don't like the garbage guys,
there are 26 trucks, division leaders have
called me and said there are at least 26
trucks we should have plows on.

I was on a salt truck, big dump
truck, no plow. They don't have one for
that truck. Actually I didn't pay attention
when I jumped on the truck. We were
going up the side I said I thought the guy
was missing, I said why don't you put the
plow on? He said I don't have a plow.
You don't. This is a big dump truck. So,
where is our leadership here?

Salt boxes that came up last week.

Okay, we used to build the salt boxes in
the summer, now they are short. I know
they don't build them. Are they full? I
doubt it.

Lincoln Place as you mentioned,
we had an agreement it worked perfect, all
of a sudden it fell apart. Why did it fall
apart? Now we are doing, I heard the
same thing you did; we are doing twice as
many streets for the county as they are
doing for us.

I will just end on one other thing
and Mr. Onorato I think you will
remember this well. We used to have six
filling places of gas now we only have
two. J was in Squirrel Hill on another
truck and the gentleman said I am 18 hours
out, I have to go and get more gas. He is
going to South Side. I said well why are
you going to Southside, Schenley Park is
right down the street? He said well we
can't use those tanks any more. So, he had
to go all the way to Southside. Guess
what, there are garbage trucks, fire trucks,
police cars, all waiting in line and we are
paying those guys time and a half which
they are eaming but I don't think they
should be sitting in a gas line.

Remember when you introduced a
couple of years to use a simple gas card?
He could have went to the local gas
station. So these are the answers I think
what Mr. Udin and we are asking for some
of these answers can be solved tomorrow
and today to manage it better. We won't
be able to build a 100 more salt boxes
overnight, but let's make sure they are full
the ones that are out there. A fellow on
Beacon Street, Birchwood Street, actually
found one that has been over the hill for a
couple of years, he put it up there and now
he is saying do you think it will get full?

If you look at the audit, remember
the audit, the reason they eliminated a lot
of the salt boxes was well gee some people
use it on their driveways. Okay, 10% a
cup of salt goes on your street like you
said the gentleman. We have
Pittsburghers who are willing to go out
and bury their hands, help and we are not
even filling up the salt boxes. So, I think
there is a lot of things that would be
desired and the quicker they can get to that
long term investigation sure, but let's solve
the immediate problem quick and soon.

I agree with the meeting tomorrow.
I hope Mr. Kraszewski comes prepared.
Again I want to elaborate what each and
everyone of you said today or in the halls
we are not questioning our workers they
are out there doing an excellent job,
busting their hump under severe
conditions.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Just regarding innovation, and that
is why I think we have to talk about,
Council President O'Connor, you recall the
picket fence. We have an excellent
working relationship with the carpenters
who are part of the building trade and they
are the ones who cut out wood for the
picket fences. So that's why we need an
innovation here. The salt boxes can be
built now by the apprentice people who are
going through that apprenticeship with the
carpenters. So those are the things we
have to talk about.

I think none of us have questioned
the work ethics of our workers but in
regard to what I am speaking about, I am
speaking about a policy issue. How many
miles of road are we doing for the county

EEO OOOO

compared to what are they doing for us?
And, Linda Johnson-Wasler, if you can
make sure that Ralph Kraszewski comes to
the table tomorrow with these numbers. I
am very interested to see who worked on
this agreement. Thank you.

Mr. Cohen:

Very briefly. Sounds like we are
really coming up with kind of a two-track
process. One is an immediate discussion
with Ralph Kraszewski and I agree and
with the Mayor on.all the issues that have
been discussed relating to snow removal.
The second track being an audit. What I
did ask Tony Pecora this moming is how
quickly could he do it. They said they
could get on it in 10 days and have it done
soon thereafter. I agree with you that
immediately we have to address these
issues, but I think this audit can be done
quite quickly.

The Chair:

T agree with both, let's do both even
if the audit doesn't solve the problems until
next year, at least get the immediate
problems done now. That includes what
you have -- Mr. Diven, that is satisfactory
to your proposal earlier?

Mr. Diven:

Yeah, I believe. It is only January
we're going to still have the threat of snow
until the end of March.

The Chair:

Remember Saint Patrick's Day a
couple of years ago?

Mr. Ferlo:

Any quality of performance audit
has to take into consideration the
surveying of residents’ description of the
work product. I can't just be looking at
trip sheets, because that is not what is
necessarily happening. So, if it takes
longer, that is fine with me.

The Chair:

Now move to
Committee.

Reports of

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1144:

Report of the Committee on Finance and
Budget for January 6, 1998, transmitting
two resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1063:

Resolution designating Banks and
Lending Institutions to act as Depositories
for the year 1999 in accordance with the
Pittsburgh Code, Title 1, Fiscal, Article
IH, Depositories.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1107:
Resolution providing for the

issuance of a warrant in the sum of
$22,000.00 to Thomas Thorp c/o Ludwig,

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Sollee

Patberg, Dixon & Ging, Attorneys at Law,
in full and final settlement of the action
filed at C.A. 95-2072 alleging personal
injury on or about July 17, 1995.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Mr. Ferlo:

I would just like the record to
reflect comments brought forward on the
discussion about the bank depositories and
Mr. Diven's concer about the ATM fees
and the issue that the administration
Director Hennigan said he would convey
through Councilman Udin sometime I
guess in October when the next RFP goes
out for the banking community to look at
other kinds of consumer issues such as the
ATM issue.

(See addendum for comments)
The Chair:

I want to also applaud Mr. Diven
he came out with that idea a couple of
months ago not to charge the ATM, now
the banks seem to be doing it all over the
place.

Mr. Diven:

I would like to take credit for it,
but I don't know if I can.

The Chair:

Well, you were way ahead of it.

When you said it, they said it couldn't be
done remember that a couple of months
ago?

Mr. Diven:
Yes.
The Chair:

The bills are now ready for final
action. All in favor of the passage of the
bills will vote aye when their names are
called; all those opposed will vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

Mr. Cohen - Aye Mr. Diven - Aye

Mr. Ferlo:

Are we on both bills or are we just
on one bill?

I have discussion on the second
bill, I am sorry. I thought you were
teading them separately.

The Chair:
I am sorry, we will hold it.

Go
ahead.

Mr. Ferlo:

I will just do this, I will just vote
aye on Bill 1063. 1 will abstain on the
second bill. I just want to note that I am
very concemed that we are not -- I don't
want to get into all the details, we are
probably getting off cheap. It just brings
to mind that we continue to have situations

= eee

where city police officers not being
properly disciplined. I am not satisfied
with the course of action that was taken by
the administration and, the Chief of Police.
I am not happy about the arbitration
system and why people can break the law
and should be prosecuted criminally as far
as I am concermed and end up continuing
to be productive active members of the
city police force. It doesn't make any
sense to me.

So, 1 am going to respectfully
abstain on this bill. I think in the future
we should consider having a Public
Hearing after we agree on a risk
Management settlement. I think we should
come out into the community and talk
about some of these issues that continue to
have to pay settlement.

The Chair:

I think in fairness to our colleague,
you weren't at the meeting. The discipline
was discussed there but this is a different
issue. We are voting for the settlement.
So I think most of us would agree with
your observation about the discipline, But
this is on the settlement.

Mr. Ferlo:

Every time we pay a settlement
with Public Works or Public Safety it is
always a separate issue. It never gets to be
the issue. Some how we have to make it
the issue.

The Chair:
Any other discussion?

The ayes and noes were taken agreeably to
law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ferlo abstained to Bill 1107.)

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

The Chair:

We will now move to motions and
Tesolutions.

Ihave an appointment.
MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:

No. 1145 A resolution approving
the appointment of Gregory Calbria as a
member of the Standards and Appeals
Board term to expire December 31, 2003.

MR. RICCIARDI moved to approve.
MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

Ms. McDonald:

Yes. Unrelated issue, of course.
Two things. First thing, this is a quickie, it
is to publicly urge residents of this region
to please give blood to the Blood Bank.
We are in a very critical shortage nght
now. The reason that I am bringing this up
is because I am quite aware of the
ramifications of having short blood

Sc SSS OCOOTUTTOO

supplies and having surgeries that are very
critical cancelled or postponed thereby
endangering the lives and also adding up
the cost of medical bills, which ali of us
end up paying for through health insurance
coverage. One way or the other it is going
to come back to bite us.

So I am asking publicly to please
do not forgo, do not think that it is real
cutesy to have Central Blood Bank and
other entities appeal to people for blood it
is very critical. It only really hits home the
most is when it impacts a person
personally. When they have a loved one, a
friend or somebody that needs it and guess
what, the blood is just not there. That is
when they feel the pinch. I would urge
people not to let it get that close to home
to understand that it is very, very, very
important.

It is one of the items that I have on
my agenda for this year in the African
American community typically when there
is a blood drive it is not as well attended as
in other parts of the community. It is my
intention to break that habit, not even just
a habit, but to just trample that whole
notion that African American
Communities don't have a large turn out
for a blood drive.

I think that's a miss conception. I
believe that with the proper PR and with
even going door to door we can get people
out to really donate blood. It helps other
people that we know and see every day.
So again, I urge people to go out and
please give blood.

The second issue.
Mr. Cohen:

On that issue. Thank you

Mr. President. I just want to lend my
support to what Councilwoman McDonald
just said. | think it's a serious problem for
the city. I went to give blood on Friday
and talked to the gentleman there who was
the head of the Central Blood Bank and he
told me that they are actually asking
hospitals to postpone elective surgery. If
they had a serious trauma on our streets or
where ever that they may not be able to
meet the needs of a patient in a serious
trauma condition. So it’s a serious
problem and I thank Councilwoman
McDonald for bringing this up.

The Chair:

I would request, Linda, maybe if
we could run a PSA information where to
give blood, I know a lot of communities
whether they be churches or communities
have them. Maybe we could mun that on
our cable station.

Ms. McDonald:

T appreciate it. We are a city that is
premiere in terms of our health care
facilities, I mean we are on the map in
terms of transplant surgery, etc. and here
we are ugly, we have egg on our face
because we don't even have enough blood
in our drawers to handle common surgery.
So it’s really silly and Pittsburgh is
supposed to be very livable, a wonderful
city, courteous, mannerly. We are seventh
in the nation. Well one of the best things
we can do is to show our manners and our
courtesy towards our brethren by giving
blood and making sure they don't have to

forgo important procedures.

The other issue has to do with the
Parking Authority and the
miscommunication, a drastic

see
See

miscommunication that the residential
permit parking program was running at a
deficit of what was a half million. What
this was is really just a matter of
accounting. I think that my colleague,
Councilman Onorato, who will be County
Controller, will understand this. What our
Executive Director on the Parking
Authority had done, Mr. Ralph Horgan
had assessed what it would cost just to
administer the residential parking program
in a vacuum with the revenues coming
forward just from that program. Of course
because the Parking Authority doesn't have
the moneys that come into the city to
evaluate this program and what have you,
it would in a vacuum operate at a deficit.
That's only part of the picture. It's no
different than our pools. The revenues that
were received from permits not permit fees
that would be incurred to families or
whatever for pool tags, that alone doesn't
and cannot handle the administering of the
opening and the maintenance of all of our
pools either. Monies come in from

different sources. That's how the
residential permit-parking = program
operates. Moneys come in from other

sources, From the meters from ticket, etc.
When you add all of those other revenues
up, then it doesn't run it doesn't operate at
a deficit. It was just an analysis of an
accounting analysis or assessment of what
would be in a vacuum.

So again the residential permit-
parking program does not operate in a
deficit there are other revenue streams that
come in to help facilitate the enforcement
of parking throughout our city. Again, that
was just a miscommunication and
correspondence was sent to all Council
members dated January the lith, but I
wanted to make that publicly known.

Mr. Ferlo:

I got it. It didn't make any sense to
me.

The Chair:

it only showed the cost and when
we added the cost to hire the 16 extra
patrol people also to write tickets, it didn't
show what they brought in.

It didn't justify their cost and Ms.
McDonald they are going to send us a
statement on that what the 16 officers
really bring in? At least a wash or
possibly revenue enhancer.

Ms. McDonald:

Again, Mr. President, if I may just
read just a paragraph from Director
Horgan of the Pittsburgh Parking
Authority. It says, as my December 16,
1998 letter stated RPP in and of itself is
priced below our cost to administer. The
residential permit costs are kept
deliberately low so as not to penalize
tesidents whose only transgression is to
live in a neighborhood where institutional
or commercial development has been
strong.

This strategy was envisioned by the
1995 co-op agreement. It’s important to
remember that the authority only enforces
the areas defined by the City Planning and
ratified by Council. The authority has no
control over where an RPP area is
established but we willingly assume
responsibility for its enforcement. Giving
the increase and expansion of the RPP
areas, which is a subject of the debate just
about all of the time on Council, it appears
to be a popular program by necessity. If

a
S=———e——eeeeeeeee eee,

there is a problem they said to give him a
call.

But again, it is something -- again,
it was just a miscommunication. It was a
non-understanding that the media you
know pounced on and it was not true. It is
not operating at a deficit; everything is fine
and dandy.

Mr. Ferlo:

Unrelated issue, Mr. President.
There are a couple of individuals one of
them is a great individual in my Council
District, Ms.Sheila Titus in the
Lawrenceville Community was recently
honored rightfully so as a great Block
Watch Captain and Community Activist
and she was honored with one of the
Jefferson awards. This is an annual
activity by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette in
conjunction with the Jefferson Award
Society. I think there were a number of
individuals that were given this prestigious
award. I believe you also have an
individual in your Council District and
some of the others may not necessarily live
in the city, but I am sure their good work
and impact is felt by many throughout the
city and around the region.

I would like to ask respectfully if
we could as a joint action of all of Council
bring the representatives in and maybe
have a little bit of a ceremony here in the
next few weeks? But I would like to do it
on behalf of all of our colleagues
regardless of who actually is being
recognized. I think Ms. Titus would
obviously be honored to come down here.
I think if you could approach the
individual in your district and maybe we
can extend an invitation to the Jefferson
Award Committee to also appear.

So, if there is no objection, I would
like work on that with the staff and the
Clerk's Office and do it on behalf of all of
our colleagues.

The Chair:

I think that is a good idea from all
of us all the work they do and there are
quite a few individuals awarded. In fact, I
am trying to keep ahead of Mr. Ferlo, this
is Shield's picture it was in today’s paper
and Homer Craig from Hazelwood. He
and his family do an outstanding job; they
are in the community all the time. So
many organizations and congratulate all of
them on behalf of all Council members.

I think it is a great idea to bring
them down so we can give them special
recognition.

Mr. Ferlo:
Thank you very much.
Mr. Cohen:

I think that's a very good idea. One
thing that just occurred to me maybe we
should also include some of the judges for
the Jefferson Awards. There happen to be
a couple of judges I know of who are in
my district they actually spent a lot of time
at this going through applications. So,
maybe even just a representative from the
judges so we can thank them too.

The Chair:

I will let the Clerk's —
Mr. Ferlo:

What about the folks from the Post

——ooooaeaSNeeee

Gazette, they are allowed to attend. If it is
appropriate we will invite everybody. I
don't know what their procedures are.
Maybe some of the judges don't want to be
known that they are judges. I know I have
been called in the past and asked questions
about different folks.

The Chair:

Well, Linda, I will let you organize
the program and make sure everyone
involved gets special recognition and
thank you for all the work they do.

Anything else under motions and
resolutions?

Motion to approve the minutes.

MR. COHEN moved to approve the
minutes.

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

There is a Public Hearing today at
2:00.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adjourn
the meeting.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.

And on the motion made by Mr.
Hertzberg, the meeting adjourned.

ADDENDUM

Mr. Ferlo’s and Mr. Diven’s comments on
Bill 1063 can be found in the Standing
Committees Meeting minutes of January 6,
1999.

‘MUNICIPAL RECORD

Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh

VOL. CXXXII

Municipal Record

—_—_—_—_—_—_
——SaSaE_E—aSaaQq [[[[[[[[{ =

ONE-HUNDRED

THIRTIETH COUNCIL
BOB O'CONNOR........
LINDA M. JOHNSON-WASLER ....
JOHN R. MASCIO wsscsssesee Deputy
Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday, January 19, 1999
PRESENT:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato
Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin
Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor
Ms. McDonald (Pres't)

The Chair:

Will you all please rise for the
pledge of allegiance and remain standing
for a moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the world.

We have two special guests with
us, Jeffrey Osterman and his brother
Jordan. Jeffrey is 13 in the eighth grade
and Jordan is 11 years old in the Sth grade.
They both attend Our Lady of Grace
School. They are accompanied by their
parents, Dave and Kim, and they live in

January 19, 1999

No. 3

Michael Diven's District, District Four.
Gentlemen, please come up.

Jeffrey and Jordan Osterman:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.

The Chair:

Thank you. Thanks for coming
down. We have a gift for you from
Council and myself, a flag of our city and
our country.

PRESENTATIONS
Ms. McDonald:

We have a representative from the
Central Blood Bank, it is Volunteer Blood
Donor Month and because Councilman
Cohen was the lead sponsor on this, he has
the information. So I haven't even had a
chance to introduce myself to you or you
to me, but come on up and we will get
acquainted.

Susan Lucas and she’s the Public
Relations Representative for the Central
Blood Bank. I am going to read the
resolution and in Councilman Cohen's
Office there is a real resolution to hand to
you that has the city gold seal.

MR. COHEN AND MS. MCDONALD
PRESENT:

_——————— ee
eo

No. 1146 WHEREAS, the tradition
of donating blood started during World
War I to support wounded soldiers and in
1937 the first community blood center was
established by volunteers in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, in 1951 the Central
Blood Bank of Pittsburgh was established
to serve our community and provide the
needed blood for accident victims, people
undergoing surgery and patients receiving
treatment for cancer, leukemia and other
diseases; and

WHEREAS, the Central Blood
Bank of Pittsburgh has grown to serve
forty hospitals in the region and has a
minimum daily need of 700 donors in
order to adequately serve the public; and

WHEREAS, the American
Association of Blood Banks, American
Red Cross and America’s Blood Centers
have joined forces to promote blood
donation during the month of January —
traditionally a time when blood donations
decline; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend the
Central Blood Bank of Pittsburgh and
proclaims the month of January 1999 as
Volunteer Blood Donor Month in the City
of Pittsburgh.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.
Ms. McDonald:

Thank you. Without further ado, I
am going to defer to Councilman Cohen
who is the lead sponsor and who has
written this resolution to co-sponsor with
me. Susan Lucas, she's not Director she is
a Representative of Public Relations of the
Central Blood Bank.

Mr. Cohen:

We have no lead sponsor we are
co-sponsors. I want to thank Valerie
McDonald for co-sponsoring this with me.
Valerie, I don't know if you mentioned but
you actually worked for the Central Blood
Bank years ago and that certainly was an
important service for the city.

Many of you heard the media alerts
last week or the last two weeks about the
need; the desperate need for blood here in
the Pittsburgh area. That need is still a
critical need and it obviously is essential
for the health of people in this region.
Somebody who is working very hard on
this everyday is Susan Lucas. I want to
really thank her for the tremendous
amount of work that she's done. I saw it
first-hand at the Blood Bank last week
giving blood myself and seeing Susan in
such an optimistic mood and enthusiastic
about bringing people in and about the
need for blood for health care for those
people who are in desperate need of blood.

We are actually in a situation
where the Blood Bank has advised local
hospitals to postpone elective surgery. I
am sure Susan will get more into the
details when she gets up here, but that's a
serious situation. She explained to me if
we had a serious trauma accident in
Pittsburgh, that there is a question now as
to whether we would be able to supply the
blood. So now that the weather at least

=e,

this latest round of snow and ice is melting
and the weather is getting little bit better, I
hope that we can get more people out to
give blood. Because it is one of the best
deeds you can do for your fellow citizens.

Without further ado I would like to
bring Susan Lucas up here to accept this
proclamation on behalf of City Council
and to tell us what the current situation is.

Susan, thank you very much.
Ms. Lucas:
Thank you. Hi, I would like to

thank City Council for sponsoring this.
Ms. McDonald and Mr. Cohen for taking
the time to recognize Central Blood Bank
and our urgent need. We are still currently
in an emergency level situation although
now that the weather has lifted a bit things
are starting to tum around for us.

I have a special presentation
actually for the two of you to honor you
and thank you for your recognizing Central
Blood Bank, the National Volunteer Blood
Donor Month.

Councilman Cohen, especially you
since you are one of the first to respond to
our urgent appeal, I have a red badge of
courage award for you for National Blood
Volunteer Donor Month. Valerie, as a
co-sponsor and also a fellow colleague
prior to this at the blood bank, we would
like to thank you. Thank you.

Actually Councilman Cohen
covered pretty much everything. We do
need to see 700 donors every day and it is
a social responsibility of our community to
respond to this call. The call here in
Pittsburgh is more urgent as we have
established ourselves as a medical hub

within the nation and the world and
treating all the patients that our fine
hospitals do. So we urge you to urge your
community members to step out and
donate as often as they possibly can, which
is every 56 days. Thank you.

The Chair:

Susan, I might take the lead of our
two colleagues, I would like to suggest we
all go down as a group. I would like to
suggest we go down as a group, if we can
do it this week. I don't know if Dan,
maybe your 56 days aren't up. But we can
take your lead and try to pick a day. If you
will contact our office, in fact Dan can ride
us down and make sure no one chickens
out.

Ms. Lucas:

I will be more than happy to have
all of you. I will give you a call.

The Chair:

We have one to be read into the
record for Mr. Udin.

MR. UDIN AND ALL COUNCIL
MEMBERS PRESENT:

No. 1147 WHEREAS, The Spirit
of King Award is annually observed by the
Kingsley Center, the Pittsburgh Pirates,
and Port Authority of Allegheny County in
January to commemorate Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr’s birthday; and

WHEREAS, Spirit of King Award
is observed today, January 15, 1999 by the
Kingsley Center, the Pittsburgh Pirates,
and Port Authority of Allegheny County;
and

WHEREAS, now celebrating its
14" anniversary the Spirit of King Award
has consistently honored local citizens for
their outstanding efforts towards the
pursuit of human rights and equality in the
spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, the Kingsley Center,
the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Port Authority
of Allegheny County continue to recognize
individuals for their lifetime
achievements; and

WHEREAS, the common goals of
the Kingsley Center, the Pittsburgh Pirates,
and Port Authority of Allegheny County
will enable them to continue to recognize
deserving individuals for their tireless
efforts and dedication to the service of
others. The honorees of this award have
helped to make the world a better place.

NOW THEREFORE BE _ IT
RESOLVED that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh declares the month of
January, hereafter, to be Spirit of King
month in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. ONORATO moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

I would like to welcome to
Chambers the 32nd Ward Chairman John
Terlecki. Thanks for all your help and
good job in the city.

We will now move to presentation
of papers.

MR. COHEN PRESENTED:

No. 1148 Resolution Providing for
an agreement or agreements, or use of
existing Agreements and/or Contract or
Contracts, or use of existing Contracts,
and for the purchase of materials, supplies
and equipment and/or services in
connection with the Renovations and
Maintenance of Various Public buildings
and elevators; in an amount not to exceed
$190,000.00.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Lands, Buildings &
Procurement.

Mr. Ferlo:

This is being presented by Ms.
McDonald and myself.

MR. FERLO AND MS. MCDONALD
PRESENTED:

No. 1149 Resolution designating
the East Liberty Nabisco Bakery Project as
an Industrial Development of the Steel
Valley Authority and Approving of the
Authority’s Exercise of its Power of
Eminent Domain in that Project. —
(SPONSORED BY MR. FERLO & MS.
MCDONALD)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. FERLO moved to suspend Rule 8 by
providing for consideration of the bill only
until or after the 8th calendar day
following the meeting in which the bill
was introduced, so the bill will be on the
agenda this Wednesday.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.

eee

Which motion prevailed.
MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

No, 1150 Resolution Transferring
the amount of $7,000 from Sub Class:
010, Salaries, City Council, Account:
511000, Org: 101100, Fund: 1000, Budget
Year; 1999 to Sub Class 150,
Miscellaneous Services, City Council,
Account: 526125, Org: 101100, Fund:
1000, Budget Year: 1999. Council District
#2, —(SPONSORED BY MR.
HERTZBERG)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

No. 1151 Resolution Vacating a
portion of Rodman Street, 40 feet wide,
from North Highland easterly to its dead
end in the 11" Ward, 9" Council District
of the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to suspend
Rule 8 by providing for consideration of
the bills only until or after the 8th calendar
day following the meeting in which the
bills were introduced, so the bills will be
on the agenda this Wednesday.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Also,

No. 1152 Resolution Vacating a
portion of Fall Way, between Serene Street

and Admiral Street in the 24" Ward, 1*
Council District of the City of Pittsburgh.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Public Works. Water and
Environmental Services.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

No. 1153 Resolution authorizing
and Directing the City Controller to create
a Trust Fund dedicated for the sole
purpose of employing part-time drivers
and laborers to assist with the Dept. of
Public Works’ Snow and Ice Control
Program. The Trust fund will entitled
STORM TEAM TRUST FUND.
(SPONSORED BY MR. RICCIARDI)

No. 1154 Resolution authorizing
and directing the Budget Director and City
Treasurer to collect and deposit all
payments received from the State of PA
Municipal Service Agreement into
STORM TEAM TRUST FUND.
(SPONSORED BY MR. RICCIARDI)

No. 1155 Resolution authorizing
and directing the Directors of Public
Works and Personnel and Civil Service to
recruit and employ part-time drivers and
laborers to assist with the Dept. of Public
Works’ Snow and Ice Control Program, —-
(SPONSORED BY MR. RICCIARDI)

Which were read and referred to the
Committee Public Works, Water &
Environmental Services.

No. 1156 Resolution authorizing
the Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh to submit an application to the
Pennsylvania Office of the Budget for a
Redevelopment _—_ Assistance Capital
Program (RACP) in the amount of
$7,000,000.00 for the North Shore
Revitalization Project. ---PRESENTED

BY MR.
HERTZBERG)

RICCIARDI & MR.

No. 1157 Resolution Authorizing
a Cooperation Agreement or Agreements
with the Urban Redevelopment Authority
of Pittsburgh providing for the transfer of
funds from the Authority to the City to
fund community development
corporations. ---(PRESENTED BY MR.
RICCIADI & MR. HERTZBERG)

No. 1158 Resolution Authorizing
a 1998-1999 Cooperation Agreement or
Agreements with the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
providing for the designation of the local
matching share for a grant applied for in a
Single Application for Assistance filed
with the Pennsylvania Department of
Community and Economic Development
(“DCED”) under the Communities of
Opportunity Program for a $3,215.000.00
grant. ---(PRESENTED BY MR.
RICCIARDI & MR. HERTZBERG)

No. 1159 Resolution Authorizing
the Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh to submit an Application for
Financial Assistance in the amount of
$3,215,000 to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania Department of Community

and Economic Development for the
Housing Recovery Program,
Neighborhood Housing Program,
Community Development Investment

Fund, Pittsburgh Housing Construction
Fund, Urban Development Fund,
Streetface, and Industrial Site Acquisition
Programs. ---(PRESENTED BY MR.
RICCIARDI & MR. HERTZBERG)

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Housing, Economic
Development & Promotion.

MR. RICCIARDI moved to suspend
Rule 8 by providing for consideration of
the bills only until or after the 8th calendar
day in which the bills were introduced, so
the bilis will be on the agenda this
Wednesday.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

No. 1160 Resolution Providing for
the issuance of a $4,527.00 warrant in
favor of John Royster, 1345 Manning
Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 in settlement
of a claim in which claimant’s property
was damaged due to a razing of a three-
stall brick garage by the Bureau of
Building Inspection.

No. 1161 Resolution providing for
the an agreement with Dickie, McCamey
& Chilcote, P.C. for professional services
for the City Controller not to exceed
$80,000.00 chargeable to and payable
from account 526100, fund 1000, org.
106000, sub 150, budget year 1999.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

The Chair:

Thank you. Any unfinished
business to come in front of Council?
Hearing none, move to Reports of

Committees.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1162:

SSS

Report of the Committee on Finance and
Budget for January 13, 1999, transmitting
one resolution to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No, 1135:

Resolution authorizing the Mayor
and General Service to enter into an
Agreement or Agreements with Laurel
Bank to enable them to place an ATM
Machine in the Pittsburgh Municipal
Courts building located at 600 First
Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when their names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Ricciardi Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None
Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed

finally.
MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1163:

Report of the Committee on Housing,
Economic, Development and Promotion
for January 13, 1999, transmitting two
resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1121:

Resolution amending Resolution
298 of 1998, as amended, entitled,
“Resolution providing for an Agreement/s
with various community organizations for
operational/administrative expenses,
maintenance, purchase of equipment
and/or rehabilitation of neighborhood
facilities, at a cost not to exceed
$1,134,945,” so as to reprogram funds in
City Council. (SPONSORED BY MR.
FERLO).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1122:

Resolution amending Resolution
291, as amended, entitled, “Resolution
providing for the filing of a Community
Development Statement by the City of
Pittsburgh with the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development for a

———
eee eee

grant in connection with the 1998 CDBG
Program,” so as to reprogram funds in City
Council. (SPONSORED BY MR.
FERLO).

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills? Bills are now ready for final
action. All in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your name is called; all
those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Ricciardi Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

The Chair:
Under motions and resolutions.
MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
Mr. Ferlo:
Yes I have several housekeeping

matters; I will try to be brief. First of all,
Mr. President, I believe there is a Public

Hearing this aftemoon, conditional use
hearing. I know I am sure many
colleagues including myself have been --
people have attempted to communicate to
colleagues. I actually haven't responded to
communication. I have tried to explain to
people that when we have a Council
Public Hearing reviewing a conditional
use application, we sit in a quasi-judicial
forum.

So I have actually refrained from
speaking directly. I have had judges call
my office, administrators, non-profit
groups, community folks both for and
against, the Mayor's Office, and I have
tried to explain why I am not responding.
I am waiting to hear all the testimony this
afternoon.

T have a number of questions and
issues but I am sure it is going to be a
productive Public Hearing. Everybody
will have an equal opportunity to speak to
Council. I would hope that as we run that
Public Hearing be mindful of the
perimeters of Council's consideration, we
are looking at the issues of detrimental
impact on whether or not the CISP
Program should be approved and in its
proposed new location.

So I just wanted to clarify that for
the public record. But it is this afternoon,
I believe here in the Chamber at 2:00 and
Iam sure there are a number of people that
are interested in speaking.

Mr. President,
submitted --

last week I

The Chair:
Is that televised? Do you want it
televised?

Ms. McDonald:

I won't be Chairing. I won't be able
to attend that. I believe Councilman Ferlo
that my staff had inquired if you would be
able to Chair since it is your district.

Mr. Ferlo:

I will respond to whatever
President or President Pro Tem decides.

Ms. McDonald:
It is up to you.
The Chair:

It’s a good motion and I would like
you to Chair that today.

Mr. Ferlo:

On a second matter. Last week I
submitted a proposed referendum
modifying the Home Rule Charter so as to
include in the future to expand the powers
and duties and responsibilities of the
Civilian Review Board to include any
potential allegations of compiaints that the
citizenry might file or may choose to ask
the Review Board to investigate. This
would involve the 68 plus uniformed
officers of the Housing Authority of the
City of Pittsburgh. Roughly 10% of our
population probably interacts more directly
with the Housing Authority City of
Pittsburgh Police. They are separate and
distinct in all ways from the City of
Pittsburgh proper and our own city police
force as well as the F.O.P. that it
represents through collective bargaining
the City Police Bureau.

But the fact of the matter is I don't

see much difference. They have the same
powers and duties and responsibilities in
terms of carrying out law enforcement
albeit targeting within the Public Housing
communities. But when you look at the
number of residents that are effected, we
are talking about roughly 10% of the City
of Pittsburgh residents directly or
indirectly involving at some point
interacting with the Housing Authority
City of Pittsburgh Police. I believe that's
reasonable for us to extend the powers and
duties as well as the protections for the rest
of the citizenry that we struggled for the
last couple of years in defining the Police
Civilian Review Board in the city. I don't
think we should treat Housing Authority
residents as separate and distinct.

Now there may be more
appropriate ways to go than amending the
Home Rule Charter. In the end I would
like to just extend the activities and the
prerogatives on both sides for the Housing
Authority community to be able to file if
it’s appropriate with the Civilian Review
Board. It doesn't have to be by way of a
charter referendum, that was my one way
to move it ahead. I would hope maybe
when the bill comes up tomorrow that we
would consider having a Public Hearing. I
think we should review over the last half a
decade what, if any, infractions have
oceurred regarding the Housing Authority
Police. I have heard rumors about hundred
of thousands of dollars being paid out by
the Housing Authority Board without
much public review or scrutiny. But in
submitting this resolution I am no way
suggesting or making a wholesale attack
on the uniformed officers of the Housing
Authority, nothing can be further from the
truth.

The fact of the matter is we have a

en
S—— eee

professional police force in the Housing
Authority, I think in the last couple of
years they have obtained important
accreditation being recognized nationally.
I know there is a lot of actions by the
director and the administration on
discipline and manner of protocol. So
that's not the impetus for this bill. I want
to clarify that. That will come up
tomorrow and J hope Council will keep an
open mind as we review the information.

I personally would like to see us
get some of that. information from the
Housing Authority regarding their manner
of following up on complaints and what
kinds of information, similar to what we
did in reviewing the rest of the issue for
the Civilian Review.

Thirdly, Mr. President, there is a
Public Hearing on the 26th before the
Planning Commission on an ordinance I
submitted months ago regarding minor
amendments to the Bed and Breakfast
Ordinance. If anyone is interested on that,
they can call my office at 255-2140. I will
be glad to mail them a copy of the
referendum, copy of the amendments to
the Bed and Breakfast ordinance.

This is aimed at trying to improve
the viability of the Bed and Breakfast
lodging facilities, hotels, B and B however
you want to phrase it. In the city we have
five or six prominent Bed and Breakfast
operations. They have been a great plus to
the community in my reading.

That Public Hearing is on
January 26th. I was going to ask the
President if you could possibly schedule a
hearing the first couple of weeks of
February before Council so that we will
have a report and recommendation from

the Planning Commission and we can kind
of move on the bill one way or the other.
So, I just wanted to clarify that.

The Chair:

If I can ask, at least two or three are
in Mr. Cohen's District, if there is a way to
notify the residents of that area.

Mr. Cohen:
In terms of Bed and Breakfast?
The Chair:
Yes.
Mr. Cohen:
Sure.
The Chair:

Again, I agree positive input but
that is where --

Mr. Ferlo:

Sure community based
organization lists will be notified of the B
and B legislation and the hearing both
through my office and the Planning
Commission.

The last thing, Mr. President, is on
the street vendors ordinance, I feel like I
am attempting to breakdown the Berlin
Wall. Councilman Udin has some issues
regarding vendors that will come up
tomorrow. One is a review-planning
group. I don't necessarily object to it, I
have a concern about its composition and
what its powers and duties will be.

——aleEEoEoEoaaEaaEESESQQOO eee

I actually have another bill but in
the interest of trying to cross the T’s and
dot the I's, I have had it reviewed and have
secured the services of Deborah
Miskovich, who is a legal attomey,
obviously an attomey who has a strong
background in community issues. She is
the past Chair of the Zoning Board, she is
on the Planning Commission, Director of
General Services, and a City Housing
Court Judge. So given her background she
is aware of the issues and nuances
regarding street vending. So I had the
elements of the ordinance, I hope to have it
this week finalized and was not able to
submit it today. But it's basically complete
and it will be submitted.

I don't want my introduction of the
ordinance and a companion resolution to
be viewed as somehow contradicting or
being in conflict of Councilman Udin's
issue, it's not. I see them as
complimentary. I believe that we need to
move on it and I feel that I have a way of
moving on it. I would like to put that out
for some debate and public review.
Everything I am doing I am seeking public
input both through Public Hearing, we are
not rushing to the judgment on this. But I
think it is an important opportunity that we
should open up in the city but there needs
to be appropriate safeguards and my
ordinance attempts to do that.

So, when the bills come up
tomorrow I am going to reserve the right
to introduce the bill next week and have
that move a long kind of on the same tract
as whatever we do with Mr. Udin's
resolution.

The Chair:

If we have a Public Hearing we
don't need two. I have been getting

quite --
Mr. Ferlo:

I don't object to a Public Hearing,
but I don't want the work of that
committee to delay my bill to move.
That's why I have a problem with the 120
days. Because if you have five vendors on
a review board, first of all the vendors by
themselves in all due respect, I have
sought them out for some input but they
have a clear conflict of interest. I don't
think they should be setting public policy.
Because what is good for one vendor, I
have one vendor for instance that wants so
many carts that if we allow that to be the
tule and the ordinance we are not going to
have a practical vending ordinance.

I don't object to that review
process, but I am reserving the right to
move and ask my colleagues to keep
moving ahead on either my ordinance or
other amendments or other colleagues who
may want to submit their own ordinances.
The worse thing that can happen is like
when you don't want to take any action
you form a committee. I don’t want that to
be the case here.

Mr. Ricciardi:

On three unrelated issues. First of
all, I want to thank Councilman Jim Ferlo
for the fine work he's done in the past on
Bed and Breakfast legislation here in the
City of Pittsburgh. Giving them an
opportunity to begin business. But also
the fine work he's been doing for the
industry lately on the amendments
allowing them to flourish here in the City
of Pittsburgh.

I was involved at the very

beginning, however Councilman Ferlo has
put in some long hard work on that. I
want to thank you, Mr. Ferlo, for that time.

Also, once again, I would like to
tell the public in the City of Pittsburgh but
especially the Southside community that
tonight at 7:00 p.m. there will be a meeting
at Good Will Industries to once again visit
the issue of development on the LTV site
now known as the Southside Works site.
So that is this evening, Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.
Good Will Industries.

And on another note, I would like
to, Mr. President and colleagues, formally
request that the administration forward to
this body their position regarding the
Homestead Exemption Program here in
the City of Pittsburgh. To be perfectly
frank with this body, I would like to have a
better understanding of it. Hopefully the
Budget Director and the Solicitor can let
us know in writing so we can forward this
to property owners in the City of
Pittsburgh and that is the options that
property owners have in the City of
Pittsburgh regarding the Homestead
exemption program.

I would also like to know if we
have had any interaction with Allegheny
County and what is going to happen
regarding the distribution of applications
for the Homestead Exemption Program?
Also, I am curious if we have had any
communication with the School Board and
their position. Because obviously you
know government is not just going to give
back taxes, but there could be an option by
the School Board to increase other taxes
such as the wage tax. So I am very
concerned about that and I would like to
know and see if we have had any
communication with the School Board.

In effect, I think that I am getting
asked a lot of questions. I have had an
opportunity to review the legislation but
there appears that it's more complicated
than the state legislature made it out to be.
lam hoping that it turns out to be true tax
reform or a true tax relief for the City of
Pittsburgh especially the residents.

lam also very concemed about the
bill of rights manual that I understand the
municipalities need to draft. I think it
needed to be on the books in December
and hopefully by January voted on. But I
would like to know, does the City of
Pittsburgh also have to pass a bill of rights
manual and if so has the administration
been working diligently on that issue?

So, Mr. O'Connor, as President of
Council hopefully you could get very
involved in this issue with the School
Board. I know you have been trying to
reach out to the state legislature and the
School Board and maybe with Allegheny
County and the School Board and the
administration and if you or others can
report back to us maybe within a
reasonable time frame.

The Chair:

Is there a lead person in the
legislature that is leading this or would be
the --

Mr. Ricciardi:

I am not sure, Mr. O'Connor, who
drafted the particular legislation.
The Chair:

I will find out.

SSS OOOO

Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you. So, would you take
that responsibility for us?

The Chair:

Yes. It's very important again that
maybe some of the use of our cable
broadcasting if we have this information
we can certainly tell our residents more.

Mr. Hertzberg:

On the topic of the School Board,
Mr. President, and your efforts there are
very much appreciated. J think we had an
excellent meeting with the School Board
and with some of the state representatives.
But you know it is nice to be able to sit
down and try to work things out, but there
are some issues that are coming up now, at
least in Council District Two, where it is
going to be very difficult for me to just say
okay your proposal is agreeable to me
because it is not. There is a proposal being
floated I guess.by the President of the
School Board which would severely
impact Council District Two, the western
neighborhoods of this city and fortunately
at this stage its only a proposal.

There is a Public Hearing tonight,
the School Board is holding beginning at
7:30. I have called and placed my name
on the speaker’s list. I know a lot of the
residents of Council District Two are
going to be there because they oppose this
proposal, which would be a closure of
Langley High School, moving of the
current students that attend Langley High
School into Greenway Middle School,
closure of the Greenway Middle School
gifted program which just opened within
the last couple of years and moving that to

somewhere else. Then a movement into
the Langley High School of the Letsche
Program and also what I believe is called
the Alternative Option Program,
Alternative School which is a school
where children that are on suspension go
to. That's what they would put into
Langley, the Letsche Program and this
other program.

Needless to say, I oppose it and
there are a number of reasons. I won't go
into them, but I will go into them tonight
at the School Board Public Meeting. I
encourage people in Council District Two
they tell me that you have until 12 o'clock
to call the Schoo] Board if you want to be
listed as a speaker.

The Chair:

And they're precise, if you don't go
by twelve, they probably won't let you talk.

Mr. Hertzberg:

You have one hour to get on the
phone.

Mr. Cohen:

On another issue, I thought we had
a very productive Post Agenda Meeting
last week with respect to the TCVAT&T
transfer issue. It is an important issue of
the City of Pittsburgh. It’s a transfer that
involves $48 billion to acquire TCI by
AT&T and a host of issues that are
important to the city including rate issues,
customer service issues, technology issues
as to what kind of system upgrade we are
going to get. I do want to thank yourself
and Councilman Diven and Councilman
Ferlo for attending. I know it was difficult
for some of the other members because of

the bad weather and that many were out in
their districts, but I thought it was a very
productive session. J am going to be
drafting conditions, proposed conditions to
that transfer today. Anybody who has
ideas as to possible conditions to the
transfer, please come to me today so that
we can put them on the table tomorrow.
The bill was introduced last Tuesday and it
will come up for preliminary vote and
discussion tomorrow. Thank you.

Mr, Ferlo:

Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. 1
wanted to thank Councilwoman
McDonald for her continued leadership
and not turning her back on the Nabisco
workers. And, .more importantly a
tremendous building and __ potential
economic development business activity
that building represents which is legally in
her district but quite frankly it's a work
force and a building that effects all of our
districts because it could mean meaningful
employment for a large number of
workers, many of these workers are city
tesidents. So it's really a citywide issue.

The bill that she and I submitted
this morning is an authorizing resolution
to allow the Steel Valley Authority to
basically use eminent domain powers and
its planning powers to basically acquire
the property. So the resolution today is a
resolution as I stated earlier it will come
up tomorrow for discussion and the
administration will be at the table.

I want to thank the continued
leadership of the East End Forum as well
as Local 12 and the rank and file. I want
to thank obviously the Mayor who
personally made a commitment never to
turn his back on the Nabisco workers and I

think he's stepping up to the plate. His
administration to their credit along with
Councilwoman McDonald is supporting
this resolution to have the Steel Valley
Authority act as the conduit, the provider
of last resort in their efforts to acquire the
property through eminent domain.

They have had a number of
bonafide private sector offers for new
bakery operations in that building only to
have those legitimate offers be stymied
and waylaid by the Nabisco self interest.
We need to move on this. If you
remember, I submitted a similar bill late
last fall to create an economic
development zone. At that point I was
hoping that the URA would play this role
the Mayor believes strongly and is
supporting the effort of the Steel Valley
Authority to do this. I want to thank him
for his personal commitment but also
thank his administration, Mr. Culligan and
others who are working on this with the
Steel Valley Authority.

So we will hopefully have some
discussion and action on this point
tomorrow. Again, I want to thank
Councilwoman McDonald for her
continued involvement and support. It
looks like we will have to do something a
little bit differently this time. We have so
many things going in this city to the credit
of this administration and the Council and
the economic development front and
maybe some of them have been done
through more traditional means. But in
this case the leadership of the Steel Valley
Authority, I think, should be respected. 1
think they have the expertise and the
tesources with the private sector and the
administrative organization wherewith all
to make this 2 productive building again
employing working people and they're

giving hope to families throughout the
East End.

So I look forward to the
discussions tomorrow and I thank the
administration and the Mayor for their
continued involvement as well as the East
End Forum for their effective advocacy to
the Steel Valley Authority. Thank you.

The Chair;

IT can hold for discussion for
tomorrow but where is the ownership that
has the building now?

Mr. Ferlo:

Still with Nabisco, they have a
local commercial real estate firm working
on marketing. I think it is called
Pennsylvania Commercial Properties or
something like that, but it is still owned by
Corporate RJR. Again, the best bumper
sticker on Forth Avenue is my car, which
says boycott Nabisco. I will never buy
Nabisco products, I think we should still
keep boycotting all the products Nabisco
makes. It is not just cookies and crackers,
it is everything from A-1 Steak Sauce to
Grey Poupon.

Trecently bought 30 shares of stock
from my IRA. I don't have a lot of money
in my JRA, but I did take money out to buy
30 shares of stock. Not because I want to
support RJR Nabisco, but I am going to
relish the opportunity to attend their
stockholders meeting in May and to do
nothing more than to take the microphone
and explain to Mr. Kilts what a disgusting
individual he is in terms of the economic
corporate ladder. I look forward to doing
that because I think we should keep
pressure on Nabisco and keep boycotting

their stinking butts.
The Chair:

Is the Steel Valley Authority going
to be at the table tomorrow?

Mr. Ferlo:

Yes. If there are no objections
from my Colleagues, Mr. Culligan and the
others from the administration,
Councilwoman McDonald will be here
and the representatives from the East End
Forum and Steel Valley Authority. I think
they will be able to update us more
specifically on some of the economic
interests they have had in the plant.

The Chair:

I certainly support the effort. I will
hold some of my questions for tomorrow.

Ms. McDonald:

Also I don't want to get involved in
a lovefest, I hate lovefests. I want to
commend Councilman Ferlo for his efforts
long before I got on Council. In fact
Jimmy is trying to be very, very cordial
and extend a lot of courtesy to me, but he
claimed that building years ago.

So again, I commend him for
taking leadership even before I was here
and supporting the workers and keeping
Nabisco here. This travesty, this fiasco
could have happened years ago without the
efforts of people like Ferlo, the East End
Forum, the people in the East End Forum,
there are many out there that saved
Nabisco for years and years. Now we have
come to the end of the road, but again we
have to look at this as an opportunity and

we are going to make it an opportunity and
make it work for us.

I look forward to tomorrow's
discussion. It seems like there are going to
be a lot of bills that involve a lot of
dialogue. So it should be quite a long
meeting tomorrow.

The Chair:
We all look forward to that.

In closing, you see I had a rough
weekend. But it was a mistake I made, I
actually shoveled but I didn't put enough
salt down. I believe I have had some
requests the ice and snow was so bad that I
believe most people couldn't even do their
sidewalks if they tried, if they wanted to.
But it is melting now and I have got some
calls from mail carriers. So this is really a
time to get out and make sure we spruce
up in the warmer weather, carrying salt, I
was a little chintzy.on the salt when I did
do it, I wish I had put more down storing
ahead. So it is a public safety issue and
the garbage men are out there.

So hopefully we can all be good
neighbors and spruce up our comers. But
the good news, I know I had a bad day, but
Talso had a good day the same day. I have
a new granddaughter, Delaney, seven
pounds three ounces. Thank you. So we
will remember this weekend. Her birthday
will be a special day.

1 did run into Edgar Snyder and
asked if I could sue my wife because she
owns half of the house, but he said he can't
get any money from me.

Mr. Ferlo:

You are allowed to sue your home
insurance carrier, but I will let
Mr. Hertzberg and Mr. Onorato tell you
about that.

Mr. President, one of the issues I
raised last week when everybody else was
talking about snow, I actually wanted to
talk potholes, which I started talking about
last week. As you know we have had a
tough winter already and I don't know
about your district but my district I have
many prominent roads and back alleyways
that look like the Birmer (phonetic) Road
right now.

I realize Public Works is 50
different responsibilities doing a great job
working very hard. But for the days that it
gets up past 40 degrees, I am not sure what
the best method is or how warm the streets
need to be or what has to happen, but there
are some potholes that are literally five and
six inches deep at least in my district, and I
am sure I am not alone. Again, it is the
curse of Western Pennsylvania and I can
go on and on about this investment in our
roads by all levels of government, but if
there is anything that can be done to make
an extra effort even volunteers give us. I
mean I will be glad to join a work crew
and try to fill some of these potholes. I am
sure other colleagues will.

But we have a really bad situation
there and an awful lot of front ends are
going to be backends over the next couple
days. If we can send a message to Director
Kraszewski and the administration, I know
in the past they have had a pothole hotline,
the state does. But we just have some
really bad situations. The problem is that
and it actually is a serious safety concern
because people once they realize it’s a
pothole and it is filled with water and they

tealize it is six inches deep, their first
reaction is either to swerve into another
lane or to brake. So I can see cars being
rear-ended and the like, so it is a serious
Public Safety concer also.

The Chair:

I just saw in the news that the
insurance business will be up $5 billion
just because of mainly on the potholes not
just here but across the country.

Ms. McDonald:

Also, one element that we did not
discuss at the time we had a Post Agenda,
pre-meeting Post Agenda last Wednesday
we discussed the county roads, we
discussed city roads, but we failed to
discuss state maintained or state roads. It
occurred to me as I drive home, my main
routes are state roads. So, we do maintain
also state roads.

So if we do have either more
discussion or there is an audit that comes
forward from the City Controller's Office,
personally I am going to communicate a
memorandum asking that these other
factors be included in the report so we can
have an over all picture. It's easy to fight
with the county but we also have state
roads too and PennDot is responsible for
their road system as well. I would like an
overall picture including state roads.

Mr. Ferlo:

The Bellfield Avenue in Oakland
tight now --

The Chair:

The city has a hotline that has been

on the news all weekend to call. I spoke
with Ralph; they did have crews out all
weekend. I don't know how many they
actually had, and I am sure today they will
be out full force and let's support their
efforts.

Mr. Cohen:

On that issue, Mr. President, I
suggest that we ask for a weekly report
from Director Kraszewski solely on the
issue of the filling of the 52 positions of
Public Works. Because clearly we're not
going to be able to have the kind of
pothole filling team out there unless those
positions are filled. We did have a
pre-agenda agenda last Wednesday, where
I think a lot of questions were answered
but the main question that needs to be
answered is when are those 52 positions
going to be filled? I know they are
working on them, but I wonder if you can
ask, if we can ask through writing to have
a weekly report from Director Kraszewski
as to how many have been filled and how
many are remaining.

There are some streets in my
district that look like swiss cheese already.
Iam not blaming Public Works because of
the number of laborers they have now that
have been working so hard, but we need to
fill new positions.

Mr. Hertzberg:

I concur with Councilman Cohen, I
think that's a good idea, but I think we
need to ask Director Parees to also be
involved in that. I did ask Director
Kraszewski that question during our
meeting last Wednesday and you know
first you have to check to see who wants to
transfer from other departments to take

ee
a 8

those positions, there is a lot to the process
unfortunately. I wish we had all those
spots filled today, we don't. But certainly
personnel is heavily involved in those
processes and some of them are time
consuming and maybe we can find some
ways to make them less time consuming
and get the positions filled quickly. I think
we need personnel's involvement as well.

Mr. Cohen:

Real quick, just through your effort
can we ask for a weekly report because I
think that would also put more pressure on
to get it done if they know they have to
report to us on a weekly basis?

Mr. Ferlo:

I want a further clarification. I am
sure I am not alone but a number of
individual residents have called my office
seeking employment as a laborer, because
they have heard the public discussion that
we are hiring. I think it maybe the case
that they’re actually not, they're using an
existing list of laborer applicants and not
having reposted it. In which case, many
people who start calling our offices are not
going to be considered I assume, so I
would like --

Mr. Hertzberg:

There is no opening posted right
now.

Mr. Ferlo:

That is what I mean, there is no
opening posted. So, really it is whoever’s
name is presumably on some list
somewhere. I assume it is public
information, there should be some kind of
a list posting by personnel but we should

try to get a clarification of that because
people are already calling my office ] am
sure other colleagues also.

The Chair:

Mr. Hertzberg, would you like to
follow up on that? Plus if there are any
past laid off city employees over the years
who may be able to fill those positions.

Mr. Ferlo:

I want to reiterate my concem. I
believe strongly that if we are posting the
position, if it already happened we can't do
anything, but we should hire laborers who
have a CDL license. That makes them
twice as productive in terms of the
activities they can be involved in when
they are working. I would ask that that be
considered by the administration as a
pre-requisite for hiring folks in the future
in the laborer class.

The Chair:

I believe in your Post Agenda on
one of the meetings that came up. I would
suggest you put it in as legislation or make
sure it is part of their job description.

Mr. Ferlo:

The administration is really in the
driver's seat on deciding and defining what
literally -- deciding what the job specks
are, they should just do it. I mean, I think it
greatly enhances -- you have labor and
Public Works on the rat packer, on the
garbage, I mean any number of different
job classifications.

The Chair:

=e ee

It also helps each other work. it
has to start being a team effort. I mean
instead of a truck driver standing there and
watching people.

All right. Just real briefly follow
up on our meeting we had with the School
Board and the legislators. We actually had
44 people RSVP that they were coming,
the weather certainly cut that down. But a
couple of key issues, we are going to have
some smaller meetings on this. The two
main points we hit on was by the end of
February the School Board would come up
with two proposals and City Council two
Tequests from the legislators. Probably
basically what we would be probably
looking at is the courts money, possibly
assistance in our pension fund. They felt if
we gave them two things that we all
agreed on, that they could go full force and
go after that money for us and the School
Board whatever those priorities were.

But conceming Ms. McDonald's
part on the state roads, Mr. Diven has been
suggesting there may be state money out
there for whether to buy extra asphalt to
support those roads. There are all those
things that I think this can lead to. Right
now we want to have quarterly meetings
with the legislators, but there is so much
out there that we can explore and I believe
help support us.

So any of those suggestions or
ideas will be coming forward. Again, they
are state/county roads that we don't know
if we are getting our share. I don't want to
open the discussion of last week whether
the mileage is right or not, but future
projects. Glenwood Bridge, has been in
dire conditions for a couple years. I have
been after the state, I understand it is the
county's. So the state and county,

someone has to get together and start
fixing some of this equipment. It can be
done by not just city taxpayers. So we had
a very good discussion. I will be briefing
each of you, the couple that could not
make it where we go from here.

With that said and I also want to
excuse the absent member. Mr. Udin is
tied up in a meeting. He was trying to
make it, evidently he is still in that
meeting.

MS. MCDONALD moved to excuse the
absent member.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to approve
the minutes.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. ONORATO moved to adjourn the
meeting.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

And on the motion made by Mr.
Onorato, the meeting adjoumed.

MUNICIPAL RECORD

eee
Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
—————— ee

VOL. CXXXIII

Municipal Record

ONE-HUNDRED
THIRTIETH COUNCIL

BOB O'CONNOR... een .. President
LINDA M. JOHNSON-WASLER.... City Clerk
JOHN R. MASCIO . Deputy City Clerk

Pittsburgh, PA

Tuesday, January 26, 1999

PRESENT:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato

Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin

Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor
Ms. McDonald {Pres't)
The Chair:

We will all please rise for the
pledge of allegiance and remain standing
for a moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the word.

This moming we have two special _

guests. Stacy Stoller, she is the daughter
of Jane and Steve Stoller. They live in
Swisshelm Park. She is in the third grade
at John Minadeo Elementary School. Also
with her we have Morgan Carr, she is the
daughter of Holly and Edward Carr who

January 26, 1999

No, 4

live in Greenfield. She is also in the third
grade at Minedeo School. Needless to say
they live in my Council District.

Stacy Stoller and Morgan Carr:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.

The Chair:

Thank you. Ladies, we have a gift
for you from City Council, a flag of our
city and country.

We have many special guests in the
audience today.

PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. President and members of
Council, a couple of weeks ago we learned
of the important community service
awards that were given by the Pittsburgh
Post Gazette as part of their annual
Jefferson Awards. And, all of us agreed it
would be appropriate and right for all of us
on behalf of city government and all of our
elected colleagues here today to ask that
the honorees come to Council chamber for
a formal proclamation.

At this time, I would like some of
the honorees to come forward. I believe
there are seven honoree certificates

eee eee

actually I think involving — eight
individuals. A number of them did take
the time and were able with their busy
schedules to come to chambers today. J
believe Homer and Ursula Craig, Patrick
Dickinson is here with his family, and
they’re all welcome to come forward at
this time. Sheila Titus is here from the
Lawrenceville Block Watch Community, I
believe Daniel Grealish is here also. If
there are others who I failed to know or
see in the audience that are one of the --
excuse me, also please come forward and
family members. Ms. Dickinson, you're
welcome to come up and be proud of your
son. Anybody associated with the awards
or are here for friends or family, you are
welcome all to come forward.

I thought following the resolution
we could ask each one of the individuals to
maybe say a few words and talk a little
about the contributions they have been
making and how proudly they are of their
work. We certainly are proud of their
good work.

MR. FERLO AND ALL COUNCIL
MEMBERS PRESENT:

No. 1164 WHEREAS, | the
Community Champions Jefferson Awards
Program was established for Westem
Pennsylvania in 1976 by the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette; and

WHEREAS, the Community
Champions Jefferson Awards Program is
presented Annually on behalf of the
American Institute for Public Service; and

WHEREAS, Pittsburgh is one of
61 U.S. cities participating in this program
which highlights public and volunteer
service; and

WHEREAS, of the 200
Community Champions nominated during
1998, eight have been selected to receive
the Jefferson Award by a Community
Judges Panel consisting of members of the
philanthropic, religious, _ educational,
medical, corporate and governmental
communities; and

WHEREAS, the following
individuals were presented with their
Jefferson Award medallions at a special
presentation on Wednesday, January 20 at
the Frick Art and Historical Center: Ursula
and Homer Craig, Myron Cope, Patrick
Dickinson, Daniel Grealish, Mel Pollock,
Georgia Sled, and Sheila Titus; and

WHEREAS, these individuals are
role models exemplifying the best in
community spirit, selflessness,
compassion, and volunteerism;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh hereby commends and
applauds the good work of these Jefferson
Award winning Community Champions
and does proclaim the week of Monday,
January 25, 1999 to Sunday, January 31°
to be Community Champions Jefferson
Awards Week in the City of Pittsburgh.

MS. MCDONALD moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you very much. We have a
proclamation signed by all of our

SS OOOO

colleagues here. I noticed the Council
President also took the time to be at the
Frick Center the other evening. As usual
the Post Gazette put on a wonderful
program rightfully in a beautiful historical
building in Point Breeze bringing these
wonderful individuals together.

Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh area
is very blessed each and every year with
thousands of unsung heroes and heroines,
individuals such as the folks to my left. I
think it’s only right and proper and
appropriate that every once in a while we
take time to say thank you to people that
really dedicate themselves personally with
their heart and soul and their blood sweat
and tears into things that they believe in
really helping people. They spent a lot of
time, a lot of energy, a lot of personal
sacrifice even often times even their own
financial resources to do a good deed. I
think we should applaud the efforts of the
Jefferson Award Committee to really
begin to highlight the good work.

One of the things that makes our
city so great and our region so great when
people say Pittsburgh is a great place,
Teally it is epitomized by the good efforts
and work of these ladies and gentlemen to
my left. I think we want to just take one
time here today to say thank you very
much from the bottom of our hearts and
for the many people that you have helped
each and every day throughout the year
who maybe can't be here in chambers to
say thank you or maybe even physically
aren't in a position to say thank you. We
want to say thank you on their behalf and
applaud your good work and thank you
very much.

I am passing these out, I thought
maybe it would be appropriate we do want

to give everyone at least their 15 seconds
of sunshine here today and this is a
wonderful assembly of individuals. Again
all of my colleagues are here to say thank
you. We join together with this
proclamation. I thought maybe it would
be helpful if you just come up and say a
few words. We just want to put you on
camera and say thank you, but more
importantly you may want to highlight
some of your good work. We will put
Mr. Dickinson on the spot here from the
Boys and Girls Club.

Mr. Dickinson:

I feel special to get to go first, but J
just would like to thank the city for
honoring me and the Pittsburgh Post
Gazette and TCI and United Way for
making this possible. Also I would like to
thank my parents who are role models for
me and the Boys and Girls Club and their
staff who really inspire me to volunteer
and to become involved. Mike Hepler of
the Boys' Club has always been a role
model to me and has really helped me
through life. I really appreciate this.
Thank you,

Mr. Ferlo:

I am not sure which one of the
Craig’s.

Mr. Craig:

Thank you. I would like to thank
everyone who made this possible for us to
be the symbol, because we really
appreciate this award. Actually we accept
it for all the other people that are out there
and unsung that are doing these things. I
especially want to recognize and
acknowledge my wife, Ursula, my

maternal grandmother, Lucille Thompson,
my father, Henry Craig, and my mother
Rebecca Craig for making me the man that
lam, whatever that is. Thank you.

Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. Grealish and then Mr. Pollock,
would you like to say a few words?

Mr. Grealish:

I would like to thank everyone at
City Council here. There are a lot of
unsung heroes in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is
some place special because of people like
this and the hundreds and thousands of
people that volunteer their time.

I would like to especially recognize
the YMCA. It does a lot of work in the
community, the United Way who helps
fund a lot of agencies. It is the agency’s
principles who dedicate their time and
effort and yes it is paid professional but at
the same note they go above and beyond
the call of duty. Thank you.

Mr. Pollock:

Tam Mel Pollock and I am very
active with many organizations. I guess I
am the chaperone of the group because I
am the oldest one here and I am proud to
say I will soon be 81.

I guess my life is started and after
retirement and I hope I set a role model for
a lot of people who are interested in
helping children. I teach art,
impressionists art at the East Hills
Elementary School. I have been doing that
for 15 years. I have established Pops in
the Park at Boyce Campus in Monroeville.
I am active at Boyce Campus and

Chairman of the Monroeville Arts Festival
and of course very active with the AIDS
movement here in Pittsburgh.

My wife and I founded Jews with
ADS in the Family and it is an ongoing
family that gives support to those people.
I guess if anything, 1 would dedicate this
wonderful honor, and I wanted to thank all
those who are responsible for it, to my two
boys, both whom died of AIDS. I know
that they're kind of looking down at Dad at
this time.

So I want to thank everybody for
what they have done and it's a tremendous
honor in my life. Thank you.

Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you, Mr. Pollock, for being
such a great inspiration for us. This next
lady I give her a little extra time, she is
usually bashful when’ she comes to
chambers, she is not bashful when she is in
front a bulldozer or at a Public Safety
meeting with the police commander. I
called her in the newspapers Sheila takes
no prisoners Titus. She is a wonderful
lady, comes from a good family down in
the Lawrenceville community. She is a
hard worker her co-worker Jimmy Jenco is
here from the Lawrenceville Block Watch
Network.

Sheila has really worked very, very
hard to make Lawrenceville a wonderful
community. I would like to say hello and
welcome, Sheila.

Ms. Titus:
You are something else. You

know what, I thanked everyone else but
you know who I forgot to thank most of

_———— ee,
ooo Eee ee

all, Sargent Tony Lash from Zone Two.
He was the one who recommended me for
this award for the community. I really
wanted to thank him and I forgot about
him.

There is Jimmy and Pat and Arty
that works with me at the Block Watch.
But there are thousands of people in
Lawrenceville that I am not the only one
that does it. I mean I seem like it because I
am the big mouth of the crowd but there
are a lot of people that work, they do a lot
of things, We have people tracking down
things and knowing’things, people call me,
I sit and talk to people until one and two
o'clock in the moming. It’s just not me;
it's a lot of people that do it. I am not the
one that you hear and see all the time.

I want to thank everyone for this
and Jim too because he keeps putting me
up here all the time. So thank you.

Mr. Ferlo:

Again, on behalf of all my
colleagues we want to thank all of you
very much for your great work. I wanted
to ask my colleagues if they could please
join us for a group photo with this
wonderful looking delegation here.

I don't know if there was anyone
here from either the PG or the Jefferson
Awards Committee, they're, if they were
they are welcome to come up also. We
kind of called them at the last minute I
apologize for that. Mr. President, could
we ask you to help put this group photo
here.

The Chair:
Jim, before your honorees leave, I
want to say one thing I know I am

speaking for all of my colleagues, this is a
real inspiration of role models as Dan said.
If you really want to look at the age gaps,
the gender gaps, all the work they have
done. I know half of them very personally.
The Craig's are at every meeting in
Hazelwood. Mel, what you do in East
Hills School, my son goes to East Hills
School. I saw him their years ago in
Hazelwood he has a background in retail
and he goes in and works and lines up
clothing for the young men that need it.

I guess our message is and all of
you Nabisco workers you will be busy
back to work shortly, but in your spare
time I think one of the major problems
people don't realize they have something
to give. They say I am not the Vice
President of a company. I don't know all
this and that, but we all have something to
give. If you can leam from them there is
so much you can do for our community. I
would really urge all of you to look at
what they have done, they are certainly
role models for all of us.

I want to thank all of you on behalf
of Council members for what you do for
our city.

Ms. McDonald:

Good moming, would ail
representatives of YouthBuild please come
forward? Thank you all very much. I
want to read the resolution, which is
self-explanatory. This is another
successful year of graduation for
YouthBuild.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTS:

No. 1165 WHEREAS, YouthBuild
Pittsburgh, Inc. is a vehicle which

positively impacts the lives of our youth
by empowering them through the
development of technical, academic,
leadership and life skills resulting in self
sufficiency and personal growth; and

WHEREAS, the trainees of
YouthBuild Pittsburgh, Inc. have
completed the restoration of three homes
this year. Located at 801 North Lang
Avenue, 7212 Race Street and 7137
Hamilton Avenue; and

WHEREAS, the abandoned houses
were made available to YouthBuild
Pittsburgh, Inc. through the collaboration
of The Urban Redevelopment Authority,
Mellon Bank and The Economic
Development East. HUD and Americorp
sponsored the trainee members who
participated in this worthwhile project; and

WHEREAS, a graduation
ceremony will be held at 1:00 p.m. on
Saturday, January 23, 1999 at the Greater
Pittsburgh Coliseum; and

WHEREAS, YouthBuild
Pittsburgh, Inc. is in its seventh year of
conducting trainee classes. The 1998
graduating class include the following
members:

Edward Allie, Shan Booker, Jason
Brown, Kareem Clark, Edward Collins,
Michael Copeland, LaRon Cottrell, Sam
Criswell, James Gibson, Brian Jackson,
Sheldon Jones, Bill Lowe, Kaiwan
Montgomery, Torrence Paul, Fela Powell,
Ebony Thomas, Schnaulda Thomas, Deon
Valentine, Najeena Walker, Shawnee
Young, Fred Cade, Ina Dansby, Chris
Eleam, Taj Hemingway, Carlos Hicks,
Marlin Jackson, Seth Jones, Tamara Lowe,
Tyree Morgan, Julius Robinson, Lisa

Smith, Levan Montgomery, and Serena
Bonner. i

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh congratulate and commend
‘YouthBuild Pittsburgh, Inc., for a job well
done.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council in the City of Pittsburgh
encourages the support from the City and
Community so that YouthBuild Pittsburgh,
Inc. can continue their endeavors.

MR. RICCIARDI moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Ms. McDonald:

Tam going to -- we have the guests
up here Jennifer Germany who is the
Executive Director. Many of you in the
community know Jennifer she is
everywhere, everywhere. She is a soldier
for YouthBuild. She fights for those kids.
Tamara Lowe, Jamar Cottrell, Jason
Brown, Najeena Walker, Sheldon Jones,
Ebony Thomas, James Gibson, Laron
Cottrell, Johnny McCoy, not quite a
student there.

Without further ado, I would like
to ask Jennifer would you like to make
some comments and then defer to one of
the students.

Ms. Germany:

I wish you were there Saturday
when all the young people stepped forward
and made a decision that this move for the

ee
See

first year of graduation is just beginning
the struggle. And they celebrated that with
a 150 of their parents who came out and
all the students. So the representation you
see today are just those students still
seeking their first job after YouthBuild.
But all the rest of them are working, out of
32 young people who graduated from the
program you have to be proud of the
community to look at their content of their
character on what they do that we won't
do. That is to work in very low
temperatures, gutting completely out a
1500 square foot of a three story home and
bringing it back for low income family.

I would like you to know that all
the houses are sold. I would also like to
thank Valerie McDonald and Councilman
Ricciardi who also sent us a proclamation
that day for the Americorp Program and to
tell you that we are fully funded for 1999.

I would like to say that without the
support of the neighborhoods that we
focus on and the support that we get from
neighborhoods we would not exist. So as
an announcement to you the Pittsburgh
Foundation funded for three years the first
YouthBuild Construction Company with
young people leading the charge. So we
are birthing that this month.

We will be joining all
neighborhoods, we will be seeking work in
all neighborhoods for doing private homes
which we have never done before. So
look forward to seeing our signs up and
look forward to calling us and saying I
need a pair of steps, I need a porch in, I
need a roof on. We're seeking that work
so those of you in the audience who aren't
familiar with YouthBuild Pittsburgh you
will be before the end of this year.

I would like Najeena Walker to
come up.

Najeena Walker:

We the graduating class of 1998
would like to give a special thanks to
Councilwoman Valerie McDonald and Jim
Ferlo for the continuous support with
YouthBuild. Thank you.

Ms. Germany:

I know I can't hold this mic. all
day, but I do want you to know something.
Not only is this group focusing on our
local neighborhood, but we have been
recognized by YouthBuild Programs
nationally and have taken the model for
the nation on a long-term alumni
association with these young people
birthed. So they have their own
association that keeps them tied to each
other. The nation has also recognized the
director and two other people we are
making policy for the entire nation. We
just birthed 60 new programs across the
nation of which you will see coming to
Pittsburgh. In March there will be a
workshop here for all of the nation
programs at Station Square. We invite you
to come and meet the rest of us. Thank
you.

The Chair:

Ronald Bowes from Catholic
Schools please come up, Councilman
Onorato would you like to join me. We
have Dr. Ronald Bowes the Assistant
Superintendent of the Catholic Schools,
the Diocese of Pittsburgh and looking
along the road here with Mr. Udin coming
in from one end to other from Mr. Cohen
to Mr. Udin I think most of us went to

ee
——ooo eel eee

catholic schools. So there is a fine product
here.

To let you know my son is a
freshman at Central and the rules are still
strict and still detention, I had to go a half
hour early to drive him to school yesterday
for we won't get into the details. But then
again on the better note we also had our
sons on the same golf team, we had a little
banquet last night and very proud of our
sons and al] the players with them. It was
quite a nice event.

So it’s really a good school. We
are very proud of not only that school but
all the schools. I know Mr. Cohen he went
to Catholic schooling. He owes it all to
the nuns, I would like to read the
proclamation.

MR. O'CONNOR AND = ALL
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT:

No. 1166 WHEREAS, the
Catholic School of the Diocese of
Pittsburgh have served Westem
Pennsylvania since 1828; and,

WHEREAS, the Catholic Schools
of the Diocese of Pittsburgh is the fourth
largest school district of any type in the
State of Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, the Catholic Schools
of the Diocese of Pittsburgh have one-
hundred twenty three schools serving the
six-county Diocese of Pittsburgh; and,

WHEREAS, the Catholic Schools
of the Diocese of Pittsburgh exist to teach
the truths of the Catholic faith, provide a
quality education, promote respect for
fellow human beings, develop moral
character and prepare young people to
become good citizens; and,

WHEREAS, the Catholic Schools
of the Diocese of Pittsburgh's 1999 theme
for Catholic Schools Week is "The Quality
Choice", providing exceptional
opportunities to over 34,000 students this
school year alone.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend the
Catholic Schools of the Diocese of
Pittsburgh and Bishop Donald Wuerl on
their continued dedication to education;

and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare the week of January
24" . 30" 1999, as "Catholic Schools
Week" in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. COHEN moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Dan, do you want to say anything?
Mr. Onorato:

Briefly, we have this proclamation
every year when it comes into Council and
we celebrate Catholic Schools Week. This
isn't a day to put one institution against
another. It is a day to celebrate catholic
schools and the contributions they have
made to this city and to this region over
the last who knows how many years and
how many thousands of individuals they
put into society and productive members

of society. J think people would be
shocked if they found out the number of
individuals running corporations and
businesses and teaching around this area
that got their start in Catholic schools.

Catholic schools today in the 90's
and as it moves into the next century, I
believe are even more important than they
have ever been. It provides an additional
option in our neighborhoods. A lot of our
neighborhoods are centered around the
catholic schools. They provide a nice
religious background and a different
option for people if they choose to
participate in the catholic schools.

1 am pleased to see that the diocese
has recognized that even through the
reorganization fights that are going on that
they have to remain committed to the
regional areas of the city in addition to the
suburban areas around us. I am just here
to congratulate the diocese for continuing
to look to the future and to stabilize a lot
of these homes.

The one last point I want to touch
on, if anyone has any doubt how
successful these schools are get a copy of
the annual from the Extra Mile Foundation
to see what parents are asking to
Participate in. I think that will summarize
everything. Dr. Bowes, congratulations.

Dr. Bowes:

Well, thank you. I would like to
thank, of course, Councilman O'Connor
and Onorato for inviting us here to be
honored during Catholic Schools week and
all the Council people. You know we
have a deep appreciation for the fact that
you do take the time to recognize us.

Our first catholic school opened up
in 1841 in Saint Philaminas, which is out
in Squirrel Hill, which is now the Jewish
Education Institute. Of course we're still
happy that children are being taught the
faith in those walls and that we actually
have a big initiative going on with our
teachers and Jewish community school
teachers and things are going along
beautifully as we leam from each other
and about our schools and about our faith
and what we think is important. We are
sharing a lot of things, so it is a beautiful
initiative and we are very proud of that.

As I said, I am very happy to be
here to represent Dr, Bursurber (phonetic),
our superintendent, and our over 2,000
teachers, 34,000 students. We have been
serving Pittsburghers all these years, over
150 years we are very happy to continue to
do that. We're proud and productive
partners in education, we serve-- you
cannot imagine the diversity in our

schools, we are very proud of that also. So ©

thank you again.

I probably could spend an hour up
here talking about our schdols and how
proud we are. We will continue to work
hard to tum out very productive and moral
citizens that go on and help us in our
communities to do the work.

I would like to mention one thing
however and that is about a month ago our
schools received and it reminded me the
Jefferson Awards reminded that our
schools received a George Washington
Gold Medal from the Freedom's
Foundation at Valley Forge. We were
very proud of this accomplishment
because out of 500 nominations around the
country, our diocese and our schools
received this for the amount of community

service that our schools perform and of
course that benefits all of us.

When we get our children involved
hopefully when they leave elementary
school go on to high school, go on to
college and go out into the community that
they will continue to give back and to help
to build a better community and serve the
poor, the disadvantaged and other
individuals that are in need. Of course
that's part of our philosophy in school. So
thank you again and I hope I see you next
year.

The Chair:

Ron told me the Bishop couldn't
make it because he is in Saint Louis to see
the Pope. So he has a good excuse to pass
us up.

We have three to be read into the
record.

MR. FERLO PRESENTS:

No. 1167 Whereas, on January 20,
1998, Pittsburgh City Council established
a formal sister city relationship with
Matanzas, Cuba extending its greetings to
the its citizenry and encouraging people to
people communication, friendship and
good will; and

Whereas, hundreds of Pittsburgh
area residents have traveled to Cuba
despite the United States embargo and
have been warmly greeted by the people,
institutions, and government of Cuba; and

Whereas, this past year witnessed
the historic visit of His Eminence Pope
John Paul Hf and a strengthening of
diplomatic relationships between Cuba

and the Vatican and this year we will
witness the landing of the University of
Pittsburgh’s Semester At Sea ship in the
Havana harbor, and

Whereas, Mr. Rafael Noriega has
represented the Cuban government at the
Cuban Interests Section embassy in
Washington, D.C. and has proudly and
diligently performed his official duties for
the last four years and soon will return to
his homeland, along with his wide
Amanda and his little girl Amanda; and

Whereas, Mr. Noriega has worked
tirelessly to increase friendship and

communication between Cuba and
numerous organizations and local
governmental bodies throughout the

United States including the Pittsburgh/
Matanzas Sister City organization, Global
Links, the Pittsburgh Cuba Coalition,
among others; and

Whereas, Mr. Noriega has recently
worked on an effort to facilitate a possible
baseball match between the Baltimore
Orioles and one of the many popular
Cuban baseball teams and will be in
Pittsburgh on Thursday, January 28",
attending a Pittsburgh/Matanzas Sister
City Meeting to be held in Pittsburgh City
Council Chambers; and

Whereas, Mr. Noriega has agreed
to meet with members of Council and
representatives of the Pittsburgh Pirates
organization to explore the possibility of a
baseball match between the Pirates and a
Cuban team at some future date with
proceeds hopefully going to hurricane
relief in Central America;

Now, therefore be it resolved, that
City Council extends it congratulations

and best wishes to Mr. Rafael Noriega and
his family as they prepare for their trip
home and we further declare Thursday,
January 28, 1999 as “Rafael Noriega Day”
in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved
resolution.

to adopt the

MR. HERTZBERG
motion,

seconded _ the

Which motion prevailed.
MR. ONORATO PRESENTS:

No. 1168 WHEREAS, The
Pittsburgh Children’s Museum opened its
doors to the public on June 12, 1983 and
due to an outstanding Outreach Program
has grown over the last decade to serve
more that 100,000 children in classrooms,
community centers and parks throughout
Western Pennsylvania, and overall has
served over 2.5 million children and adults
over the years; and

WHEREAS, some early program
highlights include “Mystery, Magic &
Mirth: A World of Puppets” in 1985,
“Andy Warhol’s Myths and Silkscreen
Studio” in 1988 which made art accessible
to adults and children of all ages, and the

most popular exhibit “Luckey’s Climber”
in 1989; and
WHEREAS, in 1993 the Museum

invited at-risk youth to become part of the
institution through “YouthALIVE!”, a
mentoring and life-skills training program.
The Pittsburgh Children’s Museum created
its Outstanding Friend of Children Award
in 1994 to honor individuals whose work
or example has had a positive impact on
the lives of children. The award was

presented to its first recipient, Fred
Rogers, at the Museum’s Annual Benefit;
and

WHEREAS, on March 9, 1995,
“The Vision of Jim Henson” made its U.S.
premiere at The Pittsburgh Children’s
Museum and the Museum provided young
children a unique way to learn about issues
of diversity and tolerance through the
exhibit “Kidsbridge”; and

WHEREAS, The Museum’s
partnership with health care providers and
community groups culminated with the
dedication of “Safety Street”, an outdoor,
injury-prevention exhibit featuring a full-
scale intersection and real car and school
bus in 1996; and “Mister Rogers’
Neighborhood — A Hands-On Exhibit”
surpassed all expectations, garnering
praised from both educators and the
media, and bringing more that 85,000
visitors to The Pittsburgh Children’s
Museum in six months; and

WHEREAS, on December 26,
1998 the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum
reached “Great Heights” when it re-opened
after 10 weeks of renovations with new
exhibits and amenities, creating a warm,
welcoming, full-service institution for
children, their families, schools and
community groups; and

WHEREAS, Maggie Forbes was
the first Education Director of The
Pittsburgh Children’s Museum Director of
Programs 1985-1990 and Executive
Director from 1990-1998. Maggie is
recognized throughout the area as an
advocate for children and her leadership
was essential to The Pittsburgh Children’s
Museum’s successes in it’s first 15 years.

—— See

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and
commend Maggie Forbes and The
Pittsburgh Children’s Museum for their
continuing efforts to serve the youth of the
region; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Pittsburgh City Council extends
it’s gratitude and best wishes to Maggie
Forbes on her departure from The

Pittsburgh Children’s Museum.
MR. O'CONNOR AND ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:

No. 1169 WHEREAS, Yeshiva
Schools instill a sense of belonging in the
community which gives students a firm
grounding and allows them to grow with
the knowledge that they are contained
within a safe and loving environment; and,

WHEREAS, Yeshiva Schools is
holding its 55" Annual Yeshiva Schools
dinner on Sunday, January 17, 1999; and,

WHEREAS, Bob and Helene
Wishnev are being honored this year; and,

WHEREAS, Bob and Helene have
been active for twenty-four years in all
aspects of Yeshiva's growth; and,

WHEREAS, Bob and Helene
Wishnev's warmth, humor, and dedication
have enriched the lives of everyone
associated with Yeshiva, both communally
and personally.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby congratulate
Bob and Helene Wishnev on their
commitment and dedication to serving

Jewish Community and Yeshiva Schools;
and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
in recognition of Yeshiva School's 55"
Annual Dinner does hereby declare
January 17" as, "Yeshiva Schools Day" in
the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTS:

No. 1170 WHEREAS, it is in the
best interests of all people to be informed,
to have public discourse and to decide
public policy in order to promote the
public good and to insure that the quality
of our lives is not denigrated for private
gain; and,

WHEREAS, the theater has
historically served as a popular means to
present significant issues to the public in a
unique and special way ~ providing
perspective and information to audiences ~
allowing for the understanding needed to
grasp the complexities of our society and,
to promote action and activism beyond the
doors of the theater; and,

WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh,
as a community and the birthplace of
American industry, has long had to deal
with the adverse effects of industrial
pollution and the restoration of former
industrial sites and, as a result, has lead the
nation in the formulation laws designed to
protect the public’s health and enhance the
quality of life for its citizens; and,

WHEREAS, on January 6, 1999, at
City Theater’s Lester Hamburg Studio
Theater, the world premier of Stanton
Wood’s newest play “Eating Dirt”, will
take place. The play, produced by Bari

Wolynn, as part of City Theater’s
Hamburg Partner Program and through the
support of the Pittsburgh Foundation,
explores the themes presented by the
impacts of the contamination of our
environment.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh extends to Playwright,
Stanton Wood, Producer Bari Wolynn, and
the cast and crew of Eating Dirt its best
wishes and congratulation on the
significant accomplishment of bringing
this play to the stage; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
the Council of the City of Pittsburgh, in
recognition of this artistic effort and in
hopes of encouraging the public’s
understanding of the issues presented by
the contamination of our environment,
does hereby declare January 6, 1999, to be:
The World Premier of the Play, Eating
Dirt, Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt the
resolutions.

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Now move to presentation of
papers.

MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:

No. 1171 Resolution Amending
Resolution #755 of 1998, effective
December 31, 1998, entitled “Providing
for the transfer of funds totaling Five
Hundred Thousand ($500,000) Dollars

from various accounts within the
Department of Public Safety, Bureau of
Police, to the Public Safety Training
Account Trust Fund, Department of Public
Safety, Bureau of Police,” by decreasing
the total amount of the transfer from Five
Hundred Thousand ($500,000) Dollars to
Four Hundred Ninety Three Thousand
($493,000) Dollars.

No. 1172 Resolution Providing for
an Agreement or Agreements with a
consultant or consultant for professional
training services at a cost not to exceed
$60,000, and providing for the payment of
the cost thereof.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Public Safety Services.

MR. DIVEN moved to suspend Rule 8 by
providing for consideration of the bills
only until or after the 8th calendar day
following the meeting in which the bills
were introduced so the bills will be on the
agenda this Wednesday.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

No. 1173 Resolution Providing for
the issuance of a warrant in favor of C &
M Contracting, Inc. in the amount of
$10,305.16 for the repair of a City-owned
wall located within the Lower Allegheny
Riverfront Park (adjacent to the 10" Street
By-Pass); and providing for the payment
thereof.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

er
—ooeee ee

The Chair:

Now move to unfinished business.
Any unfinished business to come in front
of Council?

Before we move to Committee
Reports, I would like to announce a
change in Chairmanships of two chairs
involving Mr. Ricciardi and
Ms. McDonald. I would like Mr. Ricciardi
to make the official announcement.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you very much,
Mr. President and colleagues. First
colleagues, I really would like to take this
opportunity to thank Director Faith Gallo
for all her successes that she's had with the
department of Parks and Recreation.
Especially over the years if you would see
the administration really took away so
many resources from Parks and Recreation
in terms of personnel and in terms of
revenue and expenditures. I think Faith
Gallo has done a marvelous job during
those years.

With her announcement several
days ago we, Ms. McDonald and I and
Mr. O'Connor, had found out that she was
going to be resigning. I thought it was a
perfect opportunity at that time because
Ms. McDonald over the last several weeks
has stated her interests in Economic
Development in the City of Pittsburgh and
especially in her district. At that time I
always had a special affection for the
Department of Parks and Recreation since
I chaired that. I thought in the change of
Directorship I thought, Mr. President, it
would be a perfect opportunity for me to
tecapture that, take back that committee if
there was no objection.

So I would just, one, like to
commend Faith Gallo and, two, I look
forward to chairing a new committee. I
think Ms. McDonald is going to do a great
job in Economic Development, the
Committee Economic, Development and
Housing and Promotion especially in her
district and throughout the city.

Ms. McDonald:

I just want to say that it is mutually
agreeable. There is really no fanfare just
that we discussed this and he's interested
in Parks and I am interested in both. We're
both interested in both, but with this
opportunity it allows me to go back to my
old committee and he is going back to his
old committee, we are actually going back
to our old committees both of us.

I just want to thank the Department
of Parks and Recreation for the
outstanding job they have done in
preparing me for reports. I mean the
information has been very timely, very
detailed. I think you have a wonderful
Assistant Director there, you have a
wonderful Acting Director there, Duane
Ashley. For Faith Gallo, she is still going
to be around and I look forward to
continue dialogue with her on occasion.
But I do commend her for her graciousness
and for her positive character in making
sure that Parks and Rec. was one of the
finest departments. She really did come to
the aide and defend the people that work in
Parks and Rec. whether they know this or
not, she really stood by them.

Again, I just want to thank
Councilman Ricciardi for giving me
another opportunity and I think this will
work out. Thank you, Mr. President.

—_——————————— ee
EE ———

The Chair:

Officially today Ms. McDonald
will be chairing Housing, Economic and
Development and Mr. Ricciardi will be
chairing Parks,

Also, I think we should send a
letter of thank you to Director Faith Gallo
for her I believe six years of service to the
city under extreme difficulties in that
department. I know she is staying on and
in other capacity. I will send that letter of
thanks on behalf of all of us.

We will move to Committee Chair
Reports.

COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORTS
Mr. Udin:
Thank you, Mr. President.

As Chairman of Finance and
Budget I recently accepted an invitation
from President Bob O'Connor to present at
the Building Bridges Breakfast sponsored
by the President at the Sheraton Hotel.
Present at the meeting were representatives
of the legislators and the Pittsburgh School
Board. Attached please find copies of the
budget analysis presented and distributed
at the meeting.

We had a rather candid discussion
of the City's structural deficit as well as
our tax structure dilemma. The ensuing
discussion was informationally fruitful and
laid the foundation for future cooperation
in the region.

The City of Pittsburgh’s Tax
Restructuring Committee has met once

and identified some short range and
intermediate objectives.

One, we are searching for regional
partners to recruit onto the committee to
begin to establish personal relationships
and dialogue regarding common regional
interests that will eventually be translated
into legislative tax restructuring initiatives
for the region.

Two, we continue to discuss and
understand the complex tax dilemma the
city faces with such heavy reliance on
property tax, business privilege tax and the
inadequacy of the occupation tax.

Three, we are planning a seminar
sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh
institute of politics to be held in the spring
which will be used as a springboard for the
formation of a larger, more permanent
committee.

And four, we will also build a
model of analysis and comparison of
Pittsburgh's tax structure to other
comparable cities and additionally
examine what kind of tax structure is
called for giving the current realities of a
city whose economy is now based more on
the service sector as opposed to our
current tax structure which is historically
suited to a manufacturing economy.

We are in communication with the
Murphy administration and continue to
welcome input and participation of
Council colleagues or others you may
recommend.

We have also been quite active in
lobbying the legislature for passage of Plan
B, debt-ceiling legislation, to finance the
building of the stadiums and the

Convention Center. In this regard we are
targeting the legislative black caucus in
Harrisburg because they represent an
important block of votes.

Consequently we have created the
Plan B, NBE oversight committee which
meets bi-weekly. This committee has
managed to get the written commitment of
team owners, elected officials, authority
officials, supporting the principle of 25
and 10 percent NBE, WBE participation in
contracting and employment.

A more specific program is being
worked out to get an agreement with
contractors and labor unions to guarantee
minority and women's participation in the
building trades, unions and apprenticeship
programs. Councilwoman Valerie
McDonald has been an active participant
and a helpful voice in this effort.

We have scheduled our first
informational meeting for the
pre-construction professionals related to
Plan B and the minority and women
owned contracting companies with the
Pittsburgh Pirates. Set for Friday,
January 29th, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
at the David Lawrence Convention Center.
Similar meetings regarding the Steeler
stadium and Convention Center will
follow.

An employment fair is being
planned with Ms. Barbara Parees, Director
of Personnel, for sometime in March.
That concludes our report, Mr. President.

The Chair:
Thank you. Any questions to Mr.

Udin? I want to thank you. I think so
much in government that I have seen one

of the biggest faults in government since I
have been in office is follow up. It doesn't
happen very often, but I want to commend
you for the follow up.

I know we got this meeting report
which you just announced this Friday,
January 29th from four to seven at the
David Lawrence Convention Center, the
Plan B over site committee. I think it is
very important we keep following up on
our initiatives whether it be the legislative
black caucus, your goals with Plan B, we
just can't shrug them off and we just keep
charging along the way we have.

I want to thank you for your follow
up and also today if you notice way on the
back page the Governor isn't as sexy as
Plan B, but the Governor is committed
now to putting more money back into
education. So our meeting with the
School Board I think is perfect timing so
that Pittsburgh is in line for those funds
when they come. Thank you for that
report.

We will now move to Reports of
Committee.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MR. UDIN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1174:
Report of the Committee on Finance and
Budget for January 20, 1999, transmitting
sundry of resolutions to Council.
Which was read, received, and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 1132:

Resolution directing the City Law
Department, Department of Personnel, and
the Civil Service Commission to report to
City Council on the feasibility and cost of
performing an investigation of civil
litigation on applicants for City of
Pittsburgh police officers, in addition to
the standard criminal background
investigation. (SPONSORED BY MS.
MCDONALD)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1137:

Resolution authorizing the sale of
City of Pittsburgh owned property in the
25" Ward, 401 Catoma Street, designated
as Block 23 G, Lot 366 (part), to Peter L.
Hervoyavich and Kathleen Hervoyavich,
his wife, for the sum of $100.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1149:

Resolution designating the East
Liberty Nabisco Bakery Project as an
Industrial Development of the Steel Valley
Authority and approving of the Authority’s
Exercise of its Power of Eminent Domain
in that Project. —-(SPONSORED BY
MR. FERLO & MS. MCDONALD)
Which was read.

Also,

Bill No. 1150:

Resolution transferring the amount
of $7,000 from Sub Class: 010, Salaries,
City Council, Account: 511000, Org:
101100, Fund: 1000, Budget Year: 1999 to
Sub Class 150, Miscellaneous Services,
City Council, Account: 526125, Org:
101100, Fund: 1000, Budget Year: 1999.
(The purpose of this transfer is to pay for
expenses relative to the District Office in
Council District #2). —(SPONSORED
BY MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Ms. McDonald:

Yes, I would like to make a motion
to amend Bill Number 1132 to add a
second section for discussion.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Ms. McDonald:

I would like to add a section. I will
read it and explain that the City Law
Department will immediately draft for
inclusion in the list of questions used in
the polygraph test that is administered to
police applicants as part of the
pre-employment screening process
interrogatories regarding any and all civil
litigation involving the applicant as either
plaintiff or defendant. Inclusion of civil
litigation interrogation will be effective for
all police applicants after January 31,
1999.

Where this came from was out of

———————————eEe

the discussion we had last Wednesday
where we were looking at due to the lack
of databases and structure in place to
efficiently peruse civil litigation. In lieu of
that, instead of going from county to
county, it would be probably more
efficient and definitely would mitigate the
cost. In fact it would probably eliminate
the cost all together if questions were
asked as part of the polygraph examination
in which there are questions asked of
driving, what you did in your background.
It alludes to a lot of criminal checks but
questions could be drafted that would
blatantly ask about civil litigation and the
particulars there of. If that applicant fails
the polygraph or one part of it according to
Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers
Education Commission Guidelines, they
should be eliminated any way.

If they are telling the truth and
there is civil litigation that has occurred
then the investigators of OMI or the Law
Department can then do a more specific
search based about the information given
to them. That would narrow the focus
down to a county, to some municipalities,
to some type of litigation. In other words,
instead of going through this massive
search, it would narrow it to one specific
or not one, to a specific search in terms of
municipalities. Again eliminating the cost
possibly all together. That is the reason
the rationale for this legislation is to make
it doable. Everyone feels very comfortable
that we should check, we should screen to
the max but there is always a question of
obstacles can it be done? By doing it this
way, yes, it can be done.

Now again, according to the
Pennsylvania MPOETC Certification
Guidelines I will read for background
investigation, background investigations

shall include but not be limited to a
criminal history check, a credit check,
personal interview and any other
applicable means of determining the
individual's suitability for employment as a
police officer. Again, any other applicable
means. This is one of those means.

Lastly, they do say in terms of
criminal disqualification standards, the
commission's policy is that if ARD is
granted or if an officer is allowed to resign
rather than be prosecuted no revocation of
certification can be instituted and no
record of the offense will exist. Hence
there is nothing to prevent an officer from
using his or her certification to obtain
police employment in a_ different
department in Pennsylvania or any other
state.

This is why the legislation we have
to make sure that we again provide as
much investigation, background
investigation as possible. This is the
justification for the legislation and added
falsification of any information is cause
for rejection. Falsification of any
information is cause for rejection.

So again, I am very confident in
and our police chief and the Law
Department, the Office of Municipal
Investigations to thoroughly screen. I just
add I think this just adds an enhancement.
I am just asking all my colleagues to
please consider this amendment because it
puts in place the motion of looking into
civil litigation without creating a
bureaucratic nightmare. It is very simple
and it needs to be done.

Mr. Ferlo:
of what

I support the intent

Councilwoman McDonald is doing in
which she articulated last week at the
Wednesday Standing Committee Meeting.
I thought we had a good discussion with
the Solicitor. I am concemed that we are
now moving towards something -- I am
not sure what we are moving towards.

Originally the bili was a request for
a Teport or study to be done by the
department and to come back to Council
with some written information and
explanation. Now it's being amended to
actually implement a specific change
which maybe the appropriate thing to do, I
am not sure. I am still unclear on what the
effect is of the Section Two amendment
that the Councilwoman is proposing.

My particular concem is what the
solicitor said at the table. It's not clear to
me even if we asked information and we
ascertained some information either by the
applicant filling out the information or by
whatever OMI or by whatever research
process we go through. What I am
concerned about what is it that we would
or could do with the information in any
event? I use the example of a bitter
divorce. I mean there are many people
that are involved as I said at last week's
meeting when they are getting married
they are love birds and they say the
greatest things in the world. A year later
they are up on the sixth floor accusing
each other of everything under the sun.

What I am concermed about, what
does that mean in terms of the information
we collect and what is its conclusion or the
bias that an applicant would face from the
chief or from the review committee or
from the solicitor? I am concemed about

"that. If someone goes through a bitter
divorce and technically I assume that some

civil litigation or lawsuit and I am not
speaking gender wise it could be male,
female or whatever. What does that mean
and what does it conclude necessarily from
that type of a civil lawsuit using that as an
example? Does that mean a person -- is it
only that we are asking what the lawsuit
was, are we asking what the outcome was?
Do we want to get the details of the case?

People are accused of things that
are not necessarily adjudicated to be guilty
of. Iam concemed about what it is that we
are doing from an employment standard. I
am concemed that we be equitable, that we
be fair and that if we are ascertaining
information we can do something with it
in a non-discriminatory and employment
practice wise something that is
appropriate.

I was voting in favor of the
resolution the way it was written right now
because I understood it basically to be
requesting a report from the Law
Department and administration on all of
these issues and them come back to us.
We could have some more discussion.
Now we are departing a little bit and
asking that a specific thing be
implemented by or January 31st of °99. I
am not sure exactly what the wording is
about this interrogatories. Maybe my legal
colleagues can help me out here, but I am
just concerned about what the Solicitor
said at the table about whether it is our
right to know even if we ascertain some
information. What is it that we’re going to
preclude?

I mean I have been in employment
interview process for non-profit boards 1
am going back a few years, where typically
ateview committee of a personnel will ask
often times of female applicants if they

_——————
SS OS

have children what are your childcare
duties or plans? Really that's an
inappropriate question. You can maybe
establish that kind of a question but it
would have to be equally asked regardless
of the gender of the parent. You shouldn't
pick on a female applicant and say because
you have kids, do you have childcare plans
and then form a bias or a conclusion about
whether or not you want to hire somebody.

I am worried are we opening up an
area where we are going to get into
equitable disputes about what is fair, what
is reasonable in terms of people's
background and all of that. I don't know, I
am really asking somewhat out of
ignorance in terms of what this Section
Two is and what is it that we're agreeing
that we have to do from now on?

I also have a concern generally
about how are we dictating the
employment in Pennsylvania as opposed to
maybe a letter of request of personnel and
Civil Service Commission in terms of how
job classification hiring procedures are
conducted.

Ms. McDonald:

I will respond to all the points and
they are very valid points. First of all and
to allow all Council members concems.
There is an appeal process. If you take this
test and what comes forward is some type
of something criminal, something you did,
I stool a bicycle that has actually come up
in the polygraph questioning that I took
something from some where, some small
petty theft. That applicant if they have
already passed everything else in their
stellar and they have their certification, all
they need to be is qualified for subsequent
interview and physiological, they can

appeal to the Civil Service Commission.
And, I can tell you something right now,
Councilman Ferlo, there have been many
people who have appealed what has come
out of the questioning to the Civil Service
Commission and that their appeal or
however it is worded was granted and they
went to the next step.

This is nothing compared to some
of the things that have surfaced. From
theft and lying and falsification you name
it, there have been a lot of things but they
have an appeal process where they can
explain it before the board of the Civil
Service Commission.

Number two, as far as what do we
do with the information. If you had any
ideas some of the questions that were
asked during a polygraph test they can get
into your financial background, they ask
you about all kind of stuff not only your
driving record and your employment
record they ask you about credit cards.
What do we do with that information?
That already exists on the polygraph test.
So there are questions that kind of get into
your background your character already. It
is already there. But we have to defer to
the good judgement of not only the
process, the Law Department, our chief
but also the Civil Service Commission to
make sure that there is a level head in
terms of ascertaining what to do with the
information.

Believe me, some of the things that
have surfaced and people are still, have
still been granted employment. I think it is
a mute point, it's a mute point if you really
knew. So again, the questions are already
asked on the polygraph test that you may
want to construe as intrusive or personal.
They are already there. This is basically

ee
ol

public information. If you have been
involved in civil litigation, that's a public
information item that a future employer
should know. Again, if the red flag is --
we can go back to a case. There are some
cases that if were suitable litigation
questions asked maybe that person
wouldn't be on the force. So again-—-

The Chair:

So, in summary they're taking a lie
detector —

Ms. McDonald:

So, what I am doing -- oh, thank
you very much. This addendum came out
of the discussion. It was our own Solicitor
that recommended something like this. I
am only taking what she recommended
and saying okay fine let's do it. If we can
add this to the list of questions in the
polygraph test, which she recommended,
that's the administration, then let's do it. It
doesn’t hurt the process and we haven't
even begun to do our new whatever glut of
applicants as far as screening.

The Chair:

Just to be clear, they are taking a
polygraph test now?

Ms. McDonald:

Oh, yeah it is part of the pre-
approval.

The Chair:

Se you have just added these
couple of questions?

Ms. McDonald:

There is a list, Council President
O'Connor, a whole list of questions that
they ask. I am recommending with this
addendum that there be additional
questions asked in terms of have you
participated in civil litigation and deferring
the particulars to the administration. I
don't want them to come back with what
specific questions, that's an administrative
matter. But let them hash it out and fix up
that whole polygraph questionnaire.

Mr. Udin:

I would like to speak in support of
the amendment. I think that there are
sufficient protections in place to prevent
personnel action from being based on
some biased or illegal judgment. But I
think it is important that the interviewers
be able to gather as much information as
may be possible in order to make the
selection and know as much about the
people who we are putting a badge and a
gun on,

I appreciate Councilman Ferlo's
questions, but I do believe that this has not
to do with how people are selected, it has
to do with what information we are going
to gather in the interrogation of people
under polygraph. And it adds to a list of
questions that is currently already on the
polygraph list. I think it does not violate
any rights, it just adds to the information
and gives us the ability to make a more
sound judgement.

I certainly am not advocating a
knee jerk reaction to the situation around
Officer Cooperstein, but the point is clear
that had we known more about this
gentleman relative to civil litigation when
we hired him, we may have made a

eee ee

different choice. Thank you.
The Chair:

1 will be supporting it too. I
believe one of the major problems in
hiring anyone, the good old boy network
well if I let you go J will give you a good
reference. That's a problem in all walks of
life especially, we have to be careful with
especially an ex-officer’s past history. 1
think that it is key. So J will be supporting
this.

The bills are now ready for final
action. All in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

Ms. McDonald:

Amendment first.
The Chair:

Do we have a second?

MR. COHEN seconded the amendment.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Do you have discussion on the
amendment? I thought there was going to
be other discussion on the police bill.

The Chair:
This bill is finished.
Mr. Ferlo:
T thought there was going to be

more discussion on the police thing. In
relation to Bill 1149, I want to thank

obviously all of my colleagues for voting
unanimously last week in relation to the
issue of moving ahead with reuse of the
Nabisco Plant in East Liberty. The
resolution today is a legal resolution of
City Council basically joining with other
municipalities of the Steel Valley
Authority and asking the Steel Valley
Authority to act as basically the economic
developer of last resort and allowing them
to utilize their powers under state laws to
proceed with eminent domain. There are a
number of procedural steps that have
already been initiated some of which were
mentioned last week at the Standing
Committees Meeting.

Now all of a sudden out of the blue
mysteriously to some extent on Sunday,
Nabisco comes forward and says maybe
they have another buyer from Ohio,
possibly some cereal company. I don't
exactly know, I know the media called my
house. I referred them to the plant and I
referred them to the folks from the East
End Forum over the weekend and to Local
12 and to the operating engineers. It could
be a good sign and it could be a bad sign.
The basic thing we could probably say
tight now is it is no sign because we don't
know what Nabisco's intentions are. We
know what Nabisco's track record is for
the last several months in terms of how
they have handled the Pittsburgh
community, the unions involved and the
work force and it has not been a pretty
picture.

I would hope that I want us to see
the glass half filled and not half empty so I
want to be optimistic. But really Nabisco
at this point given the discreditation that
they have gone through in the Pittsburgh
market place, as well as with their own
work force, as well with the public sector,

the leadership of Steel Valley Authority
the colleagues on this chambers, the
Mayor and administration they are really
the one. The ball is in their court to some
extent. They're really the ones right now
that should put their best foot forward and
make a commitment and communicate to
the unions, to the workers, to the
community, to the East End Forum, to the
Mayor, to the Steel Valley Authority and
to you and the colleagues as to what their
real intentions are. Now if they're going to
think that they are going to move in there
and in the silence of the night and start
dismantling viable ovens, they're sadly
mistaken.

So really despite protestations of
the Post Gazette and Tribune Review
Editorials, we should move full steam
ahead with this resolution. We will now
have four communities that agree with
eminent domain activity of the Steel
Valley Authority. I believe there is
another municipality that is meeting
tonight, I am hoping that we will get the
majority needed for us to proceed. As well
I think the SVA has already notified
Nabisco that they would like entry into the
plant this coming Friday morning at ten, if
Iam not mistaken, to begin to assess the
value of the equipment and the plant
facility and the building itself.

I want to thank Council President
O'Connor for communicating last week by
letter to the various bureaus and townships
that were being asked to join with us in
voting in favor of the Steel Valley
Authority activity. Obviously I thank last
week Mayor Murphy and his
administration for keeping the faith with
these workers and for continuing to
support this deal both for its economic
development staff and financial resources

if need be in the coming weeks. But we're
at a particular crossroads right now and the
crossroads require the = Nabisco
Corporation from New Jersey picking up
the phone or issuing one of those sand bag
press releases that they always put out and
tell the Pittsburgh community that we will
put our best foot forward. We need time
to work if they actually do indeed have a
viable buyer from Ohio or anywhere else,
that they will not dismantle and basically
gut the East Liberty facility.

They are still working at least our
presumption is that they are still
committed to this February 1st deadline
for removal of viable equipment. They
have to back off of that February 1 date.
They should back off even in terms of
their. own self-interest if they are sincere
and if we can believe them that they have a
viable buyer that they are negotiating with.
It doesn't make any sense to me for them
to gut the plant even in terms of their own
deal making. We don't want the plant
gutted obviously because the other viable
baker interest groups that we have need the
viability of the working ovens, otherwise
we could pretty much put the plant
anywhere.

So, really I would say in passing
this resolution today we immediately send
a telegram to East Hanover or Persippany,
New Jersey, RJF Nabisco and ask them to
take a good step forward and put their best
face forward to the Pittsburgh community
and ask them to change that February 1st
deadline. In fact we really shouldn't have
a deadline per say, we are all moving full
steam ahead. The administration is, this
Council is, the Steel Valley Authority, the
work force, the unions involved. On a
separate track RJR Nabisco is working on
their own agenda. They have a right to do

a COCOONS

that, I don't question that. But let’s get rid
of this hard nose approach with the
February Ist deadline and let's not in any
way think that tractor trailers are going to
end up there in the middle of the night.
There are still people in the plant. We will
get people out on the streets in the middle
of the night. I will wake up and go down,
I know Mr. Diven said he would back me
up and he is bigger than Iam. Mr. Cohen,
everyone else will be there.

But the point is we should send a
letter now with this resolution to RJR
Nabisco to get off that February 1 date and
commit themselves back to a working
process with the Mayor and with the Steel
Valley Authority. But in the meantime, I
would ask the other municipalities a few
more of them will be meeting in the next
week or so, please be supportive. We are
not asking you to expose yourself for any
legal or financial hardship; there are viable
private interest groups that have financial
resources. I spoke briefly with
Commissioner Dawida in the last few
days, he stands very willing and able to
have whatever county resources also come
into the fold to support this initiative. In
fact, he invited the unions to come to the
Gold Room either this week or next week
on a Thursday and maybe have some kind
of formal proclamation of support. I want
to thank him and the leadership at the
commission level for their good effort in
this respect.

But in approving this today, let's
enforce and reinforce and support the Steel
Valley Authority by whatever means
necessary to make sure that we retain the
building, retain the viable equipment that
is inside. If they can't find a buyer and it is
not a deal that is going to recognize the
leadership and the skill of the workers

some of them are in these chambers today,
then it is not a good deal as far as I am
concemed. They are not going to open up
a scab outfit here in this city in that
bakery; it is not going to happen.

I would ask that we move quickly
obviously today this enjoys all of Council's
support, I want to thank all of you, but if
we could follow up under your signature,
Mr. President, with a telegram after this
meeting to RJR Nabisco about this

February Ist deadline. Thank you very
much,
The Chair:
Any more discussion?
Mr. Cohen:

Very briefly, I do want to thank
Councilman Ferlo, our colleague, for his
leadership on this issue and
Councilwoman McDonald for her
leadership. For all of those who have
come together in sending this message to
Nabisco including the workers, including
people who have come together on the
save Nabisco Committee, yourself,
Mr. President, the Mayor, we all have
coalesced. We have all come together, we
are all in agreement on this issue, our
resolve is firm, it is not going to weaken.
I think through this legislation we'll send a
strong message to Nabisco.

So I want to thank all of those who
have taken leadership roles in this effort.

The Chair:
I want to echo that. I also want to

thank publicly the Steel Valley Authority.
I made calls all weekend to the Mayors,

Council members and managers of
McKeesport, Mount Oliver, Swissvale,
Rankin, Duquesne, they were very, very
positive, most of them signed on already.
If they didn't it was only because of time,
Jack of information. So I certainly think
the lobbying effort is moving very
forward.

T also want to thank going back to
the beginning the Giant Eagle executives
and ownership was very involved. I talked
to them with the leadership of Nabisco we
may want to go back to that little group
and talk to the executives there and really
feel out where they are going. Because if
they do take that equipment out, it is really
sending a very negative message because
that equipment is worth nothing to a new
plant it is worth everything to an older
plant. So I think that's very crucial of what
we finalize today in-that aspect.

Also I heard through the news
media Sunday moming someone was
going to come. I would ask Nabisco to
have the Mayor's Office, yourself,
Councilwoman McDonald or I live two
miles away, if there are legitimate
companies coming in I think a
representative from this body or the
Mayor's Office or the county should be
there to know what is going on. We don't
have to get into the fine details but as you
said, we want to make sure what comes
there is good union jobs and it keeps the
employees that are there. So that really is
important.

Mr. Ferlo:

I would also reiterate, Mr.
President, your point that we should send a
message to RJR Nabisco. We want to be
their friend. We want to help promote this

product. This region respected this
product for 80 years. We bought all kinds
of Nabisco brand products. Now I haven't
bought anything for the last half a year and
I am not going to buy anything in the
future because of the boycott, which quite
frankly is effective. Right now you see the
Giant Eagle, Pharmor Industry Group
promoting four products on channels two,
four and 11, one of them is the Nabisco
brand. The reason why they're buying it is
because it is junk product that you can't
even sell. They're able to get it cheaply
and they are now trying to market it
through Pharmor warehouse operations.

That's an indication you never
would see 2 Nabisco product being sold
that way at the bottom of the shelf, cheap
item. It is a high quality product but it is
clear the boycott is working throughout
Pittsburgh and Wester Pennsylvania even
to the extent that now Pharmor is going to
bail them out and take their cheap product
and put it on their shelves and try to
market it as a loss leader over the last few
days. I see the ads on TV. But we should
tell Nabisco whatever company comes in
here, if it is a bonafide company that
recognizes the talent of the workforce
behind us as well as their representative
unions involved, then we want to create a
happy marriage with this company and
begin to promote any new product that
may come in there. But they have to take
the first step and show some good faith
and so far they have refused to do that.

The Chair:

Why don't we instead of drawing a
line in the sand, let's make this a new day?
After this meeting, we will call the head of
Nabisco and ask for a peaceful settlement
to this.

‘se
eee

Mr. Ferlo:

I will keep my guns cocked until
they make the first move.

The Chair:

We will know after today. We can
start over again today. It's in their best
interest to sell to a good company,
non-competitive and hire the employees,
so that can be a win, win if they take the
right attitude. So let's proceed with that
process.

The bills are now ready for final
action, all in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;
all opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ferlo abstained on Bill 1132.)

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

The Chair:
Before we move on, I would like to

make a special recognition of Mr. Ferlo
and Ms. McDonald's leadership in this

tole. I really think they have taken us
along way.

Thank you all for your support.
MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1175:

Report of the Committee on Public Works,
Water and Environmental Services for
January 20, 1999, transmitting one
resolution to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1151:

Resolution Vacating a portion of
Rodman Street, 40 feet wide, from North
Highland easterly to its dead end in the
11" Ward, 9” Council District of the City
of Pittsburgh.

Which was read.
The Chair:
You have heard the reading and
title of the bill, any discussion on the bill?
Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

re
eee

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)
AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1176:

Report of the Committee on Planning,
Zoning and Land Use for January 20,
1999, transmitting one ordinance to
Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1136:

An Ordinance amending the
Pittsburgh Code, Title Six, Conduct,
Article I, Regulated Rights and Actions,
Subsection 617.04(a)(14), Underground
Transit Stations, to allow eating and
drinking within the confines of designated
areas within underground transit stations.
(SPONSORED BY MR. UDIN).

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bill, any discussion on the bill?

Mr. Ferlo:

I am voting in favor of 1136. This

would basically change the code of
conduct a minor change in the city laws.
Basically it would facilitate the
opportunity for the Port Authority Transit
to set up basically a vending operation in
at least, I think, three locations
underground around the T stations that
would include not only drinks and food
but also some other items it is very open
ended right now.

I thought this was a great idea, I
want to thank Councilman Udin for his
leadership in working with PAT and
bringing this to Council's table. My only
reservation is as they said hoping to
generate around $100,000, I would ask
that they take that same $100,000 and use
it for cleanliness issues. I really think and
I have talked to PAT following the
meeting, I think they are underestimating
what impact litter and food and sweet
sugar with bees in the T station and people
arguing on the T-station with the driver
about bringing on foods and drinks. I
know it sounds like a small issue, but to
me one of the beauties of the T is the
cleanliness. I think it is one of the issues
why it is so popular and used well. The
music the ambiance it is a very clean, great
transit corridor and early on the PAT
police have to be assigned to ride these
trains and be in these stations.

If people are bringing drinks on, it's
not always fair to put it on the PAT driver
of getting into fights every time with the
passengers. I mean he or she is trying to
drive the bus or perform their duties. I
would just ask that in approving this that I
hope it works well. I am going to go down
there and buy a pop if I can to show
support since I don't get to ride the T that
much. But I am very concemed about the
cleanliness issue and I hope PAT is really

ne
eae ——————————

going to stay on top of this. But I think we
should at least try it.

The Chair:

Again, 1 want to commend both of
you for doing that. I think it's a good idea,
but I share your concerns and whether we
can send them the minutes to what you just
said. Whether they spend a couple dollars
more and hire someone else to keep up the
sanitation or another very important thing
who they put there. Are they going to put
out of town companies or are they going to
put a good local operator like your friend
whose business hopefully went up last
week? But someone who is going to
manage and be on top of it and show a lot
of pride, I think it is very important who
they put in there.

The bills are now ready for final
action, all in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None
Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed

finally.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I have a number of bills to be
presented in the name of myself and Mr.
Hertzberg and then Mr. Hertzberg has a
bill to be presented just by himself without
my name as part of the record. Thank
you.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1177:

Report of the Committee on Housing,
Economic Development and Promotion
for January 20, 1999, transmitting sundry
of resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No, 1133:

Resolution providing for a
Cooperation Agreement or Agreements
with the Housing Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh for the administration and
implementation of the “Central Relocation
Agency” at a cost not to exceed $148,800,
chargeable to and payable from the 1998
CDBG Program “Central Relocation
Agency,” Account #566402, Fund #2610,
Organization #810000, Subclass C-1998,
Project #2215888, Budget Year 1998. ---
{PRESENTED BY MR. RICCIARDI &
MR. UDIN)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1134:

Resolution providing for a
Cooperation Agreement or Agreements

Which was read.
Also,
Bill Number 1158:

Resolution Authorizing a 1998-
1999 Cooperation Agreement or
Agreements with the Urban

Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
providing for the designation of the local
matching share for.a grant applied for in a
Single Application for Assistance filed
with the Pennsylvania Department of
Community and Economic Development
(“DCED”) under the Communities of
Opportunity Program for a $3,215.000.00
grant. ---(PRESENTED BY MR.
RICCIARDI & MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1159:

Resolution Authorizing the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh to
submit an Application for Financial
Assistance in the amount of $3,215,000.00
to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Community and Economic
Development for the Housing Recovery

Program, Neighborhood Housing Program,
Community Development Investment
Fund, Pittsburgh Housing Construction
Fund, Urban Development Fund,
Streetface, and Industrial Site Acquisition
Programs. ---(PRESENTED BY MR.
RICCIARDI & MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
Also,

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1156:

Resolution Authorizing the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh to
submit an Application to the Pennsylvania
Office of the Budget for a Redevelopment
Assistance Capital Program (RACP) in the
amount of $7,000,000 for the North Shore
Revitalization Project. --(PRESENTED
BY MR. RICCIARDI & MR.
HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bilis?

Mr. Hertzberg:

On Bill Number 1156, which is the
one Mr. Ricciardi did not sponsor, there is
an amendment that has been circulated and
it just inserts a Section 3, it is one
sentence. It says the city agrees to
reimburse the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania for any reimbursed
expenditures determined by the
Commonwealth to be ineligible. I am told

en —————————
SSeS

by the administration and by the URA that
this is just a boilerplate clause that the
state requires in these types of the grants.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed. (Mr. Ricciardi
abstained)

The Chair;

Any other discussion on the bills?
Bills are now ready for final action. All in
favor of the passage of the bills vote aye
when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were. taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Udin
Mr. O'Connor
{Pres't)

(Mr. Ricciardi voted no on Bill No.
1156.)

Bills have received the legally
tequired number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. COHEN PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1178:

Report of the Committee on Lands,
Buildings, and Procurement for January

20, 1999, transmitting sundry of
resolutions to Council.

104

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1124:

Resolution approving the transfer
of ownership of the City of Pittsburgh

cable communications from Tele-
Communications, Inc., d/b/a TCI of
Pennsylvania (“TCI”) to AT&T
Corporation (AT&T) as a result of TCI’s
pending acquisition by AT&T.--
(SPONSORED BY MR. COHEN)
Which was read.

Also,

Bill No, 1125:

Resolution providing for an
agreement or agreements, or use of
existing Agreements and/or a Contract or
Contracts, or use of existing Contracts,
and for the purchase of materials, supplies
and equipment and/or services in
connection with the Renovations and
Maintenance of Various Public Buildings;
and providing for the payment at a cost not
to exceed $50,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1126:

connection with the Renovations and
Maintenance of Various Public Buildings;
and providing for the payment at a cost not
to exceed $65,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1127:

Resolution providing for contracts
and agreements or the use of existing
contracts or agreements for the purchase of
equipment, materials, supplies and
services, for rehabilitation and removal of
under ground and above ground storage
tanks and providing for the payment at a
cost not to exceed $700,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1128:

Resolution authorizing a
Cooperation Agreement or Agreements
which provides for the transfer of funds
not to exceed Four Hundred Eighty Three
Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Dollars
($483,680.00) to the City of Pittsburgh
Equipment Leasing Authority for the
purchase of vehicles, radios and equipment
for use by City of Pittsburgh Departments
and Authorities.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1129:

Resolution authorizing a
Cooperation Agreement or Agreements

105

which provides for the transfer of funds
not to exceed Three Million Seven
Hundred Sixty Five Thousand
($3,765,000.00) Dollars to the City of
Pittsburgh Equipment Leasing Authority
for the purchase of vehicles, radios and
equipment for use by City of Pittsburgh
Departments and Authorities.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Cohen:

On the bill dealing with the change
of ownership from TCI to AT&T, which is
Bill Number 1124. I have amendments
that I have circulated. They are technical
amendments for the first three or four and
that is to change the name from TCI to
TCI of Pennsylvania to be legally accurate.
Then on the final page, Mr. President,
there is a fifth condition that we have
added. If I can just take a brief moment
and explain what the four conditions are
prior to that.

Number one is that TCI which will
become AT&T or will have a change of
ownership to AT&T retain its main
operating facility in the City of Pittsburgh
presumably and hopefully at the Corliss
Street site where it is right now in the
West End of the City of Pittsburgh.

Number two that TC] and AT&T
will honor the current franchise agreement
and all terms and obligations of that
agreement.

SSS OOO

Number three that they resolve any
current violation or non-compliance with
the franchise agreement in the area of
construction and maintenance and in the
area of potential city liability and in the
area of franchise fee review.

The fourth condition, all of these
were approved preliminarily _last
Wednesday, is to ensure that Intemet
access revenues are part of the gross
revenues. The term gross revenues in the
Cable Act of 1984, which would be
subject to a franchise fee as are the rest of
TCT's revenues for its cable system.

And the fifth which is the
amendment to the only real substantive
amendment today which was suggested by
the Solicitor, is that the change of control
of TCIP, which is TCI of Pennsylvania, to
AT&T receive all other necessary and
appropriate legal approvals and
authorizations including but not limited to
approval of the Federal Communications
Commission. The Department of Justice
has approved this transfer or this change of
ownership. The Federal Communication
Commission has not yet and we want to
make sure that the change of ownership
here in Pittsburgh is subject to that
approval at the national level.

One last thing, and that is the issue
that had a lot of national attention. That is
what is referred to as the open access issue
and that is whether or not TCI will allow
other Intemet providers on its at-home
system through its wires. That is an issue
which I believe is really a national issue
that should be decided by the Federal
Communications Commission. At the
same time it is an important issue to the
consumer because it will result in greater
competition and, I think, eventually lower

106

tates for those who use Intemet access. A
resolution is being drafted by the Law
Department right now that I look forward
to co-sponsoring with Councilman Diven
and Councilman Ferlo who have both
expressed interests in this issue. We will
have it before Council at our next
legislative session. Thank you. Those are
my amendments.

MR. HERTZBERG seconded the
motion.
The Chair:

Any discussion on the

amendments? Ail in favor?

Which motion prevailed. (Mr. Ricciardi
abstained on the amendments.)

The Chair:
Any other discussion?
Mr. Hertzberg:

I want to really thank Mr. Cohen
for his hard work on this issue and I think
for really digging in and carefully looking
at all the interests involved in this merger
because it is a golden opportunity for us in
this region if AT&T comes in with what
they are bringing in. The information super
highway with this approval comes their
promise to make all of these what are now
cable lines also lines that will be available
for computer users which is going to put
us right at the top, right at the forefront of
the information super highway.

Talso want to thank him for putting
these conditions in here particularly the
one about the TCI facility which is located
in Council District Two. It has

SSS OOTOTOOTOSSS

approximately 500 employees now. It
maybe the largest employer in Council
District Two. There are a number of spin
off affects that people don't realize. Not
only do they employ a lot of people there,
but the gas station across the street, they
buy all of their gas there all the trucks, the
drivers as they go out to do their work. A
lot of the people eat at the restaurant
across the street or they eat at the
restaurant in the West End. There are a jot
of positive benefits that Council District
Two and the whole city gets out of having
this large employment center there.

So I thank Councilman Cohen for
keeping that in mind and also AT&T and
their commitment to leaving the
employment center there and also to
promise that we will actually have
employment growth there.

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. I want
to thank Councilman Hertzberg for his
comments. I do believe that the merger
with AT&T will be a_ positive
development for Pittsburgh. We will
certainly negotiate with them long and
hard on Cable Franchise Renewal, which
is coming up. Our current agreement
expires October 31 of this year. We have
already started negotiating and we will
certainly negotiate in strength, but at the
same time I do believe that this will be a
positive development for Pittsburgh.

AT&T has committed at least
between 20 to $25 million over the next
two years to upgrade our infrastructure.
They have committed to improvements in
customer service. They committed to add
at least 100 employees to the Corliss Street
facility and hopefully 400 employees over

the next few years. Those are all positive
developments for Pittsburgh.

At the same time that we're going
to negotiate firmly with them we also want
to recognize for what it is which is a
positive development for Pittsburgh.

Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. President, I once deferred to
the letters TCI as treachery consumer
contempt and ingratitude. Maybe that was
a little bit harsh but that was at the height
of a rate case that we had pending. We
can only improve the situation with this
vote today with the merger or really I
guess you would say the big bear eating up
the smaller bear in this case AT&T
gobbling up TCI.

From a legislative advocacy point
of view or from a consumer advocacy
point of view, I think we will fair better in
the future with AT&T at the other side of
the table. I think we have more ability to
communicate to them. I think they are
more conscious about their consumer
policy. I think they are more conscious
about their interaction with the
community. This is no way a reflection of
the individuals who work either at the top
level at the workforce of TCI, they have all
done a good job, within the context of the
corporate management and the manner in
which TCI operated as a company.

But in the future, I think we will
fair better with the AT&T sponsorship of
this activity. I think we have more ability
to argue our case, argue on behalf of
consumers in terms of choice, in terms of
options. Also, I think the technology that
will unfold over the next five years offers
at least the potential for a better break for

ee
eS eee

consumers with more choices.
voting for this in that spirit.

So I am

The Chair;

I think you all summed up very
well and especially at the hearing. You are
looking at TCI whatever our previous
battles were certainly wasn't about the
employees but the direction of what called
TCI for midsize company compared to a
giant company that really wants to has the
desire, the will, and the money to go into
the next century and certainly has more to
offer than any other company not just TCI.

So, for all the reasons stated here
and at the Public Hearing I think it puts us
in a much, much better situation.
Hopefully not only these employees that
work for them, but the additional
employees that will be coming. The
commitment to stay here in the West End
is certainly beneficial to the city and the
region, but I think and I share with
Mr.Cohen, we're looking for your
leadership and push on behalf of all of us
with the administration to make sure these
deals are finalized and not at the last
minute.

So we have to hold something for
the Public Hearing that we missed and
whatever reason we dragged these
negotiations out. If they are as committed
as we feel they are, it may be a lot better
and could even beat the October deadline.

Mr. Cohen:

We have a_ meeting on
February 10th for our next negotiations
session, Mr. President. I will be happy to
report to Council after that.

108

The Chair:

In fact they could take a lesson
from Nabisco. I am sure they're going to
negotiate a lot better than the previous
people that were just in the building, or the
company not the people that were here.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you, Mr. President. First of
all, I would like to commend our colleague
Mr. Dan Cohen for his hard work on
behalf of all cable ratepayers in the City of
Pittsburgh. His hard work, his tenacity has
really proven some successes. 1 would like
to thank him for that.

Colleagues, I have two
amendments before you on I believe light
blue paper. Let me first say briefly that
several weeks ago this body sponsored an
amendment to a resolution put forward by
Councilwoman McDonald regarding the
TIF review process. At that time that
amendment which was cosponsored by all
members of Council read only domestic
steel is permitted to be used in any
construction projects which receives tax
incremental funding, TIF, from the City of
Pittsburgh.

The amendments I would like to
put forward are a continuation of that
thought. The thought being that we are
witnessing illegal dumping of foreign
subsidized steel in the United States of
America. We have witnessed a number of
job losses in the steel industry. The
Clinton administration, President Clinton
himself is moving very slowly. Even
senators such as Senator Specter has put
forward or supports sanctions against
countries such as Japan, Russia and Brazil.

These amendments I am putting
forward what we are saying is while
Mr. Clinton and others might be dragging
their feet, we're addressing this issue on a
local level. Thus motion to amend
Council Bill 1129, also motion to amend
Council Bill 1128 whereas foreign steel
dumping has become epidemic in the
United States. The — specifications
regarding frames, bumpers and wheel rims
for all vehicles and equipment purchased
by the equipment leasing authority shall
mandate the usage of domestic steel only.

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Bills are now ready for final action,
all in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Udin
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ricciardi abstained on Bill 1124.)
Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed

finally.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

109

Bill No. 1179:

Report of the Committee on Parks,
Recreation and Youth Policy for January
20, 1999, transmitting one resolution to
Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill Number 1131:

Resolution further amending No.
263 of 1997, effective May 22, 1997,
entitled: “Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements with various
community organizations for
operational/administrative expenses
maintenance, purchase of equipment;
and/or minor Tehabilitation of
neighborhood facilities for the benefit of
the residents of the City of Pittsburgh, at a
cost not to exceed $108,000.00, chargeable
to and payable from Code Account 1805
(180505) Miscellaneous Services,
Recreation, in the Department of Parks
and Recreation.” By changing Southwest
CDC for Broadhead, Fairywood, Westgate
Assoc. $2,000.00 to read Oakland
Westwood Athletic Association $2,000.00
and Westside Youth Committee $2,000 to
Windgap-Chartiers Athletic Association
$2,000.00. —-(SPONSORED BY MR.
HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Bills are now ready for final action.

SSS ESCOOOOOTOO

All in favor of the passage of the bills
please vote aye when your names are
called; all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1180:

Report of the Committee on Public Safety
Services for January 20, 1999, transmitting
one resolution to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1141:

Resolution establishing a
committee to recommend revisions to
Section 719, Vendors and Peddlers of the
City Code, and any other provisions of the
Code that pertain to vending and peddling
in the City of Pittsburgh.
(SPONSORED BY MR. UDIN).

110

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Mr. Udin:

Thank you, colleagues. I want to
thank you for your support and urge
colleagues to be active participants on this
committee which will attempt to fashion
legislation that will govern vending and
peddling in the City of Pittsburgh. It is a
very open and inclusive committee and we
will try to incorporate a great number of
contending interests and points of view.
Once the bill is passed, which I anticipate
it will be, hopefully, I intend to call for a
Public Hearing that will formulate the
basis of the information and perspective
that the committee will use to do its work.

But first I would support
colleagues participation, I mean support of
this bill and thank also Councilman Ferlo
for his insight and help in moving this
process forward and trying to determine
how we as a city will handle the issues
telated to vendors and peddlers.

The Chair:

Bills are now ready for final action,
all in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken .
agreeably to law, and were:

eee

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

Mr. Udin:

Motion for a televised Public
Hearing on vending and peddlers.

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.
MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
The Chair:
I have under motions and
tesolutions, the chair presents two

appointments David Epperson from the
URA and then Linda Cobb for the
Magistrates Court.

MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:

No. 1181 A resolution authorizing
the reappointment of David Epperson as a
member of the Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh for a term to
expire December 31, 2003.

Also,

No. 1182 A resolution approving
the reappointment of Linda Cobb as a

11h

member of the Pittsburgh's Magistrate
Court for a term to expire December 31,
2002.

The Chair:

Would you like these individuals to
come in front of Council or do you want to
vote on them today?

MR. UDIN moved to adopt.
Mr. Ferlo:

I respect the majority, but these
individuals have served well the city for a
good number of years. I know and I have
worked with them. I don't know what the
colleagues pleasure is on it, but I am
prepared to vote now for these individuals.

Mr. Hertzberg:

All right, I know Mr. Epperson
doesn't require our approval. Either way, I
am happy to approve him on the URA
Board. He has been excellent to work
with and I think we all know him and also
Ms. Cobb. I don't see any reason we can't
move right now.

MR. FERLO moved to receive and file
motion on Mr. Epperson and moved to
approve and vote on Ms. Cobb.
MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
Mr. Ferlo:

We are going to bring these
individuals here we are going to waste a
half-hour telling what a great person they

are.

The Chair:

I believe the work of the
individuals plus the support of the
Chairman of the URA plus Mr. Udin you
want to say anything about Ms. Cobb?

Mr. Udin:

I want to again support the notion
of immediately approving both individuals
who have ___ served the Urban
Redevelopment Authority and Magistrates
Court with distinction for a considerable
number of years. We're familiar with
them, we appreciate their work and
volunteerism and I am prepared to vote
today.

The Chair:

Roll
appointments.

call vote on the two

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

The Chair:

I certainly want to thank both
individuals for serving and I think it is
appropriate we show unanimous support
for both of their hard efforts.

We have a Public Hearing coming
up this Thursday, January 28", at ten

112

o'clock. It will be televised concerning the
news racks.

Mr. Ferlo:

Motions and resolutions not on
news racks which I am all for if they are in
the right place.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to
discuss the lunar landscape of the City of
Pittsburgh and that is the issue of potholes.
Now, at the height of the snowstorm,
about a month ago, everyone was talking
about the snow and if you remember, I
actually started talking about potholes
earlier.

Now I am not in any way
criticizing the administration, the director
of the staff, everybody is doing a great job,
they are working hard, they are trying their
best. But it has to do with the manner in
which they’re working and whether or not
we are making something a priority.

I don't know if my district is
different than the rest of the city, I don't
think it is. There are some very serious,
severe potholes that really border on
criminality in terms of what happens to
both the vehicle and God forbid the
passengers or somebody innocently
standing by. There are people stopping
abruptly causing rear ending. There are
people who have front ends now in their
back ends. I can show you a pothole for
instance in front of Minutello's, new
(inaudible), Giant Eagle it is all the way
down to the Belgium block and the
railroad tracks that you haven't seen in 35
years.

The old trolley line track, it's about
eight inches deep. It's not visible at night

until you are right up on top of it. I
witness a near accident fortunately there
was no ice on the streets so the person was
able to break. That is just one example
obviously but there are hundreds of
potholes. It is more dramatic than the last
couple years that is not a subjective view
on my part, that's an objective view of
having traveled down many city street.

But what upsets me is we had a
beautiful weekend, it was probably close
to 60 degrees on Saturday, there was not
one Public Works vehicle out at least in
my district filling potholes. I realize we
have a financial predicament. I realize
there are overtime considerations, but
somehow we should be able to meet with
the work force, meet with the union
involved. Maybe we could have traded a
Saturday workday with filling potholes for
give them a personal day throughout the
year if they want to take an extra hunting
day, if some tragedy happens in their
family no questions asked, give them a
day. Sometimes we just work with our
workers and ask them would you consider
it. Sure everyone wants to try to make
some overtime, but maybe if we didn't
have the overtime money, maybe some of
the workers might be willing.

I am not trying to get into
collective bargaining or anything, I am
only saying we have to do something
different than what we have been doing in
the past. If we don't have the resources,
then we should meet with the workforce
and their bargaining representatives and
talk about giving them a couple pass days
for a day that we are trying to mobilize
people. But Public Works needs to
mobilize a pothole brigade to deal
immediately with the severe Public Safety
hazard that many of these potholes present.

The reason why I am speaking
about this now, I don't want to in anyway
convey that I am beating up on the
workforce it is not my intent here today.
We get enough attacks from everybody; it
is not my point. But we are not working
smartly and we are not working
appropriately. The specific concern I have
is that the administration, I think, because
under public pressure they feel that this is
the best way for them to react. I would ask
them to rethink this policy.

The policy right now is if people
have flooded the Mayor's Complaint
Center they are responding to those calls.
Now in a way you would think that is
good, we're responding quickly to
consumer complaints from our
constituents, but it is not logical. It doesn't
make any sense. Half the truck drivers
time and half the crews time is spent trying
to figure out which street to go and how to
fill the pothole and how to get to the next
Mayor's complaint street. Go down the
main roads, hit the main arteries, the main
toads forget about the Mayor's Complaint
Center.

There are thousands of potholes
out there. Jt doesn't make any rhyme or
Teason for me as to why Public Works is
Tesponding specifically to constituent
complaints. We should tell those people
we're doing our best, whatever. We
should record it, it should go into some
planning process, but the trucks should hit
the streets in an organized grid system. I
would say do the main roads where people
are driving more quickly. So if it is
Mossfield Boulevard or Butler Street or
Smallman Street, or Negley or Penn that
should be a high priority.

They should go down there in a
quadrant, they should do it, they should
tamp it spend a little extra time if they
have to. I am also concerned about the
manner in which they are doing it. Go to
the smaller secondary and tertiary streets
almost like snow removal. Usually if it is
a neighborhood residential side street
people will be driving more slowly, take
their time a little bit more and they will put
up with it. Once people start getting on
the main routes, that is where your cars are
going more quickly and that is where a lot
of these accidents are going to happen.

I had a gentleman from Stanton
Heights blew out a tire on, I think it was
either on Smallman Street in the Strip or
maybe Butler Street. I told him to file a
claim with the Law Department. But it
just doesn't make any sense. They are not
thinking over there in terms of how best to
mobilize the workforce to get the job done.
I would disagree respectfully with the
administration's view that they should
jump around all different places and fill
out and respond to constituent complaints.
I mean, that is not logical and it is really
not the best utilization of the staff time.

So, please could somebody restore
some commonsense and order there in
Public Works, get back into a program?
Again, I offered to volunteer, maybe we
can get if it is not violating the workforce
for anything. I will pick another example,
yesterday moming at 8:30 two Public
Works workers have a big dump truck
double parked on East Liberty Boulevard
and what are they doing, they are picking
up litter on East Liberty Boulevard
corridor with the stick, which is great. I
am pleased to see them out doing that, they
are great workers, they are doing a great
job. But with all the Public Safety hazard

114

that potholes represent right now, and it
really is a lunar landscape, why would you
have two of your workers with a big truck
Picking up litter along East Liberty
Boulevard. I mean maybe I am missing
something here but it is like mind boggling
to me in terms of maybe they don't think
its a problem, maybe nobody drives
around in the city, other officials and they
don't hit potholes, but I mean it is a safety
concer.

I feel sorry for some of these
school buses that are stopping abruptly. I
mean God forbid some of the -- we don't
even know all the accidents that happen
because we don't have a way of recording
them. But I would ask that, please that
Public Works regroup, ask us for some
input, ask the community groups for input,
even volunteers. I would volunteer to
work a patching brigade over the weekend
or in the evening. But don't respond to
Mayor's complaint calls because you are
jumping around, half of your time is spent
down time. Go down the main routes, hit
the main routes and fill the dam potholes
then go secondary, tertiary streets.

Please, can someone restore some
commonsense?

The Chair:

The main routes may not be on the
report.

Mr. Ferlo:

Again, this is not a reflection on
the workforce, but they are being told what
to do. We need some better generals, let's
put it that way.

The Chair:

_———————————
=O lee eee

I think we have a few more
comments.

Mr. Ferlo:

Let me finish my one point,
because this is what bugs me. Council
was very supportive but if you go out and
analyze those darn potholes, I am going to
tell you why my bill earlier this year that
we passed was so important, but it is still
going to be ignored by Public Works I will
bet. I will bet 100 bucks right here, 80%
of all potholes can be directly
contributable to where we had pre-dug the
street by contractors or utility company.
That is your first sign of major potholes in
the City of Pittsburgh. Not one street that
has been nicely paved and resurfaced, it is
where you have breaks in the street that
were never put down right, never tamped,
never put clean fill, weren't sealed
properly. That is where if you go down
and do a survey of the potholes in my
district 80% of them are in that category.
That is why my bill holding these
contractors accountable and for better
inspection is important, but I might as well
be speaking in the wind and whistling
Dixie or whatever.

Ms. McDonald:

T have quick comments and then I
expect to hear from the Chair of Public
Works. I always host a monthly show on
PC-TV Channel 21, cable channel, called
District 9 On Line which reports, things
that are going on in the Council District
and in the community.

Ralph Kraszewski had called into
the show to talk about just that very
subject. It is a very timely matter because
we brought up potholes as well. My

understanding from what his comments
were and his call in is that when a pothole
line is called or the Mayor's Service Center
is called that they prioritize the pothole
location. Now I know, Jimmy, they
prioritize. This is what he said, don't shoot
the messenger. That there is about a two,
three-day turn around time.

I think it is very fitting that since
we are going to be discussing with Mr.
Kraszewski as well as others the 50 person
employment projection like where does it
stand with these 50 extra workers, that we
can bring this up and get some definite on
how they are handling the potholes? I do
know on some of the main drags and going
through my district that yeah they have
thrown what do you call, cool patch they
just throw it down and smack it down in
there and it works. So I look forward to
that discussion myself tomorrow.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you, Mr. President. I
indulge the Chairman of the Finance
Committee if we can also ask the Director
what the actual plan is because I don't
know the whole plan for pothole patching.
Other than we are working on it and trying
to do it, but I think anyone will tell you
that's involved in roads and road
Maintenance the main cause of the
potholes and the reason why this part of
the country has so many of them are the
temperatures fluctuation.

This year has been as bad as any
year I can ever remember where we started
out with zero and below zero temperatures
for the first week of the year, then we are
back into 60's, we are back down to the
same thing. It is the ups and downs that
are a large part of what causes potholes

_
SSS OOE_TSS

and that explains why this year is going to
be one of the worst years or already is one
of the worst years.

We definitely have a bad problem
and I think we need to hear from the
director, I appreciate the Chairman of
Finance letting him do that at the
beginning of the meeting tomorrow after
we discuss the 50-vacancy problem.

Mr. Udin:

We will notify the director but I
believe the pothole plan is the same as the
snow removal plan.

The Chair:

What are we going to have a
meeting in July and talk about it for next
year?

Mr. Ricciardi:

I would just like to echo some of
the sentiments of my colleagues. If you
start off with Mr. Ferlo to paraphrase he is
saying somehow, somehow we need to
take care of this pothole issue that we have
here in the City of Pittsburgh. And he laid
down some facts, the facts are that we
have a very fine work source, workforce.
The problem is that we don't have enough
resources in terms of funding to take care
of snow and ice removal in the City of
Pittsburgh. Also, fixing the potholes.

Tomorrow for the second week in a
row, and I am looking forward to
everyone's support, I have three pieces of
legislation on the table. One is creating a
trust fund, one is moving $300,000 from
the general fund to the trust fund and the
third is creating the Storm Team part-time

116

drivers and laborers here in the City of
Pittsburgh to address several issues.

If you read the legislation carefully,
the issues that they're going to address is
snow and ice removal, distribution and
filling of salt boxes and fixing of potholes.
So if we are that adamant, and that sincere
and that committed to addressing the
pothole problem here in the City of
Pittsburgh, we see the present system is
not working because it doesn't have the
resources. Tomorrow I hopefully will
productively put forward pieces of
legislation that everyone should support.

You can't tell our constituents that
we are trying our best and we are going to
take care of those potholes and you can't
tun around and say Public Works is doing
a great job, which they are so what are we
missing, additional resources, Let's vote
for $300,000 tomorrow from the general
fund. We have already talked to unions
such as 1058 and they're willing to have
special project laborers like we do in the
summer to cut logs and pickup litter. So I
have put something forward I am looking
forward to support from this body
tomorrow.

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. I will
be brief. I want to echo what my
colleagues have said. There are primary
streets in my district that look like swiss
cheese right now. There is a serious
problem. The people of Pittsburgh, I
think, have been very patient actually over
the last several days. My office has not
gotten a lot of calls on this, I shouldn't say
this because we probably will now, at the
same time as I travel through the streets of
my district, there are streets with serious,

er
8S EEE

serious potholes. So we need to move

quickly.

I asked for Ralph Kraszewski to be
here tomorrow primarily on the issue of
how quickly we are filling those 52
vacancies, but certainly the issue of
potholes should come up tomorrow and
we should hear how Director Kraszewski
is planning to attack that problem.

I certainly support Councilman
Ricciardi's legislation to add new
resources to it.

Mr. Ferlo:

I want to respect my colleague Mr.
Hertzberg. For 30 years I have been
hearing this story about why we have
potholes and Western Pennsylvania roads
being so bad and the freeze thaw, I think it
is about as accurate as the big bank theory.
I don't buy it any more. I think there are
other reasons substantially why we have
problemsom roads.

I failed to make my explicit point
because everyone is going off on a
different point. I am not talking about
additional resources, I am talking about
how we are deploying and prioritizing the
existing workforce duties. What I am
asking is that even though I love litter pick
up, even though I love receptacles, most of
which are empty right now at this time of
year, being picked up in the middle of the
night, why can't we re-deploy some of our
tasks in Public Works to make an
immediate hit in the better weather for
potholes? I am asking for rethinking and
remobilization of what the daily tasks are
of the people that we have in our employ.
I am asking them don't be business as
usual,

117

Can we not pick up receptacles for
two days? Can we not have to be out
picking up litter in the park for two days?
1 am not saying it is not important to do, I
am only saying that a major public safety
hazard of an eight-inch pothole is a threat
to life and limb. 1 am asking for the
administration to rethink what they're
doing. I am not asking them to reinvent
the wheel or try to go figure something out
that they don't know how to do. I am only
saying it's a priority that is not recognized
by the administration.

I would ask that they re-deploy and
rethink their work plan for a given week.
If we get five days on the payroll of bad
weather, you can't do potholes and you get
a 70 degree Saturday, talk to the Union see
if we can work something out or pay the
overtime if you have to. I mean that is
what I am asking. I don't think that
message got across appropriately.

The Chair:
The city is like a --
Mr. Ferlo:

You know I wish some of these
graffiti knuckleheads they want to do
something socially productive, I would ask
them to go out and graffiti the darn holes
in the street at least. They would if they
could use some bright paint it will at least
give drivers a forewarning.

The Chair:

Iam glad I don't bet because if the
city was a football team I would never bet
on them because they would fumble the
first two carries.

SES=—llleee

I would like the media, I see one or
two of them papers still here, when we
start complaining about the snow removal,
it wasn't against workers, Somehow I felt
bad, I was downtown I was taking my kids
to the arena for my grandchildren and a
truck driver came up and it was snowing
and icy and no one should have been out.
He said why are you guys picking on us?
Were not picking on the drivers.

I do want to start with one positive
here, Lincoln Place the garbage pick up is
Friday so two weeks in a row because of
the ice and storm -- last Friday to
Mr. Kraszewski's credit and I pushed and
they put an extra crew on. They worked
Friday night picking up the garbage,
cleaning the street. They worked Saturday
and they worked Sunday because they
were behind giving them the benefit of the
doubt.

One of the -- I am going to say this
twice, and I won't mention his name, third
time I am really going to put it in writing
his name. One of my friends who delivers
garbage I know said the boss came over to
him and said well you can thank your
Councilman for getting us out here on a
Friday night doing this work. It's the guy
we just happened to give a big raise to, the
boss, So this is time for the Mayor to
really --

Mr. Ferlo:

We only give what we can take.
The Chair:

-- reconsider who is mmnning the

Store. Put it into perspective, here are guys
out on a Friday night, rain, snow and sleet

118

picking up garbage in the dark to do their
job and a boss saying blame it on
O'Connor and your other Council guys for
putting pressure on.

J was in church Sunday, one of our
laborers I said because I saw him doing --
it was on TV doing some of the work, and
I said I saw you on TV the other day filling
potholes. I said how many guys you got
out this weekend? None. No one is out
this weekend. So there is no one home,
turn on the lights, there is no one leading
this team here.

I want the papers to make sure they
realize it is not the workers, it is the
management. Mr. Ferlo, you may have
given the answer, hey you want to work
this weekend, next Sunday is Super Bowl
weekend, we will give you off. How
about an extra day off in July? Throwing
money at the situation is not the problem?
The leadership is the problem. Now if it
hits the news they will probably put 20
more extra or double the force tomorrow
night in case it snows tomorrow night. So
there is no one taking advantage of it. I
see the schedule from falling, running up
one street and the other just like you said,
Mr. Ferlo, go down the main street. There
is no traffic in the city on Sunday,
especially in our neighborhoods, business
districts, go down the main streets and fix
those on the weekdays fix the other streets.

I am afraid there is no one home at
the top. So I hate to keep bugging and I
will talk about materials. I have been told
by a pretty substantial businessperson that
you ought to investigate what kind of
Materials are going into these streets?
How come they don't have this problem in
other cities? Not just talking about ours,
you know we sub out half of our asphalt

ee
SS——eeeeeeeeee

work. Is anyone checking what is going in
there? For ten cents more can we get a
better quality material?

Again, ] am not an expert by no
means, but these are the types of things we
should be looking at. So, here we are, it is
Monday, we are making some noise. If
they start tomorrow, they are four days
behind anyhow. So, with that attitude, I
hope the leadership changes directions. If
they need money, I am afraid if you throw
money at them they will bring them out
when it is snowing. If the leadership
doesn't have the commonsense to go out
Saturday and Sunday when no one is out,
the weather is nice even if they go out
today then they have all the traffic the
Monday morning rush hours.

So I really want Mr. Kraszewski to
look at his leadership team and make some
decisions and start using commonsense. If
they can't do it, they ought to start talking
to some of the workers because they can
give you a lot of suggestions. One of my
most successful things in the restaurant
business was I listened to my employees
and we got a lot more ideas out of them
than we got in magazines,

Mr. Diven:

I would also like to just chime in
here briefly on this. Last evening I
stopped at Fiori's Pizza. I probably ate
more meals in Fiori’s Pizza than my mom's
kitchen and Fiori went on about the
terrible condition of the street right next to
the restaurant. I understand that. I think
Mr. Ferlo makes a great point about giving
Comp. time out to employees to bring
them out on weekends and give them the
opportunity to eam an extra vacation day
somewhere along the year.

Additionally, I agree with the
concept that the workforce is working hard
and working very strong to correct the
problem. But the problem lies with the
management; they're not working smart.
And I think that we have heard a number
of excuses, it was the access the gasoline
wasn't there, but when you have the
General Services Director in he says that
wasn't a problem. They talk about trucks
being out of trucks, but then when you talk
to General Services they said at no time
was more than 10 percent of their fleet out.
In fact, they also had vehicles that had
plows and were available that were not
utilized. So that's a big thing with the
management of that department. If we're
not utilizing the materials and the
resources that we already have in that
department then there is a problem.

I know that you come in and
present a slick ice and snow removal plan
and like Councilman Ricciardi is fond of
saying when we went up to Carrick a
gentleman told us what we can do with
that snow removal plan and that's the same
thing. I think if we're going to go look at
this, we need to do it efficiently and we
need to be doing it smarter. Any time it
snows as soon as the weather warms up it
and it thaws you can expect we're going to
get some degree of potholes in the City of
Pittsburgh. Having 2 plan in place to go
through and do them efficiently and make
sure the primary roads are the first
serviced and then work out towards the
secondary and tertiary roads, that should
be commonsense that should be evident to
anybody in that department. I think the
fact that we're not operating like that
speaks volumes of what's going on.

Additionally, one point that I

=—oooSaeeeeeeeeee eee

wanted to bring up separate than that.
When we talk about the Comp. time for
workers going out on a Saturday and
Sunday, I think another issue needs to be
raised. I think we should acknowledge the
work of people in central positions for the
City of Pittsburgh. I know that when the
Mayor dismisses non-essential employees,
you still have people in Public Works and
Public Safety that have to brave the
weather no matter what the conditions are.
I think it becomes a moral issue for those
people that say well everyone else in the
city gets off and we are out here slopping
around in this mess to try to make sure that
the city doesn't fall apart. Even looking at
expanding the idea of using Comp. time to
essential employees when the Mayor
makes a decree that non-essential
employees can take the day off, we should
look at providing the same kind of thing
with the essential employees that are out in
that mess. At least so that they know
when they're out there on a day when
everyone else is at home watching TV or
drinking coffee with their slippers on that
some where in the future they are going to
receive the benefit of putting in a hard
days work.

I think moral plays a big part in
their ability to work more efficiently and
get more accomplished in the time that
they have on their shift.

So I believe that that is something
also we need to be Jooking into to try to
reward the guys that are out there for 12
hour shifts, the people that are making
sacrifices and being away from their
family and working hard. It is not their
fault that for whatever reason the
management can’t get it right and they
have to do the same things two and three
times over before the job is done right. I

120

think that is something that we need to
look at the policy and set the pace for the
department heads. So with that I will wrap
up my comments.

The Chair:

Does Public Works have a
suggestion box that maybe you can ask
employees if 1 work this weekend can I
have a July weekend off? There are so
many things we can be doing and showing.
Iam tired of them telling me it is not in the
contract. I heard that from the cops. I
can't pick that guy up because it is against
his rights or we are not allowed to do this
and that. If there is a will there is a way.
If they're going to trim our workforce and
brag about it, they better make adjustments
and so far these adjustments haven't
happened.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Mr. President, I have never seen a
suggestion box in any of the Public Works
facilities. But there is no doubt that to
manage any department effectively
whether it be Public Works, whether it be
the police, whether it be General Services,
you have to talk to the people that are
doing the work. You have to talk to
people at all levels. You have to get their
input to determine what the best ways to
do things are. What equipment is needed?
What supplies are needed? You have to
talk to everyone.

The Chair:

Maybe next time we bring them in,
bring employees in with hoods on so they
can tell us the truth.

Mr. Ferlo:

ee
a 8 838 SESS

Point of order, I am a little
confused by the Bill we approved 1129, 1
thought we agreed in committee to
Mr. Diven's amendment, did I miss
something today? The bill as amended
eliminated the purchase of certain police
vehicles.

Mr. Diven:
There was no amendment of it.
Mr. Ferlo:

We amended the bill in Standing
Committees Meeting.

The Chair:

I thought we amended the bill at
the table last week? You are correct.
They are going to delete the ten compact
cars. You requested it and we voted on it.

Mr. Ferlo:

But it is not, I am saying we
approved an amendment, which I don't see
in this document that we just approved.
Maybe the Clerk has it on the bill unless I
am missing something, Bill 1129, I believe
it was clearly a positive vote at the
Standing Committee Meeting to eliminate
some vehicles.

The Chair;

They were supposed to be
removed, so they basically shouldn't have
been in there.

Mr. Ferlo:

I didn't see the language in the bill

121

we just -- can the bill be corrected by the
Clerk's office pursuant to Mr. Diven's
motion last week?

The Chair:
Do we need to vote on that?
Mr. Ferlo:

No, I am just asking the Clerk to
clarify the --

Mr. Udin:

Thank you. I just want to request
that the last person leaving the dark smoky
past of Pittsburgh bring the FOP along
with them. The FOP is sponsoring what I
consider to be an unfortunate rally for
Thursday, the day that we in the city will
be dealing with the reopening of the --
dealing with the public inquest around the
shooting by Officer Cooperstein, the Blue
Knight. We are spending all of this time
trying to build a new city, trying to create a
new economy, we are working on Plan B,
we are trying to build stadiums, trying to
keep young people in the city. We are
trying to move forward into the future, and
it seems like the FOP leadership is trying
to keep us ball and chained to the
plantation to the past. I don't see how the
leadership of the FOP is calling such a
rally as they have called for in support of
Cooperstein is helping us to move
forward.

We are just last week I am on the
board of the Housing Authority and we
just settled a case where a Housing
Authority Officer, John Charmo was
involved in a chase that resulted in a death
of Jerry Jackson and that case will be
reopened as well. I am sure that the

S—S——SSS

officers involved in that case, even though
it's extremely clear to everyone who paid
any attention to the open inquest, knows
that the story that was fabricated around
the spinning automobile inside the
smallest, darkest tunnel in the City of
Pittsburgh, is a story that could not have
been true. And not, most of the attack is
being directed at Chris Conrad, the
Assistant District Attorney at the time and
Officer Charmo. But if you look closely at
the details of this case, there is a larger
conspiracy to support this lie that Officer
Charmo fabricated than just Charmo and
Chris Conrad.

There are other City of Pittsburgh
Police Officers that were involved in the
tunnel at the time and who claimed under
oath at the inquest that they also saw the
car spinning as well as another Housing
Authority Police Officer. Charmo went
flying through the Southside, Councilman
Ricciardi, at speeds that they report up to
60 to 70 miles an hour from 27th Street
down East Carson Street to Tenth Street.
15, 20 police cars flying down the street
when the bars and restaurants were letting
out at about between one and two in the
morning. Then they go flying across the
Tenth Street Bridge and Charmo is
ramming his car into the back and into the
side of this other car trying, the Jackson
car trying to stop it.

The whole police chase that went
through many neighborhoods throughout
the City of Pittsburgh was a chase that
resulted from a traffic stop. That is really
what the chase was all about. Even though
they tried to fabricate the story that it was
a stolen car and that the car spun around
180 degrees and was coming back out of
the tunnel at the direction of the officers
and that's what justified them opening up

122

their gunfire. That story could not have
been true and they didn't know that it was
a stolen car until after the incident had
stopped.

Then there is the case of the
videotape. Commander Freeman arrived
at the scene with his investigative unit,
they videotaped the scene, Commander
Freeman told everyone at the scene he did
not believe the spinning car theory. He
told the Assistant District Attomey that he
didn't believe the car spun around. He
didn't tell the FBI that he didn’t believe the
car spun around. Yet, we still have this
story being supported by Chris Conrad
throughout the inquest where he was
coaching the witnesses and helping the
witnesses to stick to their story and
refusing to point out contradictions in their
story.

So we have a large conspiracy here
to cover up this situation that happened in
the tunnel. I hope that the justice
department will be watching it closely.
The FBI was informed of the fact that the
investigating homicide chief did not
believe that the car had spun around
justifying opening of fire. This officer had
Talon, Black Talon ammunition. Black
Talon ammunition is like ammunition that
is like a bullet with ten fishhooks on it.
The fragments open up when it enters your
body and form a kind of 2 hood so that the
bullet will do more damage to your body
tissue being removed from your body than
when it went in. What in the world are we
doing with Black Talon ammunition like
that on the Housing Authority Police
Department? | don't understand it.

If what we're trying to do is to pull

this city together, make it a city that
everyone wants to live rather than staying

in the past. I hope that the FOP rather than
deciding to support the Blue Knight and
officers who obviously weighed in ambush
and who murder African American men, J
would hope that they would be calling for
justice, just like the rest of the community
is calling for justice and not closing the
ranks behind this thin blue line to keep us
in the past.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes thank you. Thank you, Mr.
Udin. Colleagues, throughout the years I
have been very supportive of our police
officers here in the City of Pittsburgh and
that included the FOP. I have been very
supportive of those officers and the FOP
through our votes on budgetary matters
and I have taken up some issues in
opposition of some issues that were also
opposed by police officers and the FOP
such as the Consent Decree and the
Civilian Review Board.

However, I am very disappointed
with the FOP and certain officers. I am
also very taken back by them regarding
this rally that I believe is going to occur
Thursday morning. I read some initial
reports over the Internet and it has been
stated that there is no relation between the
rally and the inquest of the Grimmet
family that is going to occur. But if you
look at some of the facts, the rally is to
occur Thursday, the same day I believe the
Coroner's inquest is to occur. It's on the
Court House steps not the City County
Building, the Court House steps where I
believe also the inquest is going to happen.

I believe it is very sad to be
perfectly honest with everyone. It is very
sad because the Grimmit family has lost a
loved one. I think it is a poor reflection on

the FOP and certain officers. I think it is a
poor reflection also on the City of
Pittsburgh and it just hurts me personally
because I have been a very fine supporter
of the police officers and the FOP.

I think we have a fine police force
and IJ do think they do a very fine job. But
I think that the rally is really uncalled for.
It comes at a very bad time. There is an
inquest and I think the FOP has every right
to support their police officers through
legal means to get to the truth. But to have
that type of rally Thursday on the
Courthouse steps with the flyer saying
certain terminology that it appears to be
directed towards the inquest on Thursday,
I think it is very unfortunate.

Let me say also over the weekend
and I thought about this this moming, I
rented a film. I actually paid money to
rent a film that had a very insulting remark
against Italians. I found that remark in the
film that I rented to be very offensive and
very hurtful and that was just a remark in a
film sitting at home in my own living
room. I can't imagine, I know I cannot
imagine the hurt and the feelings right now
that the African American community is
experiencing because of this proposed
rally.

I will say that I made several calls
this morning, I was unable to reach the
President of the FOP. But I did reach a
few police officers and I was pleased to
hear that it was a very small group that
attended the FOP hearing. I think we have
to make that a part of the record, it was a
very small group and that there were
officers there, officers of the F.O.P. that
were opposed to this and told them they
didn't think it was a good idea. So I think
that's important to be part of the record.

eE6VUeN5equia—ae—n——QVTS9— eee

Unfortunately, sometimes at a
meeting even a small group can dictate a
conclusion or dictate policy and that's what
occurred here. These remarks I am just
making now are just from an average
resident, citizen, taxpayer of the City of
Pittsburgh, resident of the Southside, but
District Three has given me the ability or
given me the right and privilege to go
beyond that and talk about policy.

Ihave also asked the City Solicitor,
I don't believe that officers have the right
to wear the uniform or the badge at that
particular rally Thursday at a.m. I have
requested our Solicitor to research that
keeping in mind obviously that people
have the right of free speech, but I have
asked her to research that. Just like any
other big company, a construction firm,
AT&T it is not like they have a position
but J think that AT&T, for example would
be very disturbed if there was a type of
rally and people were wearing the whole
garb of AT&T.

So, once again I am pleased that
there was a very small group of people at
the FOP meeting, I am pleased to hear that
some people stood up and an officer as a
matter of fact of the FOP and opposed it. I
am very proud of those individuals,
however even a small group of people can
dictate policy. I think it is very hurtful and
it really even hurt me because I have
always been a supporter of theirs but it is
just not the right time, right place. These
are remarks that I want to make public and
be part of the public record.

Ms. McDonald:

I just want to say I am glad that
Councilman Udin brought the subject

matter up. I don't have a lot of comments
to make accept that I think that the small
group of officers who wanted this rally
does not represent the police force. Their
own officers are given each other a black
eye and if this isn’t a black eye I don't
know what is. This is a black eye. It is so
short sighted. There is a young man who
is dead for no other reason than fleeing a
police officer. One officer, a sergeant new
that it was baloney and to call off the
chase, But there is a young man who is
dead. He is being funeralized, justice is
being sought starting on Thursday and a
handful of officers are so callous and so
cold as to try to hold a rally or their own
little party on somebody's funeral. What
kind of people are these that are going to
attend?

I am curious who is going to
attend. But one thing I would like to say is
for the listening audience, please rise
above that. That's muck, rise above the
muck. Go in there if you are going to
come down, you go in there and you walk
in for justice. You don't engage in banter
or anything else. It’s not worth it, We
have had other rallies that people have
urged others to ignore. And I am urging,
not only police officers but the public,
ignore it. There is a young man who is
dead and all that is happening on Thursday
is they are trying to find the truth, justice.
That's what is going on. Allow that to
happen with some kind of dignity and
don't dance on the grave of someone who
has died at an individual’s hands for no
reason. No real reason at all.

I think it is horrible that this rally is
being held, but understand me and in my
eyes how I judge this, this is a party at
somebody's funeral. I would never do that.
I would never, ever think to do something

like that. This is callousness and
insensitivity at it's best. But it does not
reflect on our police force, this is a handful
because I do commend as Councilman
Ricciardi said if there had been a count an
actual count, there would not have been a
vote for that rally, it was a voice vote.
You know those that I guess think a little
bit differently from the norm of society
often end up being the loudest not that
they are right though.

Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. President members of Council,
I don't necessarily disagree with the fact
that the leadership of the FOP. The FOP
has an organization either formally by vote
or even individually their membership I
don't dispute the fact that they have a right
to congregate and have a rally and speak
whatever they want to speak as much as
any other group that I have ever been a
part of. So in that sense I don’t have a
problem with it.

I have a real problem and | heard
Mr. Heinz this morning on KDKA, where
once again he attacked my colleague, Mr.
Udin, as expected. But the cryptic nature
in which this rally is being sponsored and
promoted without even a clear theme to
me really, this rally is a very cold hearted
and calculated effort on the part of the
leadership of the FOP, Mr. Heinz in
particular. It is intended to in effect have a
chilling effect on processes that are under
way to determine in a very formal setting
what the factual information is regarding
two instances.

Specifically, Thursday being an
incident involving an FOP officer. So I
don't think it is this nebulous thing oh we
are going to just show up men and women

in blue and we want to show support for
our brother officers and the kind of
{inaudible) rally they had, that is not what
this is about. This to me is a direct threat
by uniform officers with a gun and a badge
and I think it is aimed at the elected
Coroner Mr. Wecht and I think it is aimed
at the District Attomey who is up for
consideration, Mr. Zappala. It has even
made more mystical and even made for
television ready with the Chris Conrad
involvement as Councilman Udin spoke
about. But to me, this isn't a general rally
because that is not even what I think is
being promoted in the leaflet promotion. I
think this is an attempt to have a chilling
impact on the two elected officials and
those who are involved in trying to get to
the truth about what the facts are,

So far I have refrained from
commenting. I have concerns obviously
because the information that has come out
to date both about the Armstrong Tunnel
incident as well as the second incident are
significant to give someone a clear
impression that something stinks and
something is wrong and someone should
be held accountable. But I am not in that
inquest room and I don't have all the facts.
I would hope to get them at some point.
But I think we should call this rally for
what it is. It is an attempt as far as I am
concemed to tel} District Attorney Zappala
back off, back up and tell Dr. Wecht back
off, back up or Mr. Manifesto (phonetic)
or Mr. Dowelherdy (phonetic) as criminal
defense lawyers presiding over the inquest.
That is wrong, it is everything that Mr.
Heinz accuses everyone else of and I think
it should be spoken out clearly and loudly
and resoundingly refuted as an attempt for
what it is.

T hope I am not encouraging in any

rr
eS 8 ___SSS

way that we get into a fight about whether
or not they have uniforms on or not. I
would rather have them see their uniform.
At least I know who they are and have a
better chance of seeing their faces like
what we used to say about the clan years
ago. Some wear a sheet and a lot of
people just wear suits. But the point of the
matter though is this is a really cold
hearted calculated attempt Thursday
moming to send a clear message of
intimidation to elected officials who are
obligated to do their job and indirectly I
think it is also aimed at Chief McNeilly
and the FBI. To me, I think that is wrong.

I am not going to show up at the
rally because I think it would just be
provocative. I hope other residents don't
show up to counter rally. J think that
would be counter productive. If we do
have people, I think we should welcome
them into chambers or welcome them into
the lobby of the City County Building,
maybe have a candle light prayer vigil for
our city and for the families and the losses
that have been involved in these two
incidences. But I am very upset about
what the FOP is doing right now.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. I think the timing of
this rally is what makes it such a terrible
idea. 1 agree with Councilman Udin and
Councilwoman McDonald completely that
it's just the equivalent of a party at
someone's funeral. I think there was a
substantive message though that by the
delivery and the timing here has totally
been lost. I think the police and just
judging by everyone’s comments, no one
got any other message other than the bad
things that are coming out of it and the bad
feelings that are coming out of it. But I

126

think the police are trying to send a
message out that there is so much focus
now by the news media on chases and I
think there is a fear that and what looks
like a couple of bad police that were
totally wrong. That's what all the facts that
we can get are telling us.

But | think the average person may
to some degree be now concerned about all
police and that's what I think the police are
trying to say. Hey, we have to let everyone
know here it's not a good idea when a
police officer comes to you or pulls you
over to take off. That was just the
message they're trying that I thought they
were trying to put out, not that a police
officer is ever justified in the facts as they
have been made known to me to shoot at
any of these people, they’re not. But if we
are to maintain law and order in our
society, that authority to some degree
when it is acting properly has to be
respected or we're going to have complete
chaos.

I think our police are just trying to
bring that across. But they did it in such a
poorly timed way and that the message is
completely lost. I think it was a public
relations disaster. I know that the two
families of the deceased men I am sure
they feel terrible about it and they should.
I can’t help but be as outraged as anyone
else on this Council about the idea of
having a rally on Thursday morning.

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President.
Councilman Hertzberg maybe right that
that is the message that these officers are
trying to send. If so, it has the absolute
opposite effect. No rational person that I
know has projected the actions of Officer

Cooperstein to all Pittsburgh Police
Officers or all police officers. I have never
heard that on the streets of Pittsburgh and I
have had a lot of conversations about this
incident.

But by having a group of officers
whether FOP sponsored or a subcommittee
of the FOP or whatever to put on this rally
does exactly that. So it has the exact
opposite message of what they intended to
do. I read about this rally in the newspaper
and I was sickened by it. I couldn't believe
what I was reading. If it goes on, it is
misguided and offensive and at a time
when the city should be coming together to
seek justice in this case without prejudging
the facts. It divides the city and I am not
prejudging the facts, but no matter how the
facts come out what possible reason could
there be for a rally?

It is a sad day when a young man is
killed. Now if someone of any position of
authority were saying we should deprive
Officer Cooperstein of his due process of
law, well then people should speak out
because everyone has the right to due
process. But no one has said that. Officer
Cooperstein will get due process of law.
Unfortunately, the young man Grimmit
will not get his due process of law because
he is dead.

So to hold some kind of a positive
Tally at such a sad affair, I think is
misguided and offensive.

Mr. Udin:

One short word, Mr. President. I
would request that perhaps you as
President of Council could intervene either
on the leadership of the FOP or the Chief
of Police or the Mayor to get the officers

127

to call off the rally. It's more than just bad
taste, its provocative.

How are the people who are
appearing at the exact time -- they have
scheduled it for the exact same time that
people will be entering the Court House
for the inquest. How is it possible that
there is not going to be a confrontation
between the people coming into the Court
House and these officers that are having a
tally there? That is provocative and a set
up. It's dangerous and it ought to be called
off.

I hope that you will prevail upon
the Chief and Mayor to try to get the
leadership of the FOP to either have it later
on in the day or earlier in the moming or
another day, but to call that rally off.

Mr. Cohen:

Can I add to that very quickly?
How are we supposed to provide security
for that situation? Bring up police officers
who are suppose to defend the witnesses
and other people as part of the judicial
process against their fellow officers? It's

impossible. I capsully agree with
Councilman Udin.
Mr. Diven:

1 like the rest of my colleagues are
disturbed about what has transpired and
the point we have come to. I think any
time we deal with the loss a young life is
more than tragic and my heart goes out to
the family. I also have voiced my
concems regarding the investigation in the
Amnstrong tunnel and I have concerns
about this investigation that is coming up.

But the point that I would like to

Sooo eee ee

leave I just heard about this rally this
moming when Councilman Ricciardi
asked me if I knew about it and my
response was no I didn't know about it and
he gave me a brief synopsis of what was to
take place.

But I can tell you that in my tenure
on Council as the Public Safety Chair, one
of the things that I have tried to do is
champion bringing people from the law
enforcement community and people from
the community together to try get along
and to understand where each other was
coming from. I think last year we had a
great, great effort with the police and
communities together at the picnic at Point
State Park and the work of police officers
who were tired of being scrutinized and
tired of wearing the stain of the past.
What is it three years when we had the
debate about the Consent Decree and the
debate about the Civilian Review Board
and the election campaign where a lot of
negativity was directed at the police force
in the City of Pittsburgh. The response
that I have gotten from a lot of these
officers has been, look I do my job and I
am a professional. I am not out to violate
anyone’s civil rights. I am not out to be
discriminatory against anyone. For
whatever reason a few people that were
allowed on the police force and allowed to
be in position of power who abused their
power now mark them with the same stain.

I think one of the things that
concems me and I can understand maybe it
was bad timing, maybe it was not thought
out, but I can understand the frustration of
the individual police officers. We hear a
lot of talk about civil rights and due
process, but do we go as far as to deny that
of our own police officers? I think a lot of
times the individual police officers feel

128

that way. That their rights shouldn't mean
anything but the rights of other people are
something that they have to go above and
beyond to protect. I think most police
officers do go out of their way to go above
and beyond to protect other people’s
rights. But at the same time there has been
a great media speculation and a frenzy
which serves to leave them with a feeling
that they don't have any civil rights and
they're not entitled to the same due process
that everyone should be entitled to under
the constitution.

I think that that is a very bad

* atmosphere for so many to have to work in

law enforcement. The only time a police
officer is called is when a situation is so
out of hand that average rational people
can't intercede and make it a bearable,
livable situation. When you are called out
and you have a feeling like no matter what
you do you are going to be second guessed
and judged and criticized openly in the
media, it is a lot of pressure to put an
individual under.

I think some of the concerns that I
have had listening to this debate unfold
and listening to people talk about this is
we have gone back and have heard all of
these things about Officer Cooperstein,
which I might have met him once or twice
and said hello. But I don't have any
personal friendship or any relationship
with this man. I think that to have the
whole story portrayed about all the
negativity and all the things that he may or
may not have done in his past be presented
day in and day out in the media and have
all the allegations and all of these
conspiracy theories thrown out in the
media and it be accepted as fact is
bothersome. Because this man is entitled
to the ability to go into a inquest and have

a belief in our judicial system that if he
was right he should be found not guilty
and absolved of any of this negativity that
was cast upon his name. But if he was
wrong he needs to be held accountable and
he needs to be punished for whatever
violation that he is involved with.

I think that is the case with every
police officer that is accused or put on the
hot seat in the media. J think that you
know we go out of our way to expose them
and make them feel like they are criminals
when what their oath of office is to uphold
and protect people and uphold the law. I
think that is the frustration that the FOP
and the individual officers who have
planned this rally. I will bet and I believe
that you know it was not an appropriate
time or place to hold such a rally. But 1
think the frustration that has motivated
those officers to come forward is the idea
that they are entitled to the same rights as
everyone else.

When we constantly hear
slanderous remarks or bits and pieces of
what happened then the general public
walks around believing that if they read it
in the paper it must be true. That is not
always the case. I think everybody that is
familiar with our legal system knows that
at first you might have a lot of evidence
that would appear to place somebody in a
position of guilt. But when you hear the
whole story and you understand all the
interactions of all the different facts that
there might be some justifiability to
someone's actions.

When we have a media and we
have people in positions who have a pulpit
to that media going out and making
blanket responses about police officers
who they put their life on the line

129

everyday. I don't have to wear a
bulletproof vest to perform my basic job
functions, which most people don't have to
do. To stain them the stains of a few
makes their job tougher to do, makes their
job harder to deal with and puts more
emotional and trust on their life and their
family. To have a situation where we
throw kerosene on the fire is not good.

I think government and the media
need to be held accountable for that
situation. I think the actions that have
taken place and the call for this rally is the
fact that for the past two or three years our
police officers have been there has been an
organized attack to present our police
officers blanketly, that every police officer
is a bad person, every police officer is a
racist, every police officer is out to do
harm to people, and I don't think that is the
case.

I understand that when we talk we
don't make specific reference, we don't say
things that necessarily specifically say that.
But I think the feeling that everyone is left
with day in and day out is that there is
something wrong here. If a police officer
doesn't have the authority that his badge
and his oath of office or her oath of office
presents them with, then what do we have?
We don't have the ability to enforce the
laws that keep our society going. I think
that you know that frustration is what has
motivated these police officers to call for
this rally.

I think that part of me thinks that
was inappropriate but part of me believes
that these officers are entitled to the same
civil rights as everyone else. These officers
are entitled to stand up and voice their
feeling on an issue especially when
everyone else is pointing the blame and

already assuming guilt. That is the
situation that we are in right now. I think
that I am going to continue to work to try
to bring people together, to understand and
to build bridges, but the tension that we
have in the community today is not healthy
and it is not productive in pursuing that
path.

The Chair:

Could I make one quick response?
I don't know I want to give you credit for
bringing us together. You started the rally
with the police last summer to bring police
and community and kids together. I
commend you for doing that. it was a
huge success. So, I didn't want to
interfere with what you have done with
this. I don't know that it is certainly two
different kinds of rallies and I think the
timing is really the thing in question.

Mr. Diven:

Let me jump in here on that point.
There were police officers that started out
as a few conversations with police officers
who said they were tired of going into a
testaurant and having kids quiver because
they were wearing a uniform. People and
little kids felt like they couldn't approach
their police officers. They said when I was
a kid we were told by our parents and
people in the community that a police
officer was somebody that you would run
to and somebody that you could feel
protected and safe by.

These police officers in their own
time off duty volunteered and put
tremendous amount of work into
organizing it and putting together and
financing a chance to bring kids together.
Give them a good afternoon and interact

with them and show them there is more to
a police officer than just a gun and a badge
and a uniform.

You know we had police officers
who are involved with musical groups, we
had police officers who are involved in
artwork, we had police officers who
volunteer their time coaching and being
involved in trying to set positive role
models for the youth. You know where
that story ended up, it didn't end up in the
Post Gazette, it ended up on Page 14 of the
Sunday Tribune. You know and that is the
frustration that the FOP and the individual
police officers are feeling right now. Is
that good news does not sell and that
police officers who stand up and try to
reach out and work to build bridges and
build relationships with the communities
is not going to be the message that people
go to bed with at night.

The message that people are going
to go to bed with from our media is that all
police officers are bad. All police officers
are out to violate people's civil rights. That
is not acceptable. I have worked along
with police officers and people in the
community to try to make that not a reality
but it is tough. It takes a commitment
from al] parties involved to try to make a
difference in that area. That is something
that I will be continuing to commit myself
to working on that behalf.

Mr. Udin:

First of all, Mr. President, let me
just say that I have all the respect in the
world for Councilman Diven and the work
that he does as Chairman of the Public
Safety Committee in trying to bring the
community together with the police
department. And, even here today trying

to give some voice and understanding to a
great deal of frustration that many police
officers must feel.

However, I cannot remember one
time when any colleague in this body has
ever given a criticism of some wayward
police officer when they have not preceded
that criticism with mountains of praise for
the police department and the difficult job
that they have and the important work that
they do in standing on the wall to keep us
and our families safe. Every single time
we speak of the police department we
precede our words with that kind of
support. We also precede our criticism,
Councilman Diven, with clarification that
we are not painting the police department
with a broad brush:and that we are talking
about a few bad apples in the barrel.

Every single time it has come up
we have clarified that. Yet, some people
still take the critical part of the
presentation as though it was a negative
painting of the broad brush with the
department. I think it is important that the
police department has to decide how they
are going to deal with their bad apples in
their department. That's really where it
lies, Councilman Diven. Perhaps you can
with your insight and sensitivity help them
see that these guys will not be rooted out
until they themselves root out the bad guys
because they know who they are. They
know who they are.

Rather than the good officers
standing up for justice and rooting out the
bad ones, we have got a situation now
where some extreme wing of the
department has managed to get a vote for a
rally that will be extremely provocative on
the steps of the Court House as people are
trying to enter for that inquest. So I would

131

hope that Councilman Diven's words are
heard today. That there is a great deal of
frustration because these officers have the
most dangerous, the most difficult job in
this city. We do support them every single
day, But we also within that support have
to criticize when there are aberrations of
professionalism in the police department
we must be critical of it.

We must be just as quick with the
criticism, Councilman Diven, as we are
with the praise. They both go along with
it. If we do not call off this rally, if we do
not get the leadership to see the sense in
calling of this rally, I am really afraid of
what will happen on Thursday moming at
9:30. If it's necessary for us to have a
motion to have a sense of Council
expressing our condemnation of this rally
and asking the leadership of the FOP to
call it off, I am prepared to make that
motion if it's necessary.

Ms. McDonald:

I would also urge that this should
be some finality to this. I think there is a
consensus body that we are not taking
away the rights of people to exercise their
rights to free speech. We're saying time is
everything. It's real bad timing,
exceptionally bad timing. It reflects upon
their judgment. Your out on the streets,
you have to make split decisions quickly,
and again if you can't make a rational
decision, a reasonable decision, intelligent
decision that this may not be the time to
hold a rally which you're privy to do,
which is great you should support one
another. But the timing is bad if you can't
use judgment here, what the heck kind of
judgment are you using out on the streets?
What are you using on the streets? This is
what they can rationale, this is what they

aSaSaSaaaaSScaSS——Ss—_c>j x38 ae

call commonsense.

Again, the timing is the problem
amongst this Council body, not the fact
that they can or should hold a rally. What
the Council body needs to motion or to
communicate in letter is please post
postpone this rally for a much better, more
feasible time. Thursday in the moming is
not the time to do it. It is very poor.

MR. UDIN moved to adopt.
MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Mr. Diven:

I would like to make a quick
comment on the motion on the floor. I
understand and just to get back to some
points that Councilman Udin commented
on. I believe in talking with the police
officers the overwhelming majority of our
police officers want to see bad police
officers and want to see people who
violate people's civil rights and abuse their
power held accountable. One of the
teasons why I supported Councilwoman
McDonald's amendment to increase the
background check was we have a
responsibility as well to make sure that we
are not hiring people who have a tendency
to once they to get into a position of
holding power and having that trust placed
in them to abuse that. I think after that
vote and after talking about it at the
Council table last week received a number
of calls from police officers who said just
that.

They said listen, we don't like
police officers who abuse their powers. It
makes my job tougher to have if I have to
overcome the bad blood or the sense of
miss trust that someone else creates. I

132

would definitely love to see everyone be
held accountable but they should be held
accountable under the same due process
that is afforded to anybody in this country.

That's one of the things that I think
Council can have a role in making sure we
don't have police officers. But the idea that
police officers don't make sure that other
police officers are held accountable, I don't
want to say on Mr. Udin's part is
inaccurate, I just think the general public
doesn't view it that police officers are
concemed. That they're not working with
someone that is abusing their powers.
Because I think that is a big concern that
has been echoed to me on a number of
occasions. That if you hire somebody that
is bad and we have to deal with them, and
we got to go through our life trying to do
our job and also look over the shoulder
and make sure somebody else is bad. You
know that is something that we need to
stop from happening on the way in.

I think we should have the zero
tolerance when it comes to somebody who
abuses their power. I believe that Council
and everybody would support that in the
police bureaus. It is just that if somebody
abuses their power they should be
disciplined and held accountable for it.
But the point about making a resolution to
condemn the FOP and officers who have
the right to voice their opinions albeit bad
timing, I don't think we should make a
formal statement because --

Mr. Udin:

It was not my intention. I am
willing to amend it just to call for the rally
to be called off that is really all I wanted to
do. Would you support that?

Mr. Diven:

Iam sure when J talk to the police,
but I would hate to have a formal action.
The message that I would take and the
thing that I would walk away with is here
we had a city that allowed the Klu Klux
Klan to come in and rally yet we are not
going to give that -- or we're not going to
have the --

Mr. Udin:

Don't you see the danger in this
rally, Councilman?

Mr. Diven:

I see it and believe me when I talk
to the leadership of the FOP and the police
officers I would hope they would call it
off. But I don't think it is Council's place
to come in here and mandate it because if
you have to make somebody do the right
thing --

Mr. Udin:

Tam not trying to mandate it. Iam
just asking that a letter be sent with a sense
of Council requesting that they call it off.
That is all.

Mr. Diven:

I am fine with that. I don't think
that it should be a situation where you give
them the opportunity to do the right thing.
Mr. Udin:

Tagree.

Mr. Diven:

If they do call it off, you know

what the first thing that they’re going to
cover in the Post Gazette or one of the
news stations tonight, is well Council
leaned on the FOP and got them to back
off. It is not going to be a group of police
officers who saw the insensitivity of this
tally that stood up and said no we don't
want to be a part of this and we asked our
leadership to reconsider this idea.

I think that opportunity needs to be
presented to the FOP. Otherwise it's a
situation where they loose face and no
matter how you spin it or what we say,
people are going to walk away with this
saying that Council had a role in forcing
them and taking away their ability to make
the right decision and forcing it down their
throat. I believe that the majority of the
police officers would be supportive if
given the opportunity to do the right thing.

Ms. McDonald:

I would urge the media if they do
in deed, if they have the decency and the
dignity to postpone it, not necessarily call
it off, I don't care if they have it or not, not
that day, not that time in the morning
when people are coming in. If they would
postpone it or even cancel it which would
be even better all together and have a
different structure for working with the
community and also being able to support
one another because they do have a
dangerous job.

I don't consider that egg on the
face. I don't consider that caving into
Council. You know what I consider it,
honor. Honor. Isn't that part of their
motto? H-O-N-O-R. Honor. That is the
honorable thing to do. I think that they
would be praised by the media. They
would in fact probably be portrayed in a

133

eee

totally different light than what they are. I
think it would be good and if we're getting
into egg on the face or strong arming, then
you have -- I think a lot of them have the
wrong mentality from the very get go. It is
called the honorable thing to do.

The Chair:

We have to rap up here, I have a
lot to say.

Mr. Diven:

One last comment and I agree with
Councilwoman McDonald. But I would
like to send a message out to the people in
the media both in the news print and the
television, your lead story tonight at six
o'clock is going to be this. You know this
thing is going to pull apart our
communities and what ] would ask them to
do is take the time. If you need
recommendations or you need profiles, we
have a great deal of police officers who
volunteer their time. Who are involved in
the community, who care and do things on
their own without any compensation,
without any pats on the back. You know
take the time to make sure that you present
the news balanced and start to showcase
some of the police officers and some of the
people that work in law enforcement in a
positive light. I think it is not.

The saying is bad news sells, good
news doesn't. That is going to have a
tremendous impact on our whole
community’s ability to heal wounds that
run deep. If the media isn't a partner in
that, then we are going to be in for a lot
more trouble in the future.

The Chair:

I certainly agree with a lot that you
said. I commend you for having your rally
but I will send a message I don't want to
vote for that, Sala, J would like to not have
to vote for it because I don't want them to
use that as an excuse. You are not going
to hear anything good about the cops
today. Okay, for a change?

All of us have supported the cops,
99% of the time we talk pro-cop here.
This is a time if these cops are honorable
they should not show up at this rally.
Because of the timing and I don't want to
dictate to them. I want to see if the 95%
are good as we all know they are, they
come to my house, I went to school with
them, I have friends, they shouldn't be
showing up at this rally. Right or wrong
because of the timing alone.

This is certainly a very severe case
that is coming out. I am glad only one
news station stayed and that is the one that
reported it last week. There is a lot more
to this than met the eye a week ago.
Believe me, someone who is bom and
raised in Pittsburgh I know I get calls from
everybody, every walk of life. I know
when it is a good/bad cop thing. There is a
lot to be involved here.

Mr. Ferlo left, but if he thinks this
rally will intimidate DA Zappala or Cyril
Wecht their messing with the wrong two
guys. That should be a clear message
whoever wants to start this rally, they're
not going to intimidate them. They are not
going to intimidate me or you who I think
are very good supporters of the police.

Mr. Udin:

Let me just withdraw the motion in
lieu of Councilman Diven's efforts and the

Council President O'Connor's efforts to
make clear Council's sense and appeal to
the leadership of the FOP.

Mr. Cohen:
I will withdrawal my second also.
The Chair:

I will not only do that I will speak
to them and talk to the Mayor today and
any other officers I know and you know
that this is not the right time.

This is certainly a case that I was
on an interview talk show, everybody is
innocent until proven guilty. We have a
coroner's investigation, we have a DA's
investigation going on, I don't want to say
the wrong thing but this case certainly has
a lot of problems to it that is coming out. I
think we ought to hold judgment and let
the due process do itself. I have a lot of
confidence in the DA and the coroner. I
think we have the top two in the country
maybe, they will uncover this.

I think it is on the right track and I
will try to end this on one note. I know
sometimes we get divided whether you are
for or against the review board or for or
against police, and I think this Council I
want to commend all of you for taking the
same stand. This is not a pro-police or
anti-police or whatever it is. This is about
a case that looks bad, smells bad, and
probably is bad, but we will leave that up
to the judgment.

I saw Mrs. Grimmit on a TV
interview and she said as a mother of any
and because you see some of these
interviews when things happen you
question. This mother said I don't want
any money, I don't want to sue, all I want

135

is justice for my son to clear his name. I
am sure the other person feels the same
way. We owe it to this person to make it
clear and the police officers should take --
I fell for this mother's loss and we hope it
works out for the best that the right clear
message, that the truth comes out.
Whether it be good or bad. That is all she
wants. That is all any mother wants. We
owe it to her. That is all any police officer
wants.

So let's let it go to the courts. I
thank all of you for your support of not
supporting this rally. I think the timing is
terrible and the officers who voted for it I
think they should look in the mirror and
say -- they are not the 95% that we have all
been fighting for. Every member of
Council fights for those 95%, If they are
going to let the other 5% do it, then let
them go. Don't the other 95%, let the
other 95% show up at your rally in the
summer. In fact you just started working
on, they raise money to bring us together.
This is certainly not the time or place to do
Ik,

With that, I would like to have a
motion to approve the minutes.

MR. UDIN moved
minutes.

to approve the

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.

MR. DIVEN moved to adjourn the
meeting.

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.

And on the motion made by
Councilman Diven, the meeting adjourned.

136

MUNICIPAL RECORD

Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh

VOL. CXXXIHI February 2, 1999 No. 5
very proud of their accomplishments.
They are accompanied by their teacher
Ms. Brown.
Municipal Record
Amanda Mack and Malik Fielding:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of
ONE-HUNDRED the United States of America and to the
Ni republic for which it stands one nation
TIRE TH COUNCH: under God indivisible with liberty and
BOB O'CONNOR... .. President justice for all.
LINDA M. JOHNSON-WASLER.... City Clerk
JOHN R. MASCIO .. Deputy City Clerk The Chair:
. Thank you very much. We have a
Pittsburgh, PA : F
a ee 2, 1999 gift for you from Council. They are from
‘ i Councilman Udin's District and I know
PRESENT: he's in the building. I hope he gets here
soon so we can take a picture with him
Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato _
Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor
Ms. McDonald (Pres't) Mr. Hertzberg:
Paul Spadafora and whoever wants
The Chair: to come up with Paul, please step forward.

Will you all please rise for the
pledge of allegiance and remain standing
for a moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the world.

We are honored today to have two
special guests with us, Amanda Mack and
Malik Fielding, who are in the fifth grade
at Weil Technology Institute and they've
become selected because of their
achievements both academically and
socially. The staff of Weil Technology are

137

Professional boxing is a little bit like
running for office in the way that your
ranking and whether you can get to the big
one are somewhat dependent on the
amount of hype and publicity you can get.

We have in Pittsburgh a very high
rank lightweight fighter named Paul
Spadafora. I think we all need to do our
part on City Council to let everyone in the
region know about him, let everyone in the
country know about him. Soon he is going
to be fighting for the big one, I think for

C—O

the championship. Let me read this
resolution and it is sponsored by all
members of City Council.

MR. HERTZBERG AND ALL
MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
PRESENT:

No. 1183 WHEREAS, Paul
Spadafora, born and raised in the City of
Pittsburgh, in the neighborhoods of North
Side and Sheraden is being called "The
New Pittsburgh Kid"; and

WHEREAS, Paul started boxing at
the age of 13, due to a rich family tradition
of boxing including his grandfather, Geno
Paulocrittie, a professional boxer, who
boxed in the 1930's and 1940's; his father,
Sylvio Spadafora, an amateur boxer,
boxed in the 1960's; and his older brother
Harry who was the State Golden Gloves
Champion in 1995, and held a record of 89
wins and 11 losses as an amateur boxer;
and

WHEREAS, Paul's training as an
amateur boxer included ten years under the
tutelage of Charles "P. K." Pecora, a
famous boxing trainer in the Western
Pennsylvania area who gave him the name
"The New Pittsburgh Kid," and Paul was a
State Golden Gloves Champion in 1993
and 1994, and holds a record of 75 wins
and 5 losses in his amateur boxing career
in the lightweight division; and

WHEREAS, since 1996, when
Paul entered the world of Professional
Boxing, with the help of his present trainer
Tom Yankello, Paul has earned a very
impressive record of 25 wins and 0 losses
with 12 knockouts; and

138

WHEREAS, Paul's strengths in the
boxing ring include exceptional hand and
leg speed, excellent ring mastership and
superb conditioning; and

WHEREAS, with his nationally
televised victory by unanimous decision
over Rocky Martinez on January 22, Paul
Spadafora moved up near the top rankings
of lightweight professional boxers, and
Paul is hopeful that his next fight will be
for the WBC lightweight Championship;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh wish to Congratulate Paul
Spadafora for bringing National
recognition to our beloved City as "The
New Pittsburgh Kid"; and

FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
congratulates Paul Spadafora on his
outstanding record, hard work and
dedication, and wishes him continued
success in future events and is proud to
call him THE NEW PITTSBURGH KID.

MR. FERLO moved
resolution.

to adopt the

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Spadafora:

I just want to say thanks for letting
me be here to achieve this award. I want
everyone in Pittsburgh to keep watching
me fight. I promise I am going to bring
home a world title, you know what I mean.

Mr. Ferlo:

I want to say one thing, I looked in

the Post Gazette the next day. I always
pick on the Post Gazette, so I don't think I
am in the day maybe they have a
photographer here and the Tribune
Review. But I was very upset that first of
all we have the champ locally that has won
some other important fights also in
addition to this great bout that he fought
just a few weeks ago.

The next day in the Post Gazette
there was no mention of it whatsoever. I
believe the Tribune did have some small
article on Sunday. I don't understand. I
don't frequently read enough of the sports
pages but I would think with a hometown
great boxer and hero like we have here, I
don't understand why they didn't give it the
proper place and promotion. Maybe I am
missing something. But it seems as
though everyone is preoccupied with the
big bout when it really is tumed into be
much more of a circus as opposed to this
bout which to me is much more of a sport
in the traditional sense of boxing.

So I just want to go on record
saying that if we can communicate to the
local media and give this young man his
just do, he is a great champ,
congratulations.

The Chair:

I understand he may be a distant
cousin of yours.

Mr. Ferlo:
He is a twelfth cousin actually.
The Chair:

Jim's mother's maiden name is the
same as yours.

139

Mr. Ferlo:
So from the same province.

The Chair:

I don't know if you need any -- if I
had a little time I guess 1 could spar with
you a little bit, but I don't think I could do
it today, you know. I wili get you next
time. Maybe Sala could do it.

I do want to commend you also the
boxing is alive and well in Pittsburgh. It is
kind of a grassroots effort and there are
great fighters like you and you are
certainly rising to the top. I knew Billy
Kahn, he was a great champion for
Pittsburgh and I think you can be the next
Billy Kahn, the next Pittsburgh Kid. We
are honored and proud to you have here.
Hopefully when you win _ the
championship, we will bring you down
and make it your day and make it a much
bigger event.

Mr. Spadafora:
Thank you.
The Chair:

Now move to presentation of
papers.

MR. COHEN PRESENTED:

No. 1184 Resolution providing for
an agreement or agreements and/or a
cooperation agreement or cooperation
agreements and/or lease or leases
authorizing the conveyance of lands and
buildings, more commonly known as the
River Rescue Facility and a tract of land
located adjacent to said facility by and

_——————
olla

between the City of Pittsburgh and the
Stadium Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh (the Stadium Authority) at a
cost of One Dollar ($1.00). And also
providing for an agreement or agreements
of lease for approximately two thousand
(2000) square feet of space located within
PNC Park, for use of the River Rescue
Unit for a term of approximately Twenty
Nine (29) years, six (6) months at a cost of
One Dollar ($1.00) per year.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Lands, Buildings &
Procurement.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

No. 1185 Resolution providing for
an Agreement with Peterson Consulting
LLC to provide expert consulting services
in the defense of a construction law suit
against the City of Pittsburgh; and
providing for the payment of the costs
thereof, not to exceed $50,000.00.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Engineering and
Construction.

No. 1186 An Ordinance amending
the Pittsburgh Code, Title 2, Fiscal, Article
VIL, Business Related Taxes, Chapter 256,
Home Rule Realty Transfer Tax, Section
256.02, Levy and Rate, by increasing the
amount of tax imposed from .5% to .6%. —
-(SPONSORED BY MR. FERLO)

No. 1187 Resolution authonzing
and directing the City Controller to create
the CITY SERVICES TRUST FUND for
the purpose of financing neighborhood
infrastructure maintenance and
enhancement services for the benefit of the

residents of the City. —(SPONSORED
BY MR. FERLO)

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

No. 1188 Resolution providing for
an Agreement or Agreements, or use of
existing Agreements and/or a Contract or
Contracts, or use of existing Contracts, for
the Renovation of Recreation Centers and
Senior Citizen Centers; providing for the
purchase of equipment and materials for
said projects; at a cost not to exceed
$594,250.00.

No. 1189 Resolution Providing for
an Agreement or Agreements, or use of
existing Agreements and/or a Contract or
Contracts, or use of existing Contracts,
and for the purchase of materials, supplies
and equipment and/or services in
connection with the Renovations and
Maintenance of Various Public Buildings;
at a cost not to exceed $1,295,000.00.

No. 1190 Resolution providing for
a Contract or Contracts, or use of existing
Contracts, for Construction of
Handicapped Ramps in Various
Communities throughout the City of
Pittsburgh; and providing for the payment
of the costs thereof, not to exceed
$833,000.00.

No. 1191 Resolution Agreement or
Agreements, or use of existing
Agreements and for the purchase of
materials, equipment and supplies in
connection with the Renovation of Various
Play Areas; and providing for the payment
of the costs thereof, not to exceed
$840,000.00.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Engineering and
Construction.

MR. FERLO moved to suspend Rule 8 on
all bills by providing for consideration of
the bills only until or after the 8th calendar
day following the meeting in which the
bills were introduced so the bills will be
on the agenda this Wednesday.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

No. 1192 Resolution providing for
an Agreement or Agreements, or the use of
existing Agreements for the furnishing of
professional services for the benefit of the
residents of the City of Pittsburgh effective
January 1, 1999 and providing for the
payment of the cost thereof, not to exceed
$275,000.00.

No. 1193 Resolution providing for
a Contract or Contracts, or the use of
existing Contracts for the repairs,
maintenance, improvements and
emergencies at various parks and park
facilities in CD areas throughout the City
of Pittsburgh, and providing for the
payment of the cost thereof, not to exceed
$430,000.00.

No. 1194 Resolution providing for
a Contract or Contracts, or the use of
existing Contracts for the repairs,
maintenance, improvements and
emergencies at various parks and park
facilities throughout the City of Pittsburgh,
and providing for the payment of the cost
thereof, not to exceed $200,000.00.

141

No. 1195 Resolution providing for
a Contract or Contracts, or the use of
existing Contracts for street resurfacing
programs to include but not limited to ultra
thin hot mix asphalt, hot mix asphalt,
crack sealing, micro surfacing, sawing and
sealing, nova chip, flexible pavement,
asphalt milling, truck rental, brick and
blockstone repairs, handicap ramps,
concrete slab replacement and parks
related asphalt work at various locations
throughout the City of Pittsburgh, and
providing for the payment of the cost
thereof, not to exceed $2,815,000.00.

No. 1196 Resolution providing for
a Contract or Contracts, or the use of
existing Contracts for street resurfacing
programs to include but not limited to ultra
thin hot mix asphalt, hot mix asphalt,
crack sealing, micro surfacing, sawing and
sealing, nova chip, flexible pavement,
asphalt milling, truck rental, brick and
blockstone repairs, handicap ramps,
concrete slab replacement and parks
related asphalt work in CD areas
throughout the City of Pittsburgh and
providing for the payment of the cost
thereof, not to exceed $2,161,603.00.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to suspend
Rule 8 by providing for consideration of
the bills only until or after the 8th calendar
day following the meeting in which the
bills were introduced so the bills will be
on the agenda this Wednesday.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Also,

No. 1197 Resolution Establishing a
Newspaper Vending Machine Task Force

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and Directing the Departments of Public
Works and City Planning to prepare an
Objective Report on Newspaper Vending
Machines. --(SPONSORED BY MR.
HERTZBERG)

No. 1198 Resolution providing for
a Contract or Contracts, or the use of
existing Contracts for flexible beam
guiderails at various locations throughout
the City of Pittsburgh, and providing for
the payment thereof, not to exceed
$63,000.00.

No. 1199 Resolution providing for
a Contract or Contracts, or use of existing
Contracts and/or an Agreement or
Agreements, or use of existing
Agreements and for the purchase of
materials, equipment and supplies in
connection with the Wall, Step and Fence
Program at various areas throughout the
City, and providing for the payment of the
costs thereof, not to exceed $700,000.00.

No. 1200 Resolution Vacating of
Alcor (E. General Robinson to River
Ave.); Burdock Way (E. General to River
Ave.); Cabra Way (Alcor St. to Burdock
Way); River Ave. (Federal St. to Westerly
Terminus) in the 22 Ward, 6” Council
District of the City of Pittsburgh.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Public Works, Water and
Environmental Services.

No. 1201 Resolution Amending
Resolution No. 617 of 1996 as amended
by Resolution No. 826, effective
November 1, 1996, and by Resolution No.
1001 of 1997, entitled "Resolution
providing for an Agreement or
Agreements with various community
organizations for operational/
administrative expenses, maintenance,

142

purchase of equipment; and/or
rehabilitation of neighborhood facilities
for the benefit of residents of the City of
Pittsburgh, at a cost not to exceed
$1,155,600.00, chargeable to and payable
from the 1996 Community Development
Block Grant Program" so as to reprogram
funds in City Council. —(SPONSORED
BY MR. HERTZBERG)

No. 1202 Resolution Amending
Resolution No. 624 as amended by
Resolution No. 1000 of 1996 and by
Resolution No. 250 effective May 17,
1997, entitled "Providing for the filing of a
Community Development statement by the
City of Pittsburgh with the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban
Development for a grant in connection
with the 1996 Community Development
Block Grant Program; providing for the
execution of grant contracts and for the
filing of other data providing for required
assurances; providing for execution of
payment vouchers on letter of credit and
for certification of authorized signature;
the deposit of the funds in a bank account
and providing for the payment of expenses
within categories", so_as to reprogram
funds in City Council. —(SPONSORED
BY MR. HERTZBERG)

Which were read and referred to the

Committee on Housing, Economic
Development & Promotion.
MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

No. 1203 Resolution Approving
Execution of a Contract For Disposition of
Land By and Between the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
and 800 Waterfront Associates for the sale
of Parcel 5 (Block 48P Lot 215) in the
Twenty Fourth Ward of the City of

Pittsburgh in Redevelopment Area No. 45,
800 Waterfront Drive, Council District
No. 1 (office building construction).

No. 1204 Resolution Approving
Execution of a Contract For Disposition of
Land By and Between the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
and Allegheny Center Associates, for the
sale of Parcel 3 (Block 8G Lots 206 and
207) in the Twenty Second Ward of the
City of Pittsburgh in Redevelopment Area
No. 21, Council District No. 1, 334
Federal Street (parking lot).

No. 1205 Resolution Approving
Execution of a Contract For Disposition of
Land By and Between the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
and Rycon Construction, Inc. for the sale
of Part of Block 25N Lot 305 in the
Second Ward of the City of Pittsburgh in
Redevelopment Area No. 47, Liberty
Avenue between Twenty Fifth and Twenty
Sixth Streets, Council District No. 6
(renovation of building for office and
warehouse use).

Which were read and referred to the

Committee on Housing, Economic
Development & Promotion
MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

No. 1206 An Ordinance Amending
the Pittsburgh Code, Title Nine, Zoning,
Article II, Chapter 921, Section 921.02,
Zoning District Map No. 7 by changing
from “C6-C” Downtown Riverfront
District Area C to “C6-B” Downtown
Riverfront District Area B all that certain
property bounded by Federal Street; the
Allegheny River; the “C6-B” Zoning
District boundary located west of Federal
Street; the “RS” Zoning District boundary

143

line located south of West Commons and
South Commons, 227 Ward, Council
District No. 6.

No. 1207 An Ordinance Amending
the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title
Nine, Zoning, Article IV by controlling the
development of public sports facilities for
major league franchises and by revising
the site development standards for urban
open space and structure height.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Planning, Zoning & Land
Use.

MR. ONORATO moved to suspend Rule
8 by providing for consideration of the
bills only until or after the 8th calendar day
following the meeting in which the bills
were introduced so the bills will be on the
agenda this Wednesday.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ricciardi:
The Oakland Business

Improvement District is being presented
by myself, Mr. Udin and Mr. Cohen.
Thank you.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

No.1208 Resolution providing for
the creation of an Oakland Business
Improvement District for the area shown
on Exhibit A at the behest of the Oakland
BID Steering Committee, a coalition of
property owners, business leaders,
Tetailers, and local government and
institutional Tepresentatives. _

(SPONSORED BY MR. RICCIARDI,
MR. UDIN & MR. COHEN).

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Planning, Zoning & Land
Use.

No. 1209 Resolution Authorizing
the Director of the Department of Parks
and Recreation to enter into agreements in
individual amounts of Ten Thousand
Dollars ($10,000.00) or less with various
performers, instructors, artists and persons
with specialized skills in connection with
the Department's various recreational and
instructional programs.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Parks, Recreation & Youth
Policy.

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

No. 1210 Resolution The terms of
and authorizing the execution and delivery
of a Cooperation and Support Agreement
among the Public Auditorium Authority of
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, the City
of Pittsburgh, the County of Allegheny, the
Stadium Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh and the Allegheny Regional
Asset District Relating to allocation of
Certain Allegheny Regional Asset District
Revenues to the Stadium Authority and the
Auditorium Authority in connection with
financing the construction of two new
professional sports facilities, renovation
and expansion of the David L. Lawrence
Convention Center and related site and
infrastructure work, including the payment
of debt service on bonds to be issued by
the Auditorium Authority for the purpose
of partially finding said project; providing
for the proper officers of the City to take
all other required, necessary or desirable

144

related action in connection with said
Cooperation Agreement; providing for the
severability of provisions of this
resolution; providing for the effectiveness
of this Resolution; and providing for
repeal of all inconsistent Resolutions or
parts of Resolutions.

No. 1211 Resolution authorizing
the City of Pittsburgh to issue a deed, in
form approved by the City Solicitor, for
property in the 16th Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh, known as 2700-2702 Spring
Way, designated as Block 13 S, Lot 261 to
Carl R. Calio and Kimberly Calio, his
wife, for the sum of $500.00.

No. 1212 Resolution providing for
the acceptance by the City of Pittsburgh
from the Westen Pennsylvania
Conservancy of certain property on
Mooney Road, Block 134-L Lot 288, in
the 31" Ward of the City of Pittsburgh, for
the extension of the 31 Ward Greenway.

No. 1213 Resolution providing for
conveyance by the City of Pittsburgh of
certain property, under Act No. 171 of
1984, entitled, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

No. 1214 Resolution providing for
conveyance by the City of Pittsburgh of
certain property, under Act No. 171 of
1984, entitled, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

The Chair:

Thank you. We will now move to

unfinished business. Any unfinished
business to come in front of Council?
Hearing none, we will move to Committee
Chair Reports, District Eight, Mr. Cohen.

CHAIR REPORTS
Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. I am
happy to present a committee report on the
Department of General Service and
telecommunications, Let me just cover the
major issues, if I could, and that is what's
happening with this building, the City
County Building, with swimming pools,
the fleet, and the cable issue. I want to
thank Guy Costa the Director of General
Services for. providing me with this
information.

On this building, a number of
things are continuing to happen. I think
we have seen a lot of positive results of the
work on the renovation and the just
general upkeep of this building. The
painting of the basement is going on right
now and it should be completed by mid
February. The cleaning of the marble
walls and plaques and brass fixtures in the
lobby is going to be-- including by the
way the bust of William Pitt will begin in
early March. The interiors of the six
passenger elevators on the Grant Street
side are going to begin late this month.
We have discussed this in the past, the
elevators are really in poor condition and
this is the interior not the over all
Teconstruction of the elevators which
hopefully will happen later this year.

Specifications are being
established for the modemization of the
passenger elevators. The department is
purchasing permanent tables and chairs for

145

the portico outside the building on the
Grant Street side so you will certainly see
a big improvement out there. We had
temporary chairs and tables but the
permanent ones are going to be in place by
April Ist.

Bids have been received and are
being reviewed for the freight elevator and
that work is going to begin in April. The
department is remodeling the women's
toom on the fifth floor with in-house. So
in-house workforce and that's going to
begin in April as well.

The department says it is
continuing meetings with the county
regarding this building. That some
progress is being made especially with
respect to the elevators, I think our
discussion here with Mr. Donatelli of the
county had some effect in moving this
forward. So hopefillly they will come up
with an agreement soon.

As with respect to the pools, it is
nice to think about pools in February, it is
not too far away. In late February the
program of painting will begin. Painting
11 pools this year as well as other up
grades will be made. The completion date
for all of that will be in late May.

The medic rescue station on the
Boulevard of the Allies was cleaned and
painted, that is also the old Fire Station
Number One. They relocated the medic
and rescue units from the River Rescue on
the North Side to this facility.

With respect to the fleet, 21
marked and six unmarked police cars are
being delivered this week. We're
continuing a program that we established
two years ago and that is to replace the

entire police fleet every three years so that
we have cars that are in good shape and
don't have the kind of problems that we
had several years ago. If you recall we had
had some police vehicles that had over
100,000 miles and were in pretty poor
condition, I want to thank the department
for embracing that program and for having
police vehicles come in, one third per year.
Bids are also out for 26 other police
vehicles for the detective patrol wagon
commander and boot operations.

With respect to the fire truck
replacement program, within the next
couple of weeks we will solicit bids for a
new fire pumper. This truck will replace
one of our 1978 pumpers and we hope to
purchase at least one new pumper per year.
We're also continuing the program of
refurbishing 13 1986 fire pumpers and
currently soliciting bids to refurbish eight
aerial trucks, both of these programs will
extend the frontline use of these trucks by
six years.

Just continuing on the fleet, with
Tespect to refuse trucks, we are
refurbishing 17 refuse trucks. This
program will extend the frontline use of
these trucks by six years. Bids are due out
this week for the purchase of ten new
refuse packers. This is the year two of a
five-year plan to refurbish and/or replace
the complete refuse fleet at a cost of
$7 million.

There is also an ongoing federal
mandated project, an unfunded mandate I
may add for underground fuel storage
tanks. We should have all the fueling
stations in compliance by late April. The
removal of the old tanks will begin in mid
summer and must be completed by
December 22nd of this year.

146

That really covers the fleet aspect
and the final leg of this three-legged stool
of facilities, fleet and cable is cable. We
had a long meeting on Thursday with the
consultant for the telecommunications
working group. I think it was a very
productive meeting. Representatives from
every department of the City of Pittsburgh
were there, including me from City
Council. Franchise renewal as you know
is moving along. We have had two
meetings with TCI. The negotiating team
as we put together we're currently in the
process of hiring an engineer. We put out
an RFP really at Councilman Ferlo's
suggestion, which was a correct suggestion
and received three responses to that RFP
for a technical engineering person. Two of
them have been interviewed and we are
going to be interviewing the third one
shortly.

Also a community meeting that I
would like to inform Council members
about and you will get this in a memo
form today. But Councilman Ferlo and I
met with a group of community
development corporations from the East
End a couple of weeks ago regarding the
community access aspect of franchise
renewal. That is to make sure that the
community is an integral part of any
franchise renewal agreement. That
includes public access channels, it includes
community access network sites. It is
really an exciting thing and the meeting
about this will take place Wednesday,
February 10", at two o'clock for all of the
community development corporations and
neighborhood groups who are interested in
this. It will take place in our conference
room, conference room number one here.
Again that is Wednesday at two o'clock.

Council President O'Connor, you're
working on a program entitled Council
Comer so I won't speak about that. But
that certainly is something that is
important that is going on and I will leave
it to you to talk about that.

The final issue that I have is the
issue of the transfer of the TCI, the change
in ownership and control of TCI to AT&T.
We completed the process of the transfer,
added five conditions to that transfer but at
the same time wanted to express our view
about the open access issue. That is
whether or not AT&T will allow other
Internet providers to have access to their
lines, B

So I have prepared this resolution
Mr. President, everyone should have it in
front of them. Let me just read the now
therefore clause, everyone has the whereas
clauses in front of them. It says now
therefor be it resolved that the Council of
the City of Pittsburgh expresses its support
for open access including the broadest
possible deployment and implementation
of high speed Internet access and asks for
providers in the City of Pittsburgh. The
support includes but is not limited to
AT&T and TCI provision of non-
discriminatory access to its cable modem
platforms in the belief that a wide choice
of high speed Intemet will be most
beneficial to consumers.

What this does is I would like to
ask for Council's support of this to send to
the Federal Communications Commission,
which really is the agency in charge of
this, to promote open access as a consumer
issue. That it really will provide to the
consumers with a wider choice of Intemet
providers those who are served by the
Internet. It will increase competition and

147

in the end hopefully lower rates. So I
would like to make a motion to approve
this resolution.

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed. (Mr. Ricciardi
abstained)

Mr. Cohen:

This motion is sponsored by

myself, Councilman Ferlo and
Councilman Diven.
The Chair:

Thank you for the report. Any

questions on the report? Hearing none --
Mr. Udin:

I just want to first of all commend
Councilman Cohen on a very thorough
report. But resurrect a complaint that I
have been making conceming the
elevators. I came into the building this
moming at about seven o'clock and
noticed the elevator I was on, the same
problem that existed before in terms of
debris cigarette butts, etceteras in the
elevator doorway. Those little grooves
that go along the doorway were again
uncleaned and I checked the other
elevators and the same thing existed with
the other elevators.

I just wonder aside from what they
must think of the people who work in the
building and the taxpayers who visit the
building, why it is that when Council
directs that something will be done by
employees, that some employees feel free
to just ignore it and hope that Council
forgets about it and just doesn't pay

a 8 8 O_O_O_eOoeaCa—a—onH“l-

attention? I don't understand. I have seen
it happen in other occasions when we have
taken a decision at the Council table, there
are certain either directors or assistant
directors who kind of believe that if we
just ignore this, Council will probably go
on to another item or issue and forget
about it. We really don't have to pay
attention to what they say.

I think that's highly disrespectful to
this Council and highly disrespectful to the
taxpayers. Council directs something to
be done, that department head should be
able to get it done or we should have that
department head before Council. The
Mayor should have that department head
before him. The Mayor should be saying
to all department heads if you receive a
directive from Council, you will carry it
out or you will report to me, I think that
we need to take our decisions seriously
and not allow this kind of ignoring of
Council to continue.

More specifically, I would like
understand the reasons why we have been
unable to get whoever’s job it is to clean
the elevators, to be able to get a brush or
whatever it takes to get the debris from
within those grooves and provide clean
elevators, It's just a method of the way
you clean a building and doing the job
thoroughly. The elevators are the first
thing that a lot of people see when they
come into the building. You never get a
second chance to make a first impression.
I would like to ask the Councilman if he
would look into the matter and see if you
can enlighten me as to why it continues to
happen when we have been complaining
about it for months and months and
months?

Mr. Ferlo:

148

We have a bill obviously up today
Councilman Cohen worked on behalf of
all of our colleagues, which J think the
appropriate is $190 thousand for elevator
repairs. We're moving on this, I would
only ask in light of the fact that
Councilman Udin has reiterated this
concem about eight times, that I can
remember rightfully so, that when they
redesign the elevators can we take the
grooves out and just put a brass plate as
you enter the elevator? I mean sometimes
I think we need to make changes not only
in work habits and make sure work gets
done but to the extent that we are
modemizing and improving and making
more appropriate the physical environment
of the elevator itself. We should take the
darn grooves out because that is all they
are is places for cigarette butts and
everything else to accumulate. I know
Councilman Cohen is going to deal with
this issue on top of the cable contract.

Mr. Cohen:
I will be down there right after the
meeting.

This is an issue that Councilman
Udin has brought up before. It deserves a
Tesponse, It deserves a daily response of
cleaning those elevators. I am happy to
put together to convey this to the director
of General Services Guy Costa and I think,
I think the answer to the question is
unfortunately we don't have the power to
hire and fire which probably would get us
the work done more quickly. But never
the less we do have the power of the purse
strings and Councilman Udin's concem
will be conveyed and hopefully we will
actuaily get some action.

Mr. Ferlo:
I will reiterate my long standing

ee
8 8 8 8 OOO

request that we try to run the elevators on
our side to only our floors two to five and
the county side go to six to nine. With the
new equipment I hope they we will try
that. Basically when you come into this
building you are going either from the
sixth floor up or you are usually going to
the city side two to five. So if we can
bifurcate the elevators, I believe you will
find most of the litter on the county side
going six and up. Because people are
taking items in there because they have to
put up with court hearings in Family
Division and everywhere else. They have
to sit up there for five, six and seven
hours. I have seen baby diapers in the
elevators, I have seen spilled coffee, I have
seen everything imaginable. I would ask
that we also make that part of the request
in addition to Councilman Udin's groove
story.

Mr. Cohen:

Councilman Ferlo will be happy to
know that his suggestion is actually being
tried and is actually on this sheet and I
missed it. So let me just take one second
to tell you that the Grant Street elevators
will be programmed so that the city
elevators go from floors one to five only,
the county elevators six to nine. It will be
a 30-day test period, which will begin in
early March and hopefully we will get the
effects that Councilman Ferlo is talking
about.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Does it mention any signage? We
need to inform the public.

Mr. Cohen:

I would hope that there will be

149

signs. The first problem is it is very
difficult to get on an elevator because they
don't work, but when they do work I hope
that there will be signs that will direct
people.

Mr. Ferlo:

I will be standing there for the
month and direct traffic. I want this to
work.

The Chair:

You brought that up over a year
ago. It makes so much sense but the
energy savings and timesavings on
everyone's part certainly makes sense. I
am glad to see it is in there for at least a
30-day test.

Also following up on Mr. Udin, I
certainly agree with you. What it is going
to take, we know the answer is just elbow
grease and some one rolling up their
sleeves and doing the job. If you
remember the excuse we have gotten for
the last year and half probably is the city,
county was a mutual management thing
and now I understand it is if it is not, it
should be in place by now that the city will
manage the cleaning. So that one person
is in charge. Hopefully Mr. Costa can
finalize this problem. It's a shame to have
that and I certainly agree with you. After
all the money and expense we spent for the
front of the building, it's really a
magnificent building coming in and to find
that is unacceptable.

Mr. Ferlo:
Wait until you see the new

technology kenos that the Clerk's Office is
working on with my office. It is going to

be very impressive.
The Chair:

I know you have just taken over
Housing Economic Development but I
believe you have a brief report.

Ms. McDonald:

Very brief. Again, I have not had
an opportunity to adequately prepare a
report since Councilman Ricciardi and
myself have just switched, but I am going
to read the very cover letter of the 1998
accomplishments and goals for 1999
sponsored by the Board of Directors of the
URA. And of course Alan probably, this
is probably very redundant for him since
he has probably read this.

Our major focus, this is from the
URA, in 1998 was in implementing a
number of development projects that were
in the pipeline or in planning stages. Real
Estate acquisition played a minor role
during the year. While we continued to
move forward several Housing and
Economic Development projects we were
able to successfully complete and begin
the construction of PEIDC sponsored,
owned and managed multimillion dollar
new high technology buildings, like
automated health care at Washington's
Landing and the Lawrenceville Shopping
Center.

We took tremendous risks in 1996
this is something that you may want to
comment on Mr. President, when we
negotiated the donation of the 450,000
square feet Lexington Technology Park
from Rockwell International. But since
that time we have managed to fill a
significant portion of the building by

150

bringing in over 18 smaller companies, a
consolidated 911 service, and various
divisions of Allegheny County. This
phase was completed in 1998.

During 1998 the URA also entered
into several contracts with other agencies
to support their development efforts. They
entered into a new contract with the
Housing Authority to demolish Broadhead
Manor in the West End. We also
organized the offices of the design
commission and managed the design
process for the expansion of the
Convention Center. We were also
requested by the Public Auditorium
Authority to act as paid consultants in the
acquisition process for the expansion of
the Convention Center. We were able to
complete environmental pre-engineering
and acquisition plans. While there had
been delays in some projects for reasons
beyond our contro] such as Nine-Mile
Run, we had managed to put them back on
track.

Overall, 1998 has been an
outstanding year for the URA in meeting
its development goals set forth at the
beginning of the year. In fact we have
brought to fruition additional
developments such as Mellon Kline
Service Center and the PNC First Side
Center. Also work continues with Urban
Properties of Chicago to consider major
development retail/entertainment
undertakings.

Now, issues during 1998 and this is
brief. The major issues that were faced
during the year and will probably continue
to be faced in the years ahead include the
momentum for development is indeed
continuously impressive. The city has
tremendous appetite or absorption for

ee
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development and growth. In adequate
funding for the various projects underway
include Nine-Mile Run and LTV. It will
slow down the realization of development
opportunities. It is even more acute in the
case of the downtown plan with urban
properties that no funding has been
included in the capital budget.

A second bullet is we face serious
obstacles with the Nine-Mile Run project
and the third bullet is due to the question
of whether to have the cinema complex on
the LTV site or downtown or both as
slowed down retail development at LTV.

Again, as I continue in my
endeavors I will have a more thorough
report, something more specific that would
address individual concerns that had been
expressed by Council members at the
table. That is all Ihave. Questions?

The Chair:

While you touched on it, if I may,
on the Lexington Rockwell Center, the
911 Center, since Christmas I have been
getting calls and I believe Mr. Onorato
informed me he had some information.
People had been contacting me that the
county is ready or was ready to lease that
space that we had all voted and followed
the administration's lead. It was quite a
struggle if you remember to have the 911
Center moved from the Strip District to the
Rockwell Center.

I understand it was going to be
leased out and the door was closing. So I
went and made an unannounced visit last
Thursday to the center. Well to my
surprise, | was overwhelmed by what I saw
there. It certainly is a state of the art
facility. It's set up with the latest

computers it's geared for -- it certainly has
great parking, security all the things that
we questioned. In fact it actually had
separate rooms and corridors for the city
officials. In fact, they had their name on it,
who would be there whenever the merger
would take place.

We spent over an hour there. In
fact, if you saw they even had a briefing
room for media in case of an emergency.
It certainly wasn't a PR activity. The
media I think at least three or four of the
major stations have already paid to have
their direct hook up. Where the head of
any emergency would walk in, brief the
media, for whatever was going on. For
example, it was a tomado they certainly
say live right on the spot tell the media and
everyone would be geared for it that don't
go to Mount Washington or stay out for
two days, whatever the danger may be.

I certainly don't want to elaborate
too much, but if you see what's going on in
Washington terrorists activities, there is
very heighten awareness of that. So it
certainly behooves us to be working with
the city and county. Again it's a state of
the art institution and it has been rated as
the top in the State of Pennsylvania. So
they're already geared and I understand
we're not ready for the Y2K what is going
to happen in the next year with the
computers. Our computers that we are
using in our 911 system now is still by
phone, it's ten years old, it's just a matter
of making the change to put our personnel
there. It has back up in case of emergency
and actually another benefit that we keep
the emergency power, third power station
where we are now in case God forbid
something happened there they would
actually have another back up.

So, I am certainly urging the

eeE=—eeeeeeeeeeeeee

administration to finalize this and get it
resolved. But I don't believe we can wait
for that. We can't take anything for
granted because this is certainly a benefit
for all the residents as I see it.

What I am requesting of you I have
set up a tour of the facility for Friday
morning at nine o'clock. I believe most of
you I checked a lot of calendars and four
of us within two miles of the facility so we
shouldn't have any problem getting there.
I think you have to see it first hand
yourself, compared to what we have. And,
Mr. Diven who chairs the committee, Ms.
McDonald will host our tour, it's in her
Council District then following next week
Mr. Diven will set a Post Agenda to bring
everyone to the table to find out why this
isn't happening. I am thankful for all three
commissioners and Mr.Cannon have
agreed not to do anything for 30 days, no
leasing agreements will be made so we
have 30 days to resolve this issue.

I think it's urgent, hopefully
someone in the administration is still
working on it, but they're certainly
dragging their feet. I don't want it to
become a battle, but it looks like we have
to at least bring it to a head because we
have only 30 days to resolve this issue. If
there are any problems, I think they ought
to be brought up and resolved. There may
be political agendas that some of us know
or don't know. I really don't care about
political agendas. I think this is very
crucial for the Public Safety of the
residents of Pittsburgh and Allegheny
County and also just by the way it will
save ous S$4million for capital
improvements for the old center. So we
will have the tour on Friday.

Mr. Ferlo:

152

Because of my concems and fears
regarding the public safety of the
Pittsburgh residents that I did not vote for
this so called merger, use the phrase
merger, I still think it's a bad idea not
withstanding the fact that it is a beautiful
facility, ala county tax dollars. We have a
great operation that is badly in need of a
computer grade system improvement. We
collect million of dollars from city
residents with a telephone tax and I think
we should have been moving already to
get the new technology and move full
steam ahead.

If you want to talk about a
politicization of emergency services, I
can't think of anything greater than the
politicization that has happened at the
county level with these 911 centers. I
don't want to be involved with them. If
there is any logic to the county, they
should have had one 911 center. If you
remember they wanted to have 40 plus
locations. Now through’ politics they
ended up having I believe seven. I don't
want to co-mingle or merge with them. I
don't mind renting space if that is
appropriate to get a better facility for our
employees, and I am certainly in favor of
new EOC computer systems or whatever is
appropriate, state of the art technology.
But I think there are major concerns that
still need to be resolved and we have a
great system. It's not broke, but it is in
need of a technology upgrade and I am
very low to get involved with the county
operation.

So I still stand by my original vote,
and I still have major reservations. I am
not sure where things are at and I am
pleased that you're facilitating some
dialogue on this with the administration.

But I am very concerned. It doesn't mean I]
don't think we should meet when there is
Major emergency, obviously we should.
We have an emergency management plan
that we should implement when there is a
situation. But I can continue to have my
reservations and continue to stand by
them.

The Chair:

I certainly respect your opinion. I
think you owe it to yourself and everyone
to see the facility and see what is available
to us.

Mr. Onorato:

Can we just add to it, the facility is
a great facility. It's a building for the city
to work with the county and to spread the
cost of the operations to a more
appropriate base of residents, which would
be the county. The one thing regardless of
where you stand on the issue here, we
should not be making these decisions
based on personality fights. Let's do what
is right both economically, what is the best
business move? What is best for the
residents of both the city and the county?
And, what is best decision for the
taxpayers? You get good services at the
best price; I really don't care about whom
is mad at who and what the long history is
of who did what to whom. Because we're
all going to be out of these seats sooner or
later, and there will be a new Mayor one
day, a new county manager one day and
new Council people one day. It's the
system that has to keep going on and going
on. So the personalities should be
removed and let's just do the system that's
tights for all of us.

Mr. Ricciardi:

153

I think the idea of the Post Agenda,
Mr. O'Connor, is an excellent idea so we
can talk about not just the future but what
happened in the past during the
discussions at this appropriate table. If my
memory serves me right that is we always
talked about co-location we never talked
about one system. We never talked about
giving our responsibility to Allegheny
County and we never talked about taking
responsibility from Allegheny County for
mishaps and phone calls. God forbid a
911 from Harmar Township for example,
we never talked about that responsibility
because there is a liability to that also.

Sure we can help Allegheny
County as much as we can, but we have a
great system that was put together I think
back towards Mayor Pete Flaherty and it's
been working fine in the City of
Pittsburgh. I don't think there has been
any causes for lawsuits. I don't think there
has been any loss of life. I think we are
doing very fine. So I am willing to talk
about co-location, but if you go back at the
record, we never talked about one system.
Never, ever, ever.

The Chair:

Thank you. You are 100% right on
that.

Mr. Cohen:

1 voted in support of having a
combined 911 center at that location. I
still support that. I appreciate your efforts
to try to put it back together. I think it's
the right thing for the city and the county
in terms of cooperation on a very critical
function and that's our 911 function. So I
would support putting this back together

SSO OOOO

and having a Post Agenda to try make that
happen.

Mr. Diven:

First of all I would like to thank
you for taking the time to make this an
issue. I think we have kind of had the time
to let everyone's tempers cool off, and let
calmer heads prevail. And for whatever
reason that hasn't happened. I think your
stepping in and bringing the spotlight back
on the future of the 911 center is
something that is going to be critical to the
City of Pittsburgh.

I understand Council and
Councilman Ferlo's kind of uneasiness
with the potential joint venture with the
County and I can see that. But I think we
also have to look past and see what the
financial ramifications are to the City of
Pittsburgh. If we do not do this we are
going to be faced with having to
completely renew our 911 operations, our
telephones and our computers and
everything that is associated with that. It
could be a cost as high as four million
dollars. 1 think the other thing that is
pretty ominous is the fact that our system
right now is not Y2K compliant so that
means we have to upgrade all of this
within the next eight months before the
Y2K bug hits.

So we're under a very steep
financial concern and we are under a very
tight time constraint. If we do not look at
the plan that was put into place, the plan
that everyone agreed to, the plan that we
debated for a number of weeks here on
Council, we're going to be in a pretty
tough situation come next January tst. I
think it was good of you to try and kick
start this and bring the attention on it now

so if we decide hey we don't want to be
apart of the County, we have to put up a
Plan B in effect and we have to do it pretty
quickly. We have to figure out a way to
pay for it. I think the good first step is
taking the tour, and the next step after that
is to start some dialogue with a Post
Agenda and invite the members of our
emergency operations and the county
emergency operations and try and figure
out if there is a way where we can bridge
the gap and mend some fences. So I am
all on board with that and I think we only
have a short time to really get our act in
gear or else we're going to be faced with a
substantial problem.

The Chair:

This little or major rift when I was
there, there was a terrorist training session,
Federal Government was coming in there
to have a joint meeting with the city and
county. The city decided not to have it and
is taking their end down at the Convention
Center. I am told it may cost as much as
$20 thousand. So these little rifts are
getting to be expensive and I believe we
have to put a stop it.

Mr. Ferlo:

But there is a factual problem and
maybe Councilwoman McDonald can
address this, I mean all the discussion
there was never a reference about merger
and that's basically what is out there. It's
an assuming and consuming on the part of
the county the city's function. That is what
the facility is out there. Our vote and all
the discussion and debate we had talked
about a co-location and some sharing of
resources, and that's not what actually is
out there.

ee
aSa=——lleeeeeee——eeeee eee

I am very confused about what the
factual information is because I believe —- I
can actually recall the debate we had. We
held the bill up for a couple of months, we
had a public hearing. There were people
away, we held it again. There were four or
five weeks of discussion and discourse
here and I don't remember the phrase or
the legal agreement around a merger being
used and that basically is what the
equipment is that's out there. It is an
assuming of the duties and responsibilities
of the city.

The Chair:
I don't believe that's true.
Mr. Ferlo:

I wish someone could give us a
factual explanation because what I see out
there versus what you are saying now is
different than the context of what Council
agreed to in the first place.

The Chair:

Maybe I am not explaining it right.
I believe if you go and see what is there,
there are two separate units, everything is
separate. But you're buying state of the art
equipment and it is no sense having
McIntosh and Apple that won't co-exist. I
mean all of these things will exist to our
benefit. Again, showing if you read and in
effect going back to our meeting when we
had the emergency, our phone 911 system
couldn't hold it, so we had to bump into
the county for extra support. These things
are going on now anyhow. But I believe
what Iam asking you to do is keep an open
mind. I am not pushing a merger. 1 am
just saying to do what Council voted for
but I think it starts by us going out and

155

seeing what we're buying.
Mr. Ferlo:

Wouldn't it be appropriate to ask
the Mayor and the administration after
their prudence and all their due diligence
that they have engaged in for whatever
many months, independent of the
particular incident that may have caused
some rift, what is the current status? I
don't know. I have heard different
opinions from different administrative
spokes people. What is, can we please in
time for the Friday visit or whenever hear
a formal response from the administration
as to where they are? They have whether I
like it or not, the majority voted and they
have an authorizing resolution of Council
so what is the status? | Was there
actually —- when we were voting it was like
we had to have this yesterday and I
presumed it was already a signed
agreement. I was actually surprised when
there was a little bit of the rift regarding
the smell incident.

The Chair:

This center, again, it's why I urge
you to go, us to go and see it, was a joint
venture to build it together. The
agreement was there, it wasn't signed
because of the evacuation incident, I
imagine there are problems. But the
problem, my problem is if we don't resolve
it in 30 days, they're going to sublease it to
someone else, and all that equipment that
we voted to use will be gone.

Mr. Ferlo:

If there is no signed agreement,
then I assume it is all bets are off. As a
practical matter, this Council by majority
voted to amend the resolution to actually

—— Se

include the legal written language of the
tentative agreement at that time. So, I
would like to know, what actually did or
did not get signed and if something is
going to be signed, what is the written
word at this point? And is it a merger or is
it a co-location? I don't think we know,
Mr. President. I don't agree with your
characterization that we know. I don't
agree with you.

The Chair:

I am just saying the facility what
we have agreed upon you are right.

Mr. Ferlo:

J am sure it is a beautiful facility,
any time you build a new building, it is
going to look beautiful.

The Chair:

All right, the signed document has
to come to Council, but that is why I am
asking for a Post Agenda to bring all the
players here and get a straight answer.

I am not going to back up all the
answers why it hasn't happened. I just
want an answer why it isn't happening? Is
it going to happen? And all the questions
you just asked.

Ms, McDonald:

I want to ditto Councilman
Onorato's comments because I think that
that there is a great bit of truth there that
really is cutting. But none the less, needs
to be said. When it comes to Public Safety
whatever agendas are out they’re political,
personality, or otherwise need to be put
aside.

156

I commend Councilman O'Connor
for sponsoring 2 tour for the very reasons
that you're hearing from Councilman
Ferlo. There is a lot of I don't know. We
did have a Public Hearing, I believe, or it
may have been a Post Agenda that in
which we had the cooperation agreement
in front of us all the parties were at the
table, we discussed it at length. There was
still sort of we are not clear as to what this
is going to look like. Well sometimes
something put on paper can be you still
have your doubts you still are kind of
confused what it is going to look like until
you see it visibly.

This is an opportunity to get all of
our questions answered, your talking to the
very people who are running that ship, the
frontline people, and you are getting to see
the actual equipment and how it is being
used? Where it’s at? This is an excellent
opportunity to, I would say, quiet some of
our concerns so that when we do have a
Post Agenda we're not just looking at a
piece of paper and listening of the parties,
we have actually seen it. So I think this is
a great opportunity and I would urge
colleagues that are not near the East End to
try to make every effort to get there at 9
o'clock. I will be there.

The one thing I do want to ask to
Councilman Diven who will sponsor the
Post Agenda is to please alert the
administration. I am not in the mood to
hash over this whole thing all over again.
We have done -- I hate redundancy. We
already did it. We talked about it, we're
going to, it is like beating a dead horse. I
really hate that. Let's ask specific
questions to get to the real issues. Why
did they change? Specifically, not
thetoric, specifically why is there now a

change when we don't want to co-locate
there? Technically why don't we want to
co-locate there? Give me some numbers.
Give me figures as far as cost. I say that
this Post Agenda should really cut to the
chase so that we can make an informed
decision.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. We never approved
any merger. There is no merger going on
here.

The Chair:

Take the word merger out. I don't
know where it came from.

Mr. Hertzberg:

There is co-location. All we talked
about is we are actually subleasing space
that the county has, and is building. We
are also working a deal with them on
equipment as Mr. Diven stated, a deal that
is saving us a ton of money in getting
equipment that we have got to have.

I think the other item where there
is a cooperation is in teaching the 911
operators for the county where we are
already doing that. We will gain a benefit
from being teachers to the county people
that need to learn how to be 911 operators
we’ll get credit for that. But I think lost in
the whole debate over that 911 facility is
what the URA has done at this Rockwell
facility.

We or Ms. McDonald, myself the
URA whatever that entity is received a
donation from Rockwell, which is I still
think a Fortune 500 Company, but one that
has chosen to the take most of its

157

operations out of Pittsburgh and figured
that this facility wasn't useful to them.
Took a write off, donated it to the URA,
now the URA has developed 100% of that
space, gotten tenants, gotten some new
businesses so it is a great story if we forget
the little battle, unfortunate battle that I
hope will end soon. There is a great story
to be seen here in what's been done with
that facility in Ms. McDonald's District.

The Chair:

I think on that issue, I would ask —
that is why I would like to see, because I
hadn't been there myself. I ride by it in the
evening, things like that. But you go there
in the moming you see people going to
work, it looks like a small RIDC Park just
the things we wanted and I would imagine
anyone would want to work at. But if I
said it I want to strike it from the record, I
did not mean to say merger. Certainly two
different facilities so if I said that I
apologize.

Mr. Diven:

Yes, sir. The only thing I would
like to add for this is I agree with
Councilwoman McDonald. I think we
suffered for five weeks during last summer
trying to hash out all the political and all
that stuff. We need to put our cards on the
table and either do it or not do it. We need
to make a decision on what is best for
emergency operations in the City of
Pittsburgh. I think having the opportunity
to see the facility first hand is going to be a
good help to us making that kind of
decision that we need to make.

I would just ask that in our tour I
would hope that we would have some of
the city personnel at the facility, preferably

a EEENTCEOOTET

Chief Rowntree who can talk to us about --
give us some kind of contrast as to what
they're working with now? How it is
going to improve their efficiency, their
accuracy and their ability to do the job?
That way we can get an understanding of
how far of a difference this new center
would be from the old one. I have been to
the old one, but I don't know which
machines work or which machines how
they stack up against the new ones.
Having someone that works with that day
in and day out would give us another
aspect that we need to look at as well.

The Chair:

Good point. So, we will be very
clear not only on the tour, I think it's a
good suggestion to have Mr. Rowntree be
there or a representative from the EMS.

Mr. Ferlo:

Have his boss there, Director
Cannon also.

The Chair:

We will request both of them there.
I believe Rowntree was one of the people
who and Cannon worked together to build
this.

Mr. Ferlo:

I want his boss Director Cannon
there.

The Chair:

We may need the fighter. Thank
you for those reports. We will now move
to reports of committee.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

158

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1216:

Report of the Committee on Finance and
Budget for January 27, 1999, transmitting
sundry of resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1138:

Resolution repealing resolutions,
approved on various dates, authorizing the
sale of properties in various wards of the
City of Pittsburgh, in accordance with Act
No. 171 of 1984.

(A) 633 Duff Street, 2 sty. frame
house, being sold to Charles &: Crystal
Alexander, $2,500.00, Council District 6.
Amount forfeited $250.00.

(B) 6947 Kedron Avenue, 2 sty.
Inselbrick house, being sold to Lamont D.
Tomman, $2,000.00, Council District 9.
Amount forfeited $200.00.

(C) 704 Brushton Avenue, 1 sty.
brk. & title bldg. & addn., being sold to
Jill A. Smallwood, $3,000.00, Council
District 9. Amount forfeited $300.00.

(D) 7517 Bennett Street, 3 sty. brk.
hse., 1 sty. brk. gar, being sold to The
Jaymore Group, Inc., $2,000.00, Council
District 9. Amount forfeited $200.00.

(E) 7001 Susquehanna Street, 2.5
sty. fra. Hse., being sold to James B. &
Joyce Moreland, $500.00, Council District
9. Amount forfeited $100.00.

(F) 7224 Susquehanna Street, 2.5
sty. fram hse., being sold to James B &
Joyce Moreland, $1,000.00, Council
District 9. Amount forfeited $100.00.

(G) 718 Tokay Street, Lot 40 x
125, being sold to Daryl L. Banks,
$350.00, Council District 9. Amount
forfeited $100.00.

(H) 7530 Hamilton Avenue, Lot 25
x 150, being sold to Renee R. Goodson,
$600,00. Council District 9. Amount
forfeited $100.00.

(1) 1421 Adams Street, 2-1/2 story
brk. hse., 1 car gar., being sold to Mary D.
Lewis, $5,000.00. Council District 6.
Amount forfeited $500.00.

(J) 1505 Allegheny Avenue, 2 sty.
brk. hse, being sold to Marion Kelley,
$2,600.00. Council District 6. Amount
forfeited $260.00.

(K) 2108 Mazette Place, 1 sty. fra.
Hse., being sold to Earlene A. Paolino,
$5,000.00. Council District 2. Amount
forfeited $500.00.
Which was read.

Also,
Bill No. 1140:

Resolution providing for the filing
of a petition or petitions for the sale of
certain property or properties, acquired at
tax sales in accordance with Act No. 171 of
1984, “Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act”, effective December
HL, 1984.

(A) 14 Reed Street, 3° Ward,
Block 2-H, Lot 254, being sold to Melvin

E. Hantis, Sr., 3 sty., brk. hse. Situated on
a lot containing 759 sq. ft., $1,000.00.
Intended Use: Rental Units. Council
District 6.

(B) 7133-7135 Bennett Street, 13"
Ward, Block 174-J, Lot 320 & 321, being
sold to’ Viola Gillespie, two vacant lots
containing a combined area 10,125 sq. ft,
$1,000.00. Intended Use: Build a Church.
Council District 9.

(C) 7320 Bennett Street, 13”
Ward, Block 174-K, Lot 337, being sold to
Ronette D. Pierce, 2.5 sty. brk. hse.
Situated on a lot containing an area of
1,913 sq. ft., $500.00. Intended Use:
Personal Residence. Council District 9.

(D) 2604 Arlington Avenue, 16”
Ward, Block 13M, Lot 170, being sold to
Betty Wasick, vacant lot containing an
area of 8,800 sq. ft, $1,000.00. Intended
Use: Additional yard space. Council
District 3.

(E) 907 Amherst Street, 20" Ward,
Block 19C, Lot 213B, being sold to
Nicholas R. & Rachel Tomich, 2 sty. asp.
Shgl. Hse. Situated on a lot containing an
area of 1,104 sq. ft., $3,500.00. Intended
Use: Rental Unit. Council District 2.

(F) 1321 Adams Street, 21 Ward,
Block 22-F, Lot 141, being sold to Frank
MacOliver, 2.5 sty. brkn. Hse. Siutated on
a lot containing an area of 1,440 sq. ft.
$2,500.00. Intended Use: Personal
Residence. Council District 6.

(G) 1005 N. Franklin Street, 21*
Ward, Block 22L, Lot 182, being sold to
Derick L. Bamette, 3 sty. brk. hse.
Situated on a lot containing an area of

Seana aS

1,152 sq. ft., $3,500.00. Intended Use:
Investment. Council District 6.

(H) 3424 Perysville Avenue, 26"
Ward, Block 116-N, Lot 73, being sold to
Phillip Strickland, vacant lot containing an
area of 8,250 sq. ft., $800.00. Intended
Use: Additional yard space. Council
District 1.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No, 1161:

Resolution providing for an
agreement with Dickie, McCamey &
Chilcote, P.C. for professional services for
the City Controller not to exceed
$80,000.00 chargeable and payable from
account 526100, fund 1000, org. 106000,
sub 150, budget year 1999.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

160

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)
AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1217:

Report of the Committee on Public Works,
Water and Environmental Services for
January27, 1999, transmitting one
resolution to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1152:

Resolution vacating a portion of
Fall Way, between Serene Street and
Admiral Street, in the 24° Ward, 1*
Council District of the City of Pittsburgh.

Which was read.
Mr. Cohen:

Mr. President, excuse me for
interrupting but before we vote on that bill,
I would like to change my vote on Bill
1161 that we just voted on. I didn't realize
that came up under Finance. I would like
to change it to an abstention because of a
conflict of interest. I filed a paper with the
Clerk's Office.

The Chair:
Okay, note one abstention.

You have heard the reading and
tide of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1218:

Report of the Committee on Housing,
Economic Development and Promotion
for January 27, 1999, transmitting sundry
of resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 1019:

Resolution authorizing a
Cooperation Agreement or Agreements
with the Urban Redevelopment Authority
of Pittsburgh, the County of Allegheny and
the Pittsburgh City School District
providing for the Financing, Monitoring,
Implementing and Terminating of the
Fulton Building Tax Incremental
Financing District (HEARING HELD
JANUARY 12, 1999). (PRESENTED BY
MR. RICCIARDI & MR. HERTZBERG).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1020:

Resolution adopting a Tax
Increment Financing Plan Presented by the
Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh creating the Fulton Building
Tax Increment Financing District, and
making certain findings. (HEARING
HELD JANUARY 12, 1999).
(PRESENTED BY MR. HERTZBERG &
MR. RICCIARD)).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1081:

Resolution approving execution of
Contract for Disposition of Land by and
between the Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh and Continental
Communities, Ltd., or a subsidiary to be
formed for the sale of Parcel A (Part of
Block 29J Lot 8) in the Sixteenth Ward of
the City of Pittsburgh in Redevelopment

Se OO

Area No. 55 — 25" Street, East Carson
Street, 26" Street and the Monongahela

River ~ (Council District No. 3)
(PRESENTED BY MR. HERTZBERG).
Which was read.

Also,

Bill No, 1157:

Resolution Authorizing a
Cooperation Agreement or Agreements
with the Urban Redevelopment Authority
of Pittsburgh providing for the transfer of
$4,379.00 from the URA to the City to
fund community development
corporations. ---(PRESENTED BY MR.
RICCIARDI & MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes, thank you, Mr. President. I
am going to have comments on two bills.
First is 1081 and the other is 1020. On
1081 I will respectfully be voting no. That
is the development of 303 rental units on
the formally the LTV site which is now
and hopefully will be known as the
Southside Works sites. Once again for the
record however, I will say it's a top-notch
development, it is a quality development.
I think the developer will do a fine job
with design and hopefully maintaining the
property. However, I articulated my views
during the Committee Session and those
views will stand.

162

At this time I would like to make a
letter part of the record and if the City
Clerk Wasler can make sure it gets into the
records. It is dated December 29, 1998
from Mayor Tom Murphy to Gene
Ricciardi and Mr.Birru, Executive
Director of the URA. I am going to read
just two brief paragraphs.

The former PFT site between 18th
and 19 Streets was originally planned for
multi family rental development. Giving
the success of signature homes, we should
redirect our efforts and develop the PFT
site for single family sale units. This
approach will meet the needs of the
community and create a stronger and
larger home ownership sector along the
river,

By the way of this memo I am
instructing Dr. Birru to work with the
Southside community to develop a smooth
and timely implementation plan for the
development of sale units on the PFT
sight. I would like to thank Mayor
Murphy for his continued sincerity and his
continued commitment for sale homes in
the Southside neighborhood.

Getting back to the rental
development, again I don't have a problem
with the quality of the development site. I
just believe that we should be abiding by
the 1995 planning document in the
Southside that said that particular site was
supposed to be for a mixed development,
for sale units and rental units. My fear is
that we are going have to have Station
Square, Southside and now the LTV site.
It is going to be very difficult to integrate
300 rental units in such a congested area
into the Southside community.

However, I am going to make that
commitment to do my very best once it is
constructed to make it part of the
Southside neighborhood. This is not a
bias against renters. I was somewhat taken
back that those statements would be made.
Keep in mind that the Southside
community is 56 percent rental. So it is a
very nice mix. We have 56 percent rental

units in the Southside. We have
44 percent homeownership. It's a very
nice mix.

However, we do not have

anywhere in the Southside community
highly congested streets that are just all for
sale or highly congested streets that are all
rental. We have a nice mix and this
would destroy that mix. I would like to
particularly thank all of the colleagues,
however, for giving me three to six months
to do some negotiating with the
administration and the URA. Because
without that courtesy that you gave myself
and the Southside neighborhood we would
never have been able to get this
commitment from Mayor Tom Murphy
even though it is not on the LTV site, Mr.
O'Connor, it still gives us a commitment
for more sale units. Because this 56
percent rental units now with this is going
to shoot up anywhere from 62 to 65
percent rental. It's going to mess up the
nice balance that we have. But this
commitment that all of you gave me an
opportunity to deal with the administration
is going to bring it back where it should be
a nice 50/50 percent mix. I want to thank
all of my colleagues here.

The Chair:
You're talking about when you say

the PFT building, you are talking about the
tiverfront property that is behind it?

163

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes. That is correct. We are very
fortunate that the Pittsburgh Federation
Teachers working through some initiatives
with the URA, Mr. Hertzberg, took
leadership positions on it that we are able
to sell that back to the URA and we are
going to have some for sale home
ownership on there.

I have no more comments on that
particular bill. I don't know if I should go
to 1020 unless someone wants to talk to
that particular bill.

Mr. Ferlo:

I want to thank Councilman
Ricciardi for raising a number of
significant policy related issues last week.
I thought it was good discussion.
Obviously I am very excited about this
development and don't entirely agree with
the Councilman’s characterization of the
impact of this housing that he was very
eloquently explaining last week.

I only want to urge as a comment
that any of the activities that happens at
the Southside Work site including the vote
today is eventually not only going to
involve the vote and the participation of
the District Council member. In this case
it happens to be Mr. Ricciardi on the
Forbes Field, Forbes 5th corridor,
Councilman Udin being the elected
District Council representative. I just
wanted to stress how important it is that in
the appropriate stage of deal making that
the District Council member and/or the
majority of colleagues be involved early
on enough so that the administration is off
onto a tangent working so hard trying to

8 8 8 _e_ee_—_e,

bring a deal to closure having upwards of
30, 40, 50 community meetings only
towards the final 11th hour for there to be
such disagreement.

So that's not meant as a criticism of
anybody, I am just saying and reiterating
something that Councilman Diven stated
that we need to be involved early enough
so that if we have strong views and are
Tepresenting strong views from the
community it can have the direct
appropriate input early on in the deal not at
the 11th hour.

That's kind of if we can take one
lesson from the discussion there I would
hope that we would do it. But in voting
for this so called rental housing if we look
at it in its over all context, we see
disproportionately the Southside
community benefiting for single family
owner occupied housing in one
neighborhood more so I believe than any
other neighborhood at this point, to the
credit of the community and to the credit
of Mayor Murphy and his administration
and Director Birru.

So I am voting today in the context
of what all is happening on the Southside
up and down from the flats all the way
towards Station Square. I was extremely
impressed with the high degree of quality
construction that is being proposed. I just
hope that what we see and _ artistic
renderings can also often times be
embellished but I trust that continental
organization and Southside leadership
forum and the other groups are going to
hold everyone to task. And while the
designation does not carry a formal legal
historical designation, I believe they have
assigned themselves to the historical
district guidelines and the construction of

these materials and the massing, and the
scale and the like.

If anything, I think we should be
applauding the Mayor and Director Birru
for a job well. Councilman Hertzberg is
on the URA Board, this is a class
development initiative that is going to
provide great housing opportunities not
only for city residents but hopefully for
residents that don't live in the city but want
to come back to the great community of
Southside close towards riverfront, close
towards their place of work downtown, the
Oakland and the like. So if we can keep
this trend that goes to the proper growing
the city that has been the theme of this
administration and I applaud them.

Mr. Hertzberg:

I want to thank Councilman
Ricciardi for his commitment to try to
assuming this passes to try to make this
development a part of the Southside. I
know he has reservations whether it can be
done or not, but J think it is planned in a
way that it should become part of the
Southside with Councilman Ricciardi's
assistance where we have the design on
Carson Street, we have retail on the first
floor like you see on the rest of the
Southside. I think you have a plan that
shows homes that although they are going
to be new in a lot of ways resemble the
homes on the rest of the Southside.

So I think if Councilman Ricciardi
and the community will try to work with
this development, I think it can end up
being a very successful development and
fit right in.

Mr. Onorato:

S=—— eee eee

I, first of all, I don't think anyone
will question the quality of what is going
to happen here. This company I have
heard has done some great work. But what
is the debate of the day is the planning and
the decision of where we want to be
moving this city. This is the third time
that I can recall on a major development
that we have had the exact same
discussion. One being Crawford Roberts
in the Hill, there was an issue over how
many owner occupied versus rentals when
I first got sworn in seven years ago.
Council lost out on that issue. We wanted
more owner occupied, we wanted a mix.
It wasn’t one or the other, but it was
heavily lopsided toward rental.

There was another issue on the
North Side along the riverfront with
Lincoln properties up scale rentals it's a
hundred percent rentals next to the new
ALCOA construction and there was debate
over having a mixed use there, and it went
to rentals. Now we are faced with the
same discussion again on a great piece of
property on the Southside, another great
development and there was a balance
requested and that is the majority rental
with the approximately 50 for sale units
which is a great mixed use.

Once again the final result is
hundred percent rental. I mean there is a
trend developing here that disturbs me. It
is not that the quality is not good, not that
the developer is not good, the trend is that
the finances of these deals are forcing us
into 100% rentals every time we get to the
discussion of should it be mixed or not. [I
think this is a golden opportunity to have
mixed use, you were not dominating with
owner occupied, the advantage of doing
some owner occupied is that you spread
the wealth around in that you have more

165

individuals taking stake in the community.
You would have fifty owners in addition
to the large owner of the development, of
the rental complex, as opposed to one
investment company owning all the
development.

T think it is a dangerous precedent
to constantly always go to 100% percent. J
think mixed uses are the best for our
communities. I would have to say today I
am just going to vote no even though I
know it appears the votes are here and just
as a protest vote to say mixed use is
important to all of us. It is an issue that
was in my district, it was an issue in the
Hill District, it is an issue now in the
Southside and it is going to continue to
come forward as we develop these areas. I
think owner occupied has a place doesn't
have to dominate, doesn't have to be
exclusive, but has a place on these
developments. My fear is it gets squeezed
out every time we close the deal. They
should be part of the deal.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I just have to clarify the record, that
one of my colleagues talks about 54
community meetings in the Southside, let's
be very clear that at least 50 of those 54
meetings were with a steering committee
of three. Just for the viewing audience of
the Southside I am not adamantly arguing
this because I have already argued and
articulated my views of opposition at the
last week committee session. Thank you.
On a different bill if --

The Chair:
lam going to vote for this bill, but

enough discussion. But also I think it is
very clear for you and now Mr. Onorato

are sending a strong message what your
intentions are for the future of Southside.
I know you have lobbied very hard to
make this thing work and make it the high
quality that it is.

Again, I think you are sending a
strong message through us and the
administration and URA that you have to
be involved in your community and your
community has to be involved. So with all
do respect to your hard work on it, I think
it probably wouldn't be there without your
initiative. We will also -- we're not all
supporting it, but it will pass today, but I
think it does send a clear message that we
are all concerned and we will follow your
leadership in the future.

Mr. Udin:

Just so that the record is balanced,
there is an additional element that needs to
be considered when we are trying to
design an appropriate mix. And that is
especially in cases where there are public
monies or tax dollars or rebates or any
kind of benefits like that involved, it is
important that we use the influence of
Council to assure that there is a class mix
as well and a racial mix. So that the entire
city becomes less segregated. As you
know Pittsburgh is one of the most
segregated cities in the north racially and
class wise.

So we need to try to mix the
housing pattern and integrate it
economically, integrate it racially, and
then it will be easier to integrate the
schools. One of the most difficult reasons
why we have segregated schools in
Pittsburgh is because the housing is so
segregated. So I think that the discussion
is a very important one and we need to

166

use the city dollars investment in these
projects to create a truly diverse and
integrated society.

Mr. Ricciardi:
Yes, thank you, colleagues.
Regarding Bill 1020 that's the tax

incremental financing plan, the TIF for the
Fulton building in the City of Pittsburgh.
Colleagues, it should be viewed in the
public I am sure the public has heard us
several times that the TIF moneys that are
coming back to this particular project is
not going into any infrastructure needs.
That's very important to know. The TIF
money coming back into this project is
going into the building itself, the asset
itself. And I think that gives us reason and
it gives us the ability or at least the
foundation to place certain criteria into the
legislation or even one would call it a
Testriction into the legislation.

As you know before City Council I
proposed the living wage ordinance. I had
believed that if you were going to take part
in public subsidies, this is a public
subsidy. If you were going to participate
in public subsidies that you should pay the
living wage. Well this is a continuation of
that thought.

I believe here in the City of
Pittsburgh and it is only in faimess to all
the other hotels in the central business
district in the City of Pittsburgh, that if this
particular company doing the Fulton
Building is going to receive public
subsidies, they should not only be paying a
living wage but they should also be part of
a labor organization and at least the
concept of one. Colleagues, in eight years
I have always had my amendments in
writing and I do apologize for this. I am

going to be asking City Council to waive
the rules of City Council so I can present
an oral amendment here today.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ricciardi:

The amendment reads for Bill 1020
section eight Sage properties shall enter
into a certified labor agreement with a
bonafide labor organization recognized by
the National Labor Relations Board.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Mr. Ricciardi:

I was very pleased that the
developers of the Fulton building entered
into a similar pact with the building trades
organization. I thank them for that and
this is just a continuation if you are going
to take public subsidies, if it is not going
into the infrastructure but into the asset
itself. I think you should not only pay a
decent wage but I think you should be part
and be participating with a labor
organization no different than the other
hotels in the central business district. It is
not going to be fair to the other hotels in
the central business district if this
organization takes public subsidies, does
not pay a certain rate. Thank you.

Mr. Udin:

I was out of town yesterday and I
was not able to determine whether or not
the Sage had sent correspondence to
colleagues indicating their intention. I
know that is what we had requested at last
Wednesday’s meeting. But I haven't read
my mail, did anyone recall?

Mr. Diven:

I asked for them to give us
something in writing and I haven't
received it and that's why I am going to.
vote no on this.

Mr. Udin:

I am in support of Councilman
Ricciardi's legislation.

Ms. McDonald:

The only concem that I would have
with the amendment, I have no problem
with the spirit of the amendment. But Sage
has verbally communicated with me that
they would indeed employ for construction
and for the management of the facility, city
employees as well as and particularly
minorities who are under employed in our
community according to every benchmark
study I have ever read.

The question that I would put then
if we're going to put in an amendment that
says unions only, then it is incumbent
upon the unions to employ African
American's and City of Pittsburgh
workers. Now if the unions are willing to
do that, then I am willing to go with hey
let's stay union. If they're not willing to do
that, then IJ am not willing to just you
know focus in and very myopically engage
ourselves and pigeon hole ourselves into
this. Sage has committed to diversity. 1
want diversity. Number one. Number one
I want diversity. I want to see all kinds of
folks working there including people that
look like me. I want to see City of
Pittsburgh workers there.

So I am not sure how this

eee
See

amendment is going to impact. I
understand the spirit of it but for this
particular amendment I am going to
abstain because I would prefer to let Sage
communicate back to us or a
representative of the URA whatever, what
exactly their plan is. I do agree Union but
only, only if it includes us.

Mr. Udin:

I fully agree with Councilwoman
McDonald's comments and from what I
have seen the hotel workers union is
probably one of the most integrated unions
with the highest percentage and number of
African Americans included in the union
of all the unions that I have seen with the
possible exception of the hospital workers
at 1199.

Ms. McDonald:

Let me respond to that. I agree
with Councilman Udin that I found the
same thing out. I have no problem with
the amendment if it read indeed that they
would engage in a contract with that
particular union. But my understanding
and, Councilman Ricciardi, please clarify
that the amendment is to also engage in
construction, that's the bone of contention
from me.

Mr. Ricciardi:

There already is an agreement with
the Pittsburgh Building Trades and the
developers of the Fulton Building and it’s
a labor agreement and they started
negotiating around December. So that’s a
side agreement on a side bar that they have
met on their own. This amendment here
will make sure that any of the employees
that are working in the facility receive not

only a living wage but receive the
protections of what a labor collective
union would offer such as for example the
hotel and restaurant employees I believe
local 57.

Also it is a faimess issue that other
hotels, but if I understand your question
regarding the construction of the facility,
my amendment does not deal with that.
But I want to be honest with you; there is
already an agreement that was signed
between the Pittsburgh Building Trades
and the developers of the Fulton Building.
How that agreement deals with the
workforce I am unaware of it.

Ms. McDonald:

So the amendment -- to be clear
your amendment deals with the
employment in terms of managing and
running that facility?

Mr. Ferlo:
Post construction employment.
The Chair:

If it only deals with that, thank you
Ms. McDonald, for bringing that up. Sage
Properties shall enter into a post
construction certified labor agreement. I
thank both you and Mr. Ferlo for clarifying
that for me.

Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you, Mr. O'Connor. One of
the reasons why I raised this issue last
week when we were at the table with
Dr. Birru, I don't want to vote for tax
increment financing at least in the central
business district. Now I am willing to

168

—C——OoOaaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

look at smaller size hotels at the
neighborhood level] or obviously have a
direct vote on things outside the city. But
in terms of the central business district
where you have a concentration of major
hotels like the William Penn, the Double
Tree, and the Hilton, and the like all of
which have a formal union agreement with
a number of unions, including the primary
union local 57 and the hotel restaurant
employees, I don't think it is fair for us to
intervene in the market place and help
subsidize and give an additional benefit to
this new hotel.

By the way I am totally in favor
obviously as I have stated for many, many
months. I think this is another great plus
for the Mayor and Dr.Biruw and his
administration. The Fulton Building is a
historically significant building. If we are
going to grow the city and hopefully if we
do get Plan B and the needed expansion of
the Convention Center we are looking at
additional hotel rooms badly needed in the
downtown corridor not out necessarily at
the new airport.

But I am very concerned that with
the level playing field that exists between
the other hotels and the manner in which
they need to operate, you know the bottom
line for the hotel rooms, conference ball
rooms. This hotel is going to have more
staying, lodging rooms as opposed to a
ballroom per say but there should at least
still be a level playing field. So I am very
much in favor as I spoke last week about
making sure that there be a bonafide labor
organization. I don't think it is appropriate
for us to pick the labor organization in this
resolution obviously, but I appreciate the
phrase bonafide labor organization.
Because there are a number of unions that
should be considered and a rising vote will

169

hopefully lift a rising tower will hopefully
lift everyone's boat. And if we are going
to have better employment, post
employment, we already know there are
trades agreement in place, but if we are
going to up the standard of living locally, I
think it needs to be what the public dollars
support that we are giving this project. So,
I am very pleased and very supportive of
the resolution.

Mr. Hertzberg:

I know Dr. Birru has always felt
there could be legal entanglements with
this kind of provision, but I am not sure
what they are. I have tried to analyze it
from a standpoint of what the legal
problems could be. I mean we're certainly
here offering this company something in
the form of tax increment financing and
we have already created a number of
conditions and this is just another
condition that we believe is in the best
interest of the city. If there is some legal
problem with it, then I think we need to
take that chance and give it a shot here. If
there is going to be battle then there will
be one and if there is no clear precedent on
it, hopefully we will win the battle.

Mr. Ferlo:

I want to make one point also
because I know I am sure the editorial
boards will be attacking us on this issue.
Certainly their right wing Tribune Review
and the right wing editorial board at least
on labor issues the Post Gazette. But this
is good business here in addition to my
own personal philosophies and support of
unions. What I am concerned about is if
we are going to invest all of this money
and we want the Fulton Building to be off
and running with Sage Hotel Systems and

whatever they are going to name this new
hotel, the worst thing that could happen is
for picket lines and for conventions be
they labor organizations or there are many
big companies, corporations, unions,
others that will come and visit to this city
hopefully going to the Convention Center.
The worst thing we can do is have the kind
of disruption or this anomaly where one
hotel happens to be non-union.

I don't think that is good business
sense. I think in this vote we are not only
making a philosophical statement about
the quality of life that we want for these
employees, I just think it is good business.
I don't think it is a good way for us to
protect our investment in this tax
increment financing proposal you know if
we have this situation where they can
stand out alone. I don't think that is a
good -- I don't think that is even a prudent
business decision.

Mr. Diven:

Yes, sir. First of all, 1 am glad that
we formalized an amendment that will
require them to have a union workforce in
the hotel. I asked for that information to
be presented before this vote today and for
whatever reason it wasn't. I think there has
been a commitment made and they said
they were going to do, but I think it goes
back to Mr. Ricciardi's point. There was a
commitment to have mixed use or rental
and home ownership on the Southside site
with his legislation and for whatever
reason they came back and found out that
wasn't as economically advantageous so it
changed. | think it is important for us to
get some kind of clarification and lock
them in if we are going to provide them
with the financial incentives that we are
offering this deal.

170

Having said that, I am going to be
voting against this legislation. I will vote
for Councilman Ricciardi's amendment but
I will be voting against this legislation.
The reason why I am voting against this
legislation is because I believe with all the
money that we are placing into Plan B and
making that part of downtown Pittsburgh,
a first day attraction or place that is going
to be a critical mass for everything going
on in the city, I can't see why we would
have to subsidize the hotel's development.
I think it is something that it might not be
economically viable today but in two or
three years the climate will exist where
this hotel could stand on its own merits. I
say this because in my research in
reviewing this project they talked about
how the only bank that would finance was
the bank of Nova Scotia which was
something that I thought was ironic
considering we just gave two $15 million
TIF's to two of our local banks. Now we
want a development downtown and this
company has to go outside of the country
in order to get financing.

But getting back to the point, they
said they couldn't go for more money in
doing this project and they had to fill that
gap with a TIF. The reason why they
couldn't go for more money was because
of the vacancy rates on hotel rooms.
Specifically they stated out that the
vacancy on weekend nights are what drove
the financial outlook of what they would
take in down to the point where they
couldn't ask for the amount of money that
they needed to make this project viable.

With adamant of Plan B and
bringing two new stadiums and bringing
an expanded Convention Center that is
triple the size and with the first day
attraction right a minutes walk across the

bridge into the North Side, people are
going to want to stay in that hotel. They
are going to want to stay in that hotel not
for business during the week but on the
weekends. I believe that it's a situation
where we have to look at the natural
market should be able to take care of this
hotel's ability to profit or not.

I think by coming in and
subsidizing it right now with the use of a
TIF in two or three years when those
vacancy rates go up as a result of all the
investment we are making in Plan B, there
is going to be enough income from that
hotel so that they don't need a TIF. So I
believe that this project can wait and
probably should wait. I think even though
it’s a small amount compared to some of
the other TIF's I think we have to be able
to make sure that we don't start jumping in
on every project. We have to be able to
evaluate it and look at it that the climate is
going to change within the next three or
four years, It is going to make this project
viable on its own merits. So let the
developer wait it out until it's viable
enough for them to do it instead of having
the city come in and pick up a portion of
the check for making this development

happen. So that's why J will be voting
against this legislation today.
Mr. Cohen:

My initial reaction to this

development of the Fulton Building when
it first came across my desk was the same
as Councilman Diven's and I understand
his position, and I respect his position. I
think that’s what has changed my mind on
this development and an issue that I don't
think has really been brought up yet here
this morning is the historic character of
that building. That is an old majestic

171

building. And when I looked into it more
deeply and found out what this Sage
Company is going to be doing with this
building and how they're going to great
lengths to preserve the historic character of
this building including the rooms,
including the dramatic arch way right on
the Allegheny River, including apparently
there are stained glass windows that need
to be uncovered that were blackened out
during World War Two, it is very, very
expensive to do that and Art Zigler from
the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks
Foundation addressed this issue at our
Public Hearing. That convinced me when
I saw the tremendous care that they are
taking to bring back the old majesty and
beauty of this building and how expensive
that is, it costs millions of dollars to do
that.

It convinced me that it was worth
an investment by the City of Pittsburgh to
have that happen. That really is kind of a
gateway building as you look at from the
north shore and something that we do want
to preserve and we do want to beautify ina
way that Sage will do it. They're experts at
it. I am convinced that they will do it
night. I think it is worth this investment.

The Chair:

I have one concer, Mr. Ricciardi.
In fact to the credit of this company I
found out they actually get a federal
historic tax break too. So they know the
game and they really going in and getting a
benefit but that is to their credit. They
know the deal and that's probably why they
can invest so much money. I certainly
support the idea. I think this kind of ties
up what we want to do is hire people that
Tepresent the vast majority of city residents
whether it be black, white of all color that

= lle

they have an opportunity and this is
certainly the union I think that is the most
diversified. So, I certainly would want to
support that.

One question I have and if I am
looking at the future whether we are
setting a precedent that would maybe
come back and bite us. If all of the unions
agree to say a 10% increase that is one
thing, I don't know that each hotel union
can ask if they bid their own. So I am
curious if we say you have to use this
union.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Oh no, I didn't say you have to a
particular union. We said a bonafide --

The Chair:

That is the thing I am worried
about, are there other unions? I don't
know if every hotel worker gets a 10%
raise and they negotiate that is fine. If one
hotel says well we have it, legally they
can't go anywhere else and we want a
50% increase, not saying that would
happen, I wouldn't want to tie the hands of
any company. So that's my fear of sending
a terrible business message that if we force
them to use someone who they may not
want to although this company said they
agreed to use them.

Mr. Ferlo:

The amendment in no way
stipulates any specific labor organization.
It only says that there shall be a
recognizable, certifiable labor
organization. We're not getting involved

172

The Chair:
More than one hotel.
Mr. Ferlo:

There are any number of unions
that I am sure would love an opportunity
to represent the employees of this new
hotel in addition to Local 57. That's really
something that is between the labor
movement and their ability to organize and
communicate to those employees.

The Chair:
Do you know if hotels bid
themselves? In other words, if the

carpenters get 2 raise, it is across the board
raise. If one hotel —-

Mr. Ferlo:

But these unions are separate from
the building trades. The building trades --

The Chair:

I am using that as an example.
Does each hotel negotiate their own deal?

Mr. Ferlo:

The building trades negotiate
across the board typically. Once in awhile
they will make a separate deal depending
on a particular situation. Each one of the
hotels downtown has a separate labor
agreement even if it is the same union. I
think you will find that possibly the
agreement in one hotel has a different
characteristic than another. They always
strive for a baseline agreement for
contributions of health and welfare and for
the wage whether you are working at the

eee SSS eee

Hilton, the William Penn, the Double
Tree. But I don't see why we even have to
get involved at that level.

I think the only thing Mr.
Ricciardi's resolution is saying that in
addition to the commitment that this
Council is making financially for the
construction of the hotel, we are very
concemed that our TIF dollars and our
public investment afterwards create a
higher level of meaningful employment
and that there be a recognizable bonafide
labor organization proposed employment.

Mr. Udin:

I would just like to add to
Councilman Ferlo’s, I think very much like
the hospital workers there is single
Pittsburgh local that represents the hospital
workers at each of the hospital. Each
hospital doesn't have its own local. I think
the hotel and restaurant workers are
organized in a similar way. But you can
be sure that that particular union is not the
only union who is interested in organizing
restaurant and hotel workers. Just like
1199, the African American Workers
Union recently won they voted to have the
African American Workers Union
represent the hospital workers.

So there are other unions
competing for that membership just the
same way that the African American
Workers Union may well be interested in
competing for the hospital and hotel
workers. I am certain that they are one
they are certified and they are interested
and they're hungry and competitive. So
this legislation does not identify any
particular union, it just says some certified
collective bargaining agencies. But all of
that can be avoided if labor unions follow

173

their own creed and diversify before
competitive unions are necessary to be
created. I mean that's really what would
avoid this in the first place.

The Chair:

I certainly support the spirit of it. I
would ask for a legal interpretation that we
can do that and J will support it. But I
would like a legal document. Also, again
if which is different hotels and
Tepresentatives, in case, my fear is if there
is a steel mate for whatever reason,
whether it be personalities or what that all
of a sudden that this company is tied to
one group or individuals who for whatever
reason isn't working, I wouldn't want us to
tie their hands to be able to go to another
union is certainly a feasibility.

Again what Mr. Ricciardi is talking
about, at least we don't have the ability to
say prevailing wage because there
probably isn't a prevailing wage for a
bartender or cleaning person whatever.
Hopefully someday that comes and
hopefully the President will get his
minimum wage through to at least start the
ball rolling, so there is a decent wage for
everyone.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I believe we need a vote on the
amendment.

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote

aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

ee
eee eee

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Ferlo

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Diven voted no on Bill 1019 and
1020. Mr. Diven, Mr. Onorato, and Mr.
Ricciardi voted no on Bill 1081)

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. COHEN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1148:

Report of the Committee on Lands,
Buildings and Procurement for January 27,
1999, transmitting one resolution to
Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 1148:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements or use of
existing Agreements and/or Contract or
Contracts, or use of existing Contracts,
and for the purchase of materials, supplies
and equipment and/or services in
connection with the Renovations and
Maintenance of Various Public Buildings
and elevators; and providing for the

174

payment of the costs thereof, not to exceed
$190,000.00.

Which was read.
The Chair:
You

title of the
bills?

have heard the reading and
bills, any discussion on the

Bill is now ready for final action.
All those in favor of the passage of the bill
vote aye when your names are called; all
those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call roll.

The ayes and noes were taken

agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bill has received the legally

required number of votes and has passed
finally.

The Chair:

Under motions and resolutions. I
have an appointment of Jacqueline
Morrow to the Pension Trust Fund.

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTS:

S=—=—eeeeSSeeeeeeeeeeelleeeeeeee ee

No. 1220 A resolution appointing
Jacqueline Morrow, Solicitor, City of
Pittsburgh, as a member of the City of
Pittsburgh's comprehensive municipal trust
fund board term to expire January 31,
2003.

MR. FERLO moved to adopt.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

The Chair:

Before we open to continue
motions and resolutions, I would like to
announce today at two o'clock we have a
Public Hearing concerning the Allegheny
County Board of Elections place before
qualified voter of the City of Pittsburgh.
That referendum will be today and I
believe it is televised.

We have a Public Hearing at three
o'clock tomorrow conceming property at

920 Duquesne Boulevard.
Mr, Udin:
On the Public Hearing this

afternoon, Mr. President, just a point of
information. Director Stanley Lowe has
notified me that he will be unable to be
present at the Public Hearing. He will be
represented by the Director of Operation
Attomey Keith Kenar (phonetic).

Ms. McDonald:

Thank you, Mr. President. I am
speaking on be half of the experience that I
have had in chairing the committee on
Parks, Recreation and Youth Policy. Since
the resignation of Director Faith Gallo |

have been told that there will be a search
for a new director of this department. Jn
this case I see no reason for a search, it’s a
no brainer here. You have Assistant
Director Duane Ashley who has worked
there for 20 something years can run that
department, has done so in the absence of
Director Gallo when she was off ill, he ran
that department he's been doing that. He
has a rapport and the respect of all the
folks that work in Parks and recreation.
He is an excellent individual.

I don't understand why we are
looking, why we are even thinking of a
search and I would urge my colleagues to
please express if you feel that if we have
someone within our own ranks that can
take over in allotable manner, in a
wonderful manner, then I say we should
look at who we have. I am sending a
message over to the administration you
need to cease and desist from this search.
You already have someone’ you have to
search no where. Just take Duane Ashley
he's like I said he has on many occasions
handled it, the whole department. He has
the rapport. Just go ahead and appoint him
as director. Whatever director comes
before Council they have to be confirmed.

I don't want to have to be the
squeaky wheel because I am telling you
right now I am not going to confirm
anybody else. I am going to confirm
Duane Ashley that's it. He runs the
department, he knows that department and
I don't understand why we need to go
anywhere else. In this case we have one of
our own. I would just hope that, I had told
Councilman Ricciardi of my intentions, of
my concerns that we need to cut the
madness of this search.

Mr. Diven:

re
a

First of all, I would like to
commend Councilwoman McDonald for
bringing this to our attention and tell her
that she has my vote with her if it comes to
not confirming anyone else but
Mr. Ashley. I think what we need to be
doing here is sending a message to
everyone that works in Parks and
Recreation, here is a guy that came in and
started at the bottom and through hard
work and through a lot of dedication has
worked himself up to the second spot. The
first spot should be rightfully his. I think
that sends the message out to every other
Parks and Rec. employee that if you work
hard and you are dedicated to improving
Parks and Recreation for the City of
Pittsburgh that you are going to have
chance to advance.

I think that by going out and
having a national search and coming back
and selecting someone else it's slap in the
face to everyone of those Parks and
Recreation employees who see Duane as
someone like themselves, who started day
one, knows what it is like working in one
of the centers, knows what it is like to
work your way up through dedication and
hard work. Having him move into the
director spot would be one more incentive
for them to continue on their hard work
and to do more with less. It would also
send a positive morale message to all the
employees in that department that if you
work hard you're going to succeed just like
the Director Mr. Ashley has done in his
career with the Pittsburgh Parks and
Recreation.

So I am committed to
Councilwoman McDonald's position, I
think we should not even consider anyone
else. I think if it comes to not confirming

176

anyone else, I think I am willing to put my
vote with hers in a block and move in that
direction.

Mr. Ferlo:

I think everyone knows how I feel
about the former director. For at least the
last two years I have expressed my
concems privately to the administration
and to the Mayor that he is possessed with
some great talent within the Parks
Department.

Obviously I have lobbied and
supported Mr. Ashley many times in the
past, and certainly have made my views
known to the administration and to the
Mayor. It's unfortunate we have to get into
this public discourse here about employees
because there are a lot of great employees
at the administrative level and all levels
within the Parks Department. I don't know
if this search is any more serious than the
search for the fire chief where we also
have a lot of great talent.

I have actually urged our
rethinking about that position and what its
duties could or shouldn't be, but it is
always uncomfortable having these public
debates when we are trying to lobby
because I am worried it is going to have
the opposite effect if we make our views
known. But there is a great talent in the
Parks Department at all levels including
the administrative level and 1 would hope
that we don't have this vacuum. I mean
they should fill, they have known for
sometime of the decision on the part of the
former director to resign. I realize they
have a lot of things on their plate, but
sometimes leaving these vacuums doesn't
help the situation. Not only the morale of
the department, but now we get into this

Ss oa

debate about having to lobby for
individuals within the department. It is
just an unfortunate situation. Same thing
goes for the Fire Bureau.

We have a gentleman who is doing
a great job in there now. I mean maybe
the administration wants to rethink and I
have actually made the suggestion to them
about bifurcating the job function there.
But I would just hope that they in addition
to all the other tasks that they have to
complete if they could just act
expeditiously and prudently on these
appointments and employee changes,
because having a-vacuum really doesn't
help the situation including even like
Public Works. I see these very much
related.

I mean the situation where there is
this public scrutinizing of an individual in
the Public Works Department is supervisor
who has now been put on I guess five days
pending termination, you know I just don't
know the basis for it. 1 know a lot about
the department and staff contributions and
if you are going to get rid of this
individual, I would say you would have to
get rid of about another twenty individuals.
So, I don't know how their managing
department I think the problem is at the
top-level management of Public Works not
at the supervisory level down to picking on
this one gentleman, Mr. Paolino. I only
say his name because it happens to be
something that was in the paper. If you are
going to start rolling in people and making
that kind of change, then I would ask that
you do it equitably, fairly,
non-discriminatory fashion and do it
across the board. That has not happened
in the Public Works Department. If you
want to start rolling heads at public works,
start at the top.

Mr. Onorato:

Thank you. I want to-- J will be
brief. I want to stay focussed. Duane
Ashley has my full support also. I think
the reason you are hearing this we have
had years of dealing with Duane and he is
unbelievable. He is extremely loyal to the
Mayor, he is extremely productive and he
knows how to deal with Council as a
separate legislative body, separate and
distinct from the executive branch.

I would just hope and ask that my
fear with a conversation like this before
there is a person nominated that the
administration don't take this as a negative.
This is not an attempt by Council to grab
administrative powers. I think what you
are hearing today is, we have an individual
who is extremely qualified and has done a
great job and this is more about him than
about telling someone who to appoint.
This is about somebody we believe is a
perfect example of a Pittsburgher who has
put his time in, but put it in a great way
and deserves this opportunity. I mean
Duane has done a great job from what I
can see and I would be more than happy to
support him from for confirmation.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you. Mr. President, this is a
very important discussion today and I
thank Councilwoman McDonald for
bringing it forward. Hopefully the
information is not correct regarding the
national search. I remember _ this
happening one other time over the last few
years when we brought in a Director of
Public Works from the New York area
upstate New York and at that time we had
the three or four very qualified individuals

——oo

in public works and we bypassed them.

I chaired Parks and Recreation
several years ago and I can see not only is
Mr. Ashley very dedicated, very articulate,
very smart, he knows Parks and Recreation
but just as important he is supported by the
employees the overwhelming number of
employees with Parks and Recreation. I
mean he is just excellent for morale. Not
only sends a good message that you can
work through the system but right now Mr.
Ashley is support by I think everyone I
talked to of Parks and Recreation and that
is just so important. He has done the job
in the past and maybe after Mr. Udin
speaks we can have a joint motion for a
vote of confidence for Mr. Duane Ashley
for director of parks and recreation and I
will wait for Ms.McDonald to first
present that. Thank you.

Mr. Udin:

I would certainly not want to step
on the prerogative of the administration to
select their personnel. I remember how
angry I was when we were having the
hearing with the Citizen Police Review
Board and Mr. Sirabella cut off the
cameras to prevent Council from having a
publicized hearing. It interfered with the
prerogative of Council to have that public
debate. So I would not want to interfere
with that.

However, I think it is appropriate
that we do send to the administration a
sense of support and one for the principle
of giving incentive and encouragement to
people within our ranks when they work
hard and do a good job that there is a light
at the end of the tunnel that they can arrive
at the top. It's a very, very important
message to send not only to Mr. Ashley,

but to all of the people who are working in
the various departments to note that they
can achieve that if they work hard. So I
certainly would join in with the rest of
Council in supporting that sense of
confidence and support of Mr. Duane
Ashley as the Director of the Department
of Parks and Recreation.

The Chair:

I certainly want to echo, I ran a
restaurant chain for over 20 years and
every time I] went outside I made a
mistake, I regretted it. The person coming
in had all of these great credentials but
didn't know our system never worked out.
And I was always better with the person
who had his heart and sole or her heart and
sole in our company, our customers. Now
Mr. Ashley has been passed over twice
you know. First time when this
administration came in I think he went to
work for the county. Fortunately he came
back.

The second time when they put a
national search on, Mr. Ricciardi, you will
remember this, they went out and hired a
person from Colorado. Sounded very
qualified, unfortunately he was here only a
short time. He had an illness in his family
and had to leave. But I remember when he
walked around we asked him I went to
meet with him on certain issues I believe I
was the chairperson of parks, the answer I
got he wasn't going to do anything for six
months until he learned the system. Come
on. That's what we did the last time we
did a national search.

We have 18 centers 33 pools, 160
parks if you hire from outside the city, it
will take them six months to find their way
around. So I certainly want to send a

a60CCEeSeS6q3q0u0a0aqaelea. SSS

strong message to hire within. We all
support Mr. Ashley; he's done an excellent
job. I think almost everyone involved with
him has, we don't want to tie the hands of
the administration but certainly don't go
outside the city, don't go outside the parks
system. I think it would send a terrible
message both for morale, for all the city
employees. I think this is a whether it be
the Fire Department we have people with
ten, 20, 30 years they don't care who is in
office they will be here, they will be
dedicated soldiers no matter who is in
Council or who is in the Mayor's Office.
So I certainly would support your initiative
to send that message however you see fit.

Mr. Udin:

One more point before
Councilwoman McDonald has the last
word, I just wanted to point out how much
respect Mr. Ashley for not lobbying for the
position. He did not lobby me, he did not
lobby anyone to my knowledge and I am
being lobbied all the time from a number
of different directions. He did not lobby,
he just did his job and I appreciate that and
that should be rewarded as well.

The Chair:

I think that's an excellent to this
man's character J never got a phone call
from him.

Ms. McDonald:

Thank you. I think Councilman
Diven hit on an excellent point, that he is
home grown and that this is an indication
that you can move up through the ranks
and that you grow as the city grows. I
agree with Councilman Udin, I guarantee
you Duane is probably very angry with me

179

and I don't care. Because he is not going
to go it he is not going to lobby. He does
the same anything he just does his job
that’s all that man does, he wants to do his
job and do it well. He is committed to
Parks and Recreation and all of those
programs, that's it. He is not a political
animal.

So sometimes I may cross that line,
we have all crossed the line from our
legislative hats to here we are stepping
into the executive branch. We do it, we do
it all the time, all the time. But in this
case, I really rarely will do that, but in this
case I will do that because he is not the
politician. He is just a very dedicated hard
worker and I am going to step foot. I am
taking the initiative to say that 1 want to
give him a vote of confidence that I don't
think your search needs to be very broad
based. I think you have the person, the
best person already in your ranks.

Talso have to commend the deputy
directors, the assistant directors, Mary
Esther VanShura is excellent, excellent.
She would be an excellent choice as well.
The only reason I am saying Duane is he's
put in a couple of decades, a couple
decades, That's a long time. We also have
Mary Platt-Coles who is also excellent. In
fact, I told Councilman Ricciardi when we
decided to mutually exchange committees,
I said you are not going to have any
problems in Parks and Rec. They give you
the information, they are loyal, they are
dedicated and they are clear. So it's a
wonderful committee, and it’s a wonderful
staff, It is just at this time I think Duane
has paid his dues and he maybe angry with
me at the time.

Lastly, I would hope that this does
not backfire. Because that was also an

element that was brought up to me, will
this backfire? I would hope it wouldn't
because I mean it is like a taste of your
own medicine. We're now being as we try
to grow this city in terms of stadiums and
Convention Centers and what have, what
had happened in Harrisburg backfired on
all the residents of the City of Pittsburgh
and that's not right. Just because someone
spoke up and said yeah we want the
stadiums we want we think we have the
vote, it backfired. I would hope that this
wouldn't backfire as well. I think this is a
good thing to do and it shows and it sends
an excellent message to all the employees
throughout the city that yeah we will let
you grow and rise to the top.

The Chair:

So that it doesn't backfire, Linda
would you correct me if I am wrong, it
takes five votes to hire a new director of
Council.

Ms. McDonald:
Confirm.
The Chair:

So a person can't start without our
confirmation, right?

Mr. Ferlo:

You mean like the fire chief? I
hope we're not going to get into a
constitutional battle with the Mayor. I
mean the Mayor knows he has some great
staff people in the parks department. I
would ask that Councilwoman McDonald
draft or Councilman Ricciardi either draft
an appropriate memo from Council that we
can all sign alluding Duane's capabilities

180

and urging the Mayor to hire from within,
give consideration to Mr. Ashley or
whatever. But maybe they can just draft a
letter and we can all sign it.

The Chair:

And for whatever reason he is not
doing the job in a year, put it in writing let
him grow give him more training,
whatever assistance. There is a way to do
it, not that he needs it.

Mr. Ferlo:

I don't think that is a problem. I
hope we don't get into a political fight over
this with the Mayor.

The Chair:
Thope they are listening.
Mr. Cohen:

I am also very supportive of
Mr. Duane Ashley, I think he would make
an excellent director and certainly
extremely supportive of Mary Esther
VanShura. I don't think we need to do it in
a motion. I don't think we need to do it in
a motion, I think we already sent the
message.

But, I want to talk about a different
issue this morning and that is Plan B. Two
years from now we may look back on
Pittsburgh and wonder how it happened.
How did it happen that the Pirates and
perhaps the Steelers left town? How could
the powers that be lost the once and future
glory of the Pirates and the Steelers and
the world wide publicity that they bring to
Pittsburgh. Even more importantly, how
could they let billions of dollars of new

development in addition to stadiums go
down the drain? How could this happen
when these teams could have been secured
in Pittsburgh and this development could
have happened without a single tax
increase and without city, county or state
increases? It could all have been done
with current tax dollars and with private
owner contributions.

Mr. President, the next week will
tell whether this gloomy scenario will
prevail or whether there will be a new day,
anew plan for Pittsburgh.

Art Rooney's comments yesterday
reported in the paper today I think should
make everybody who thinks that the
Steelers are forever in Pittsburgh should
think again. It is rug-cutting time in
Harrisburg. The state legislature as we all
know will vote on whether to raise the
debt ceiling not taxes but debt ceiling. In
fact they are going to be cutting taxes in
Harrisburg not raising them it looks like.
But to raise the debt ceiling to allow
stadiums to be built, to keep the Steelers,
Pirates, Eagles and Philly's in
Pennsylvania.

I want to thank personally
Councilman Sala Udin for going to
Harrisburg yesterday. I would very much
like to hear a report from Councilman
Udin as to what transpired yesterday. But
I believe that Council as a whole needs to
urge the state legislature to rise above
petty politics, to allow us to keep our
teams, to stimulate four billion dollars
worth of development in the City of
Pittsburgh. It will help us to accomplish
all the goals that we talk about here every
day. Keeping our young people here. We
had the Pittsburgh Urban Magna Project,
PUMP, and other young people

organizations in Harrisburg lobbying
yesterday. Jt will help us stimulate
development it will help instill confidence
in our future.

Are there issues that remain to be
resolved? Yes. There are many issues that
remain to be resolved. One is the lease
agreements with the Pirates and the
Steelers. Those lease agreements have not
been signed and executed and that's a good
thing because it leaves us the ability to
negotiate further with the Pirates and the
Steelers. I can tell you as a member of the
Public Auditorium Authority that we will
negotiate in strength with the Pirates and
the Steelers and it will be an arms length
negotiation. There is the outstanding issue
of property disposition on both of the sites.
Obviously the issues of the details of how
development will unfold on the north
shore, there is an issue as to whether or not
the Pirates can play a few regional games
around the state, during their regular
season. All of these issues will be
resolved and we have ample time to
resolve them.

But we need to come together now
to help get Plan B passed in Harrisburg.
This is it; this is the moment of truth.
There is one week left. It is rug-cutting
time and what I would suggest and I am
going to make a motion for this is for
Council to go on record in support of Plan
B. I realize that all of the hours of
discussion that we have had about it we
have never gone on record, as far as I
know, supporting Plan B, supporting the
raising of the debt ceiling in Harrisburg,
and I would like to make a motion.

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.

Mr. Cohen:

And if it passes, to --
The Chair:

All in favor?
Mr. Ferlo:

Discussion.
Mr. Cohen:

And if it passes, Mr. President, I
am including my remarks to send it to
every single legislator, democrat and
republican in both houses in Harrisburg.

Mr. Ferlo:

Well obviously I am in favor of the
resolution. I have spoken on numerous
occasions in the last many months also
trying to use every opportunity to explain
the difference between Plan A, disaster
plan, and Plan B for which is to me a no
brainer as far as moving this city and the
Convention Center expansion ahead. I
would suggestion we not send my
comments that you can send your
comments, but let me make a few points.

First, if it wasn't for the elitism and
the arrogance of the corporate and political
leadership of this region that created such
division and disharmony around so-called
Plan A where people squared off and
weren't looking at any facts and reasoning,
squared off to the point where and it was
clear from the beginning as I stated and
many other people stated that there would
be resounding defeat to Plan A. It was a
bad plan for all the reasons I stated in the
past.

182

Unfortunately the residual
opposition and to a large extent remains
for Plan B. Instead of people actually
looking at it as a business plan in terms of
what its actual financial impact is, they are
looking sincerely at what the plan is and
does and what is the real situation.
Because there is such a bad taste left in
everyone’s mouths that it's fed the mania
of even Commissioner Dunn in terms of
how he's characterized in the same breath
Plan A plus Plan B and millionaire sports
players and the like and that's unfortunate.
Because we have a situation where I differ
a little bit, I know the lobbying after it was
aimed at the state legislature yesterday I
expect the state legislature at the Senate
level and the House to do exactly what I
would expect them to do. They have the
Governor by the proverbial. They know
the Governor is a political leader once to
bring the bacon home and wants to get
Pian B implemented to its credit.

So I am not criticizing the state
legislature, because they are probably
doing what all of us are probably doing
and that is looking for something out of
the deal. So, if I were to put the pressure
and the focus on anyone over the next few
days, it would be to the political skill and
leadership of Govemor Ridge to get a
majority of his party, the Republican
leadership in the House and the Senate by
whatever means necessary to support this.
Between the Democrats from the urban
areas and others who believe that we need
to grow the state through economic
development that is appropriate, I have a
hard time believing that we can't muster
enough votes for the passage of Plan B.
But the Govemor has got to the one to
make the deal. :

He did that with sticking a gas tax

———————— ee
——eeeeeee

down our throats. He did that with raising
and tripling the registration fee for cars.
He did that with creating truck mayhem on
our tumpikes by allowing the trucking
industry to take control. I mean I can point
to all kinds of situations where the
Governor has whipped everybody into line
for things that were against the consumers
at least in my opinion.

Here we have something finally the
City of Pittsburgh and the region gets
something back from Harrisburg and not
just Philadelphia. Finally we are able to
not raise any new tax. All the income is
generated from at least at the gut level
from the existing one percent sales tax that
has been in place for four and a half years.
You know finally we get to see a billion
dollars of construction with the anchor not
only being the stadia because that is what
everyone is focused on, but the fact of the
matter is the tripling of the Convention
Center is going to be a great opportunity
for the city and the region to bring new
revenue and new income into this
community.

I agree with the opponents that if
you don't have baseball those are
opportunity dollars that most likely
spectators will spend their money on
something else. | agree with that to some
extent. I think some of the lofty economic
multiplying reports that have been done
about the impact of the stadium and the
Steelers and the Pirates I agree to some
extent have been less than credible. But
the Convention Center and I often ask
people I said if anyone has been to a
convention in Seattle or Portland or
Cleveland or Columbus or in New York
and a three or four day business meeting
you may leave $1500 to $2500 in that
other city. When is the last time a typical

183

Pittsburgher spent three days in Pittsburgh
accept maybe during the holiday season
and left $1500 in the doorstep of the
municipality, at the hotels, the restaurants,
it hasn't happened.

We are leaving all of this money
elsewhere. We have a great opportunity
and the package is a package. Maybe I
would have done it differently but I am not
the Mayor and this is the dealt that has
been handed to us, this is the deal that has
been handed to us it is a packing together
of the new stadia and the Convention
Center. It doesn't raise any taxes, it
redirects and existing income tax that we
already have had in place for over four
years. And, it finally gets substantial
amount of money in terms of the faimess
of the state pot of money back to
Pittsburgh and the city and the
southwestern region. It is a no brainer as
far as | am concerned.

I mean I am offended by
Commissioner Dunn and other folks who
have twisted all the rhetoric and logic and
opposition to Plan A. I was one of those
people fighting against Plan A because the
plan was terrible from any point of view
but the Plan B is a no brainer financially. I
would say that the pressure has to remain
on Governor Ridge. If he has to make a
dea] with other folks who have other
economic development agendas, yeah, that
is hard for a State Rep. or a State Senator
from Center County to get excited about
millions of dollars going to Philadelphia
and Pittsburgh. I would be in the same
part of the chamber floor if J were them.
But surely they have a bridge that needs to
be done, surely they have an old brown
field site that needs to be redeveloped.
When we start talking about what needs to
go together, if we aren't going to invest the

eee

surplus of state government now when
economic times are better to reinvest in
education, in the infrastructure of the state,
in new economic development projects
like the Convention Center here and things
that are needed in Philly and in cities
across the commonwealth, when in the
heck are we going to do it?

We are certainly not going to do it
when times are bad. Let's have some of
that trickle down extra revenue come back
towards meaningful employment including
education. I applaud the administration at
the gubernatorial level for including in the
tax proposal, in the budget proposal
upping the increase of reimbursement back
to school districts. I am glad to see that.
That is saying yes, we have a surplus and
we are going to put it in the right places.
So, I would say we have to keep the
pressure on Governor Ridge. If he wants to
ever be Vice President or anything else
and he can't bring this deal to closure, he
sure as hell ain't going to run the country.

In closing, Mr. President, I don't
understand where all the democrats are
from Allegheny County. I mean where are
their heads at? I mean where are these
Democrats from Allegheny County? I
mean they go to Harrisburg they never
have any unity and they expect Philly and
everyone else around the state to support
us. They don't go together in one group I
don't understand the logic of their lack of
leadership. If they can't coalesce in all due
respect to my colleague Representative
Bill Robinson he is off into a tangent I
don’t understand because if he thinks the
state legislature is going to support an
affirmative action or could care anything
about MBE/WBE participation, that is
news to me. We have a better capability
with the leadership of the Mayor,

Councilman Udin, Councilwoman
McDonald, the URA, our executive order,
we have a better chance of getting
MBE/WBE participation by leaving it to
be a local decision making process. I
mean I am worried if he proposes
something. Last time that came up
affirmative action, they wanted to strip the
Port Authority of any requirement to hire
minorities. So this is about the last issue I
would take up in hallowed chambers of the
state legislature.

Mr. Udin:

Fortunately Councilman Ferlo was
thorough in his analysis and I don't have to
Tepeat the reasons why we need to be in
support. But I was asked this moming
about the comment made by Art Rooney
and the Steelers. Really what it reminded
me of was the comments that I heard when
the suggestion was made that Art Model
might move the Cleveland Browns from
Cleveland, they said no way. He is like a
part of Cleveland he would never leave. I
think that as we do the so-called analyses
of the economic benefits of stadiums, etc.
some of these so called think tanks ought
to look at some of the cities that have Jost
professional franchises and see what prices
they are paying to get back a second team.

See what the Cleveland Browns are
paying to get a new franchise in Cleveland.
Check with the people in Cleveland and
see how sorry they are that they didn't act
earlier to prevent the Browns from leaving
and other cities like Baltimore and Saint
Louis and Los Angeles that have lost
cities. We should find out what the people
who live in those cities experienced and
what the elected officials experienced once
they lost the teams? And try to leam from
their experiences.

SS TO OCOCOCTOTETEEE”

I did go to Harrisburg yesterday. I
met with the Senate Minority Rep.
Mr. Bodack with the House Minority
Leader Mr. Dewesse, with the
Appropriations Committee Minority
Leader Dwight Ebons, with the Chair of
the Legislative Black Caucus and six
members of the Legislative Black Caucus.
I met with the three African American
State Senators, met with the Senator Jack
Wagner, met with Senator Melissa Hart
and got a pretty thorough education on
what is going on.

It's a very complex and multi level
set of issues going on. It's going to be a
very close vote, It's not going to be easy
even for the Governor with all the tools
that he has in his candy bag. It is not
going to be easy for him to get 50 or 60
Republicans to vote for this. It is not
going to be easy for the leader
Mr. Dewesse to get 50, 60 Democratic
votes. They both need to come up with
102 votes. And it's not going to be easy.

First of all, let me just say that the
presence of PUMP and the building trades
union that they had and the rally that they
had in the rotunda of the State Capital was
very impressive yesterday and showed a
lot of legislators how strong the citizens
feel. They have been hearing from the
lobbyist, but they heard from the citizens
and the workers in the city. It was very
effective and I think it did a great deal of
good.

I was able to convince I think a
good number of the people that I talked to
that the MBE/WBE contracting
agreements and assurances are in place.
However, the assurances around minority
participation and women's participation in

185

building trades in construction is not yet in
place. It is not nailed down and it is clear
to me number one that the Legislative
Black Caucus has a sufficient number of
votes to either make this deal or break this
deal.

And it is also clear to me that the
caucus will not support the deal unless
they know that the African American and
the women's community here in Pittsburgh
feel they have sufficient assurances that
they will get a fair opportunity for
employment and contracting out of this
deal.

I did inform them that I have
received overtures from the building trades
unions indicating that they are interested in
fashioning an agreement that has
monitoring built into it, that has
enforcement built into it, a voluntary
agreement not one that is imposed on them
and that's a very good sign. We have to
work very quickly as Councilman Cohen
indicated. We have a week left. We have
to work quickly to make that happen. It's
my intention to get such an agreement
written out, signed and in the hands of the
legislators so that they know that we are
all on the same page, we're united in
Pittsburgh for this economic development
that will include all of us under the tent. I
will be working on that and would
appreciate any input and participation from
colleagues to help make that happen.
Thank you.

The Chair:

You touched upon something I
brought up about a year ago. The
Rooney's never signed an agreement to
extend their contract here. They have a
two-year window of opportunity if we

were all focused on the Pirates. I think to
the Rooney's credit, they certainly stayed
low key, there was never a threat, never an
indication all through the initiative all
though it failed, they didn't threaten. I
think Pittsburghers are so naive that
everyone I talked to said the Steelers
would never leave. Well guess what folks,
if it's between them keeping the team and I
don't think they want to see the 0 and 12
days we grew up with in the 50's. I don't
think they are going to let that happen. I
don't think we would support a team like
that. So it's a business decision.

If it is not now it certainly will be
in the future that they need a new stadium
to compete. If they don't get a stadium
they will be the only team in their league,
their division that doesn't have a new
stadium. I think we have all been focused
on the Pirates and nobody is paying
attention to the Steelers. You brought up a
very good point Saint Louis lost their
football team the Cardinals a couple years
ago. They had to go buy a team and it cost
them $700 million to bring a new team
back. Cleveland losing the Browns took
the same ballpark figure, $600 million. So
I can see if this ever happened we are
getting if you want to look at a bargain to
keep the Steelers here you are talking
about a $200 million new stadium which
one third is from them, one third is from
the state and one third is from the hotel
and the RAD tax.

Mr. Ferlo, I want to initiate what
he said and if you gave me a blackboard I
think I can convince 90% of the people
this isn't a lot of money in the scope of
things. This is a no brainer for us as city
taxpayers. There is like no tax and the
worse scenario which we don't pay
attention to either if both of these teams

would leave, guess who be stuck with that
white elephant stadium over there, the City
of Pittsburgh and taxpayers only. It would
be empty whether it be a minor league
team or a soccer team or whatever else
would want to go there.

It's ironic around Super Bow! time
I know when we went to our first Super
Bowl in ‘75 after we won my wife got the
phone book out and called everyone we
knew across the country. That is how
proud we were and I know every
Pittsburgher did the same thing. So, I
certainly want to send a message anybody
again repeating what Mr. Ferlo and you
said, any Allegheny County or regional
person they better pay attention. The deal
isn't 100%, I don't like it. 1 certainly can
change it or argue it. I think there can be
more rent different structures, but the
blueprint is there.

Anyone that would vote no in this
region and they leave especially the
Steelers, I guarantee they aren't going to be
in office too long. So, I certainly would
support sending a strong message to
everyone around this region. If you want
to stay in office, you better start listening
to your constituents, even the guys who are
carrying the signs who don't want Plan B
believe if the Steelers ever leave, anybody
who voted no I would love to run against
that person.

So hopefully we send a strong
message that we support the Steelers, the
Pirates, and last but not least the
Convention Center which you and I know
packs hotels with fresh new money all the
time. Money that we would never see if
we had a bigger and better Convention
Center, we certainly will need more hotels.
It's unbelievable the terrible PR that just

started with a year ago how they handled it
and where it has come now. But hopefully
cooler heads and smarter heads and again
urge the Governor, he had better twist a
couple more arms and everyone in
Allegheny County I have spoken to both
Democratic and Republican once to make
this work. So, somebody at the top has to
convince them how to do it.

If some of them needs to save face,
I guarantee you maybe you are hearing
from the 20 people that are against it, but
you are not hearing from the millions that
are for it. I would believe half of this state
and going into Ohio are Steeler fans.
Certainly we want to keep the Pirates here.
If you don't believe baseball is coming
back, just look and see what happened
with McGuire and Sosa baseball is coming
back, it is going to be here for a long time.
We would never get a team, we would
never be able to bring a new team here if
we lost these two teams.

With that said, I will give you the
final word, Mr. Cohen.

Mr. Cohen:

Mr. President, I want to thank
everybody for their comments, if this
motion passes I would recommend that we
draft a letter together, everybody see it and
make any changes they wish to it and send
it out. If would mean a refocusing of the
City Clerk’s Office to a certain degree.
But we send it out first to the govemmor
then to every state legislator in the House
and the Senate.

The Chair:

When we win a Super Bow] we
promise to behave much better than the

Denver fans did.
MR. COHEN moved to send a letter.
MR. FERLO seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed. (Mr. Ricciardi
voted no.)

The Chair:
Any other discussion?

Can I have a motion to approve the
minutes.?

MR. COHEN moved to approve the
minutes.

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. COHEN moved to adjoum the
meeting.

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.

And on the motion made by Mr.
Cohen, the meeting adjourned.

MUNICIPAL RECORD

Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
eee

February 9, 1999

No. 6

VOL, CXXXIII
Municipal Record
ONE-HUNDRED
THIRTIETH COUNCIL
BOB O'CONNOR ...... es . President
LINDA M. JOHNSON-WASLER ....City Clerk
JOHN R. MASCIO ......snee Deputy City Clerk
Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday, February 9, 1999
PRESENT:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato
Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin
Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor
Ms. McDonald (Pres't}

The Chair:

Will you all please rise for the
pledge of allegiance and remain standing
for a moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the world.

I hope in your prayers you will
remember Ebony Patterson the young 17
year old Westinghouse High School
student who was killed tragically on her
way home from school.

With us today we have Shannon

Chavez, she is six years old in the first
grade at Morningside Elementary. She's
accompanied by her mother Patty, who
works in our Public Works Department.

Shannon Chavez:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.

The Chair:

Thank you, Shannon. We have a
special gift for you.

Also with us I would like to
recognize that the cameras can see Ms.
Dorry Lundy from Zordenburg, Denmark
and she's with us for three weeks and
guess what she is here for? To go to eight
Penguin games. She is a big penguin fan
and she flew ali the way here. When is
your last game, tonight? Thursday will be
her last game. She is a real Penguin fan.
Welcome to Pittsburgh.

We have a special guest in the
audience.

PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Ricciardi:
Thank you. Mr. President,
colleagues, we have with us crime

prevention officer Dan McQuillan. Thank
you, officer for joining us.

SS OOOOETS

MR. RICCIARDI AND MR. DIVEN
PRESENT AND ALL COUNCIL
MEMBERS PRESENT:

No. 1221 Whereas, the blood
supply in the greater Pittsburgh Area has
reached dangerously low levels due to
recent severe weather conditions.

Whereas, some elective surgeries
have been postponed due to this lack of
blood supply.

The Council of the City of
Pittsburgh. hereby recognizes Zone 3
Commander Douglas Johnson, Lt. Dan
Quinlan, and Sgt. Jim Retsch and Crime
Prevention Officer Dan McQuillan for
organizing a blood drive to be held at the
Zone 3 Police Station located 1725 Mary
Street on the South Side. The Blood Drive
will be held from February 10, 1999 from
11 am. to 4 p.m. The Public is welcome
and encouraged to participate.

MR. COHEN moved to approve the
resolution.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ricciardi:

I think we should be very proud of
our police officers in the City of Pittsburgh
who recognized a shortage of a blood
supply in our area. They're doing
something about it that's very positive and
proactive. I would like to ask our officer if
he could come up and give us some
details. This resolution is sponsored by
Michael Diven and myself, Gene
Ricciardi, and co-sponsored by all of my

189

colleagues. Thank you.

Officer McQuillan:

Thanks. Please members of the
Bureau of Police really appreciate
recognition’s like this. I am accepting this
on behalf of Commander Doug Johnson
Zone Three, Sargent Retsch at Community
Orient Crime Prevention Sargent, and also
Dan McQuinlan. As the Councilman said,
they recognized this need and I would like
to invite and encourage anyone that can be
there to donate blood tomorrow between
11 and four at Zone Three Police Station,
which is located in the 1700 block of
Mary's Street in the South Side. Thank
you.

The Chair:

Thank you.
read into the record.

We have two to be

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTS:

No. 1222 WHEREAS, Frank
Schnelbach son of Frank and Judy
Schnelbach is a member of the Boy’s
Scouts of America, Troop # 66 sponsored
by Sheraden Community Presbyterian
Church on Allendale Street, in the 20”
Ward of the City of Pittsburgh; and

WHEREAS, Frank has satisfied
the Eagle Scout requirements by eaming
the required amount of Merit badges in
many fields; and

WHEREAS, Frank’s Eagle Scout
project consisted of organizing a group of
people to scrape and paint 4,200 square
feet of the wooden floor under the pews of
Holy Innocents Church; and

———————————
ooo eee

WHEREAS, =‘ Frank’s__ biggest
concern was scheduling the painting crew
and drying times around the many
Weddings, Funerals and Masses at Holy
Innocents; and

WHEREAS, Frank obtained
donations from local businesses and
residents for purchasing all of the paint
and materials needed to paint the floor of
the church; and

WHEREAS, only those young men
who have been outstanding in scouting,
exhibit only the highest ideals, have the
esteem of their community and fellow
scouts, and serve in a position of
responsibility and leadership obtain Eagle
Scout status, the highest rank in the Boy
Scouts;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh wishes to congratulate Frank
Schnelbach on his recent achievement and
commends him for his outstanding
accomplishments in receiving the Eagle
Scout Award on January 11, 1999.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
MS. MCDONALD PRESENTS:

No. 1223 WHEREAS, the Greater
Pittsburgh Council, Boy Scouts of
America will celebrate their 10 Annual
Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Awards
Banquet on Saturday, February 6, 1999, at
the Sheraton Hotel, Station Square; and

190

WHEREAS, the Whitney M.
Young, Jr. Service Awards Dinner
recognizes outstanding individuals who
have developed Scouting opportunities and
provides leadership to urban and at-risk
youth. It is named for the late Whitney M.
Young, Executive Director of the National
Urban League from 1961 to 1971 and a
recipient of the “Medal of Freedom”, the
nation’s highest civilian award; and

WHEREAS, this years awardees
include Dollar Bank, recipient of the
Whitney M. Young Service Award and
Mr. Jasper K. Evans, recipient of the
Scoutmaster of the Year Award. Dr.
Ronald E. Peters will be the evenings
keynote speaker; and

WHEREAS, the Greater Pittsburgh
Council, Boy Scouts of America, works in
neighborhoods and schools to instill
positive values in more than 43,000 area
youths. Its efforts include special outreach
programs targeting inner-city at-risk youth
with activities promoting self-reliance,
good citizenship and career exploration.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh salutes and commends the
Greater Pittsburgh Council, Boy Scouts of
America for their continuous commitment
and support to the youth of Pittsburgh.

MR. COHEN moved
resolution.

to adopt the

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Now move to presentation of

papers.
MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

No. 1224 Resolution Further
amending Resolution No. 781, effective
January 1, 1999 entitled “Adopting and
approving the 1999 Capital Budget and the
1999 Community Development Block
Grant Program; and approving the 1999
through 2004 Capital Improvement
Program,” by reducing the Personnel-
Engineering line item by $108,540.00 and
creating a new line item entitled “Non-
Salary E & C.”

No. 1225 Resolution Further
amending Resolution No. 781, effective
January 1, 1999, entitled “Adopting and
approving the 1999 Capital Budget and the
1999 Community Development Block
Grant Program; and approving the 1999
through 2004 Capital Improvement
Program,” by reducing the Transportation
Improvement Program by $240,000.00 and
creating a new line item titled “Glenwood
Bridge.”

No. 1226 Resolution Amending
Resolution No. 781, effective January 1,
1999, entitled “Adopting and approving
the 1999 Capital Budget and the 1999
Community Development Block Grant
Program; and approving the 1999 through
2004 Capital Improvements Program,” by
reducing the Transportation Improvement
Program by $125,000.00 and creating a
new line item titled “Fancourt Street
Bridge”.

No. 1227 Resolution Amending
Resolution No. 546, effective October 1,
1998, entitled “Authorizing the Director of
the Department of Parks and Recreation to
enter into an Agreement with the

191

Brightwood Athletic Association to
facilitate the receipt and disbursement of
grant monies received by the City of
Pittsburgh from the Pennsylvania
Department of Community and Economic
Development, amending the title to allow
the City to initiate the work, and to require
the Brightwood Athletic Association.
Funds for this contract ($30,000.00) are
available in the Special Parks Program
Trust Fund, Account 526100, Fund 7314,
Sub-Class 600, Org. 523000, Budget Year
1998.

No. 1228 Resolution Providing for
an Agreement or Agreements, or use of
existing Agreements with a Consultant or
Consultants in connection with the design
of the Fancourt Street Bridge located at the
western end of Fort Duquesne Boulevard
and spanning the 10th Street By-Pass;
providing for a Reimbursement Agreement
or Agreements with the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, Department of
Transportation; at a cost no tot exceed
$125,000.00.

No. 1229 Resolution providing for
a Reimbursement Agreement with
Allegheny County for improvements to
City-owned facilitates in conjunction with
the Rehabilitation of the Glenwood Bridge
by the County; at a cost not to exceed
$240,000.00.

No. 1230 Resolution providing for
a Contract or Contracts, or the use of
existing Contracts in connection with the
renovation of Camegie Library Branches
for handicap accessibility and for the
purchase of equipment, materials and
supplies for said projects; at a cost not to
exceed $225,000.00.

SSS OOOO

No. 1231 Resolution authorizing
the Mayor and the Director of General
Services to amend the city's Minority
Business Enterprise/‘Women _ Business
(MBE/WBE) guidelines so as to allow a
25% minority and 10% female at the job
site construction related employment goal
for all city and authority contracts in
excess $250,000.00.

Which were read and referred to the

Committee on Engineering and
Construction.
MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

No. 1232 Resolution Vacating an
irregular portion of Weitz Way, between
Brighton Woods Road and its Dead End in
the 27th Ward, Ist Council District of the
City of Pittsburgh.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Housing, Economic
Development & Promotion.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

No. 1233. Resolution Approving
execution of a Contract for Disposition by
Sale of Land by and between the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
and Chartiers Nature Conservancy, Inc. for
the sale of Parcels 11 and 14, for $1.00
said property being located in the 28th
Ward of the City of Pittsburgh, in
Redevelopment Area No. 24, Block 108
H Lot 200 and Block 108 R Lots 239, 240,
242, 246, 50, 60 and 64 — Summerdale
Street --Council District No. 2 (recreation
area).---COUNCIL DISTRICT NO. 2

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Housing, Economic
Development & Promotion.

192

MR. HERTZBERG moved to suspend
Rule 8 by providing for consideration of
the bill only until or after the 8th calendar
day following the meeting in which the
bills were introduced, so the bills will be
on the agenda this Wednesday.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.
MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

No. 1234 Resolution providing for
an Agreement or Agreements with
Agencies that operate Emergency Shelters
for the homeless in the City of Pittsburgh,
so as to provide for the payment of
rehabilitation, maintenance, operation,
insurance, utilities, furnishings, homeless
prevention, and essential services of said
Agencies, at a total cost not to exceed
$756,000.00.

No. 1235 Resolution Amending
Resolution No. 445, approved May 14,
1991 entitled “Providing for
implementation of a Residential Parking
Permit Program (RPPP) in the Mt.
Washington community pursuant to
Pittsburgh Code Chapter 549 so as to
expand the streets included in the existing
Mt. Washington RPPP Area “N” so as to
change the parking management plan
which provides for the hours of
enforcement to be from 7 A.M. - 7 P.M.
Monday through Saturday for the north
side of Grandview Avenue to be from 6
P.M. to 2 A.M. Monday through Sunday.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Planning, Zoning & Land
Use.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

ee ———————
=e

No. 1236 Resolution establishing
the following fees for the Department's
Swimming Pools Program, effective
January 1, 1999 for the calendar year
1999.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Parks, Recreation & Youth
Policy.

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

No. 1237 Resolution Providing for
the issuance of a warrant in favor of
Newcomer's Electric Contractor in the
amount of $2,800 in payment of
installation of holiday lighting in
Hazelwood, and providing for the payment
of the cost thereof.

No, 1238 Resolution PROVIDING
for the filing of a petition or petitions for
the sale of certain property or properties,
acquired at tax sales in accordance with
Act No. 171 of 1984, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

No. 1239 Communication from
Barbara Parees, Director of the
Department of Personnel and Civil

Service, requesting approval for John
Turyan (a non-city employee) Pgh. Private
Industry Council member, to travel to
Washington D.C. from February 28 -
March 2, 1999 to attend the 1999 NAPIC
Forum. The total cost will not to exceed
$1,079.00 and is chargeable to and payable
from the JTPA-1 Trust Fund.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

The Chair:

193

Moving to unfinished business.
Any unfinished business to come in front
of Council?

Hearing none, move to Committee
Chair Reports, District One, Mr. Onorato.

CHAIR REPORTS
Mr. Onorato:

I don't have anything prepared in
writing. However, we're still working on
the same issue, which has been dominating
the committee. That is the new zoning
code and the new zoning code
amendments which are working their way
slowly through introduction to Council,
then submitted to the Planning
Commission for review, to get back to
Council for us to have a Public Hearing
and that process is happening as we speak.

There is another final committee
review on Monday to finalize a handful of
amendments. Just to make it clear so that
you have an idea what is coming, there are
around roughly 15 amendments. It isn't a
matter of 50 that we are going to be going
through, it's actually a small enough
number that we can actually deal with. It's
not to say that no other ones can come
from the floor. These will be the
amendments that come out of the so-called
review committee that Council at that
point will have to review and make a
decision on. They are not coming over as
a done deal; theyre coming over as
recommendations. You will know if it had
unanimous support or consensus or there
is a split among the committee but this
body is the one that is going to make the
decision on every one of those
amendments and then we will just vote
them up or down after the debate.

—aaaaaeaeaeaaoaoaoaoaoaooeeeeoooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

That's really what is happening in
Zoning, Planning and Land Use at this
time. Hopefully over the next 30 days as
we move into implementation of the new
code we can resolve this issue and then
move into the next six months of just
seeing how the code actually works.
That's where we are.

The Chair:

Do we have a deadline for
amendments?
Mr. Onorato:

There is an artificial one that we
set because the implementation deadline is
February 26 or fifth, where the code goes
into effect. We want them all in so
Council had an opportunity to debate the
amendments before the new code actually
takes effect. So that's what we are using as
a deadline.

Mr. Cohen:

I want to take a moment to thank
Councilman Onorato for his leadership on
this issue. It is one that is very detailed
and certainly requires a lot of oversight
and I appreciate it.

I just want to bring up one concern
that I have brought up the last time that the
zoning code redrafting came up here. That
is that we, I believe, we agreed as a body
not to discuss and vote on those issues that
Council has already discussed and voted
on. And my concem that I expressed
before has nothing to do with Councilman
Onorato but I am still concerned that some
of those amendments that might come up
are amendments that we have already had
thorough comprehensive discussion on and

already voted on.

Certain groups want to have not
one bite, not two bites, but three bites at
the apple on the same exact issue. I just
heard this morning that the whole issue of
deemed approval deemed denial is coming
up again. If you recall, Council had ample
discussion on that issue and voted on that
issue several times. So my only concem is
and would ask that Councilman Onorato
address this not necessarily here is that we
don't have the same amendments come up
that we already voted on. I feel that's
happening in the committee and I want to
make sure.

Mr. Onorato:

Ican comment on that. That issue
came up but it's not part of the 15
amendments coming forward. I am glad
Councilman Cohen brought that up. It
would be helpful I know a lot of you have
reputation on the committee. I really don't
think it is fair to any one of my colleagues
especially Mr. Cohen whoever called him
and gave him that information as though
that was coming up as an issue.

We purposely did not bring that
forward because it was already debated by
Council, and it is not part of the
amendments coming forward. But issues
come up at the committee that get
discussed and obviously we don't want to
eliminate debate, but we are focusing the
amendments on new issues. So you can be
assured that's the way we're going.
Whoever contacted you, you can let them
know that we kept them out of the
amendments at this point.

Mr. Cohen:

——oooS

I appreciate that. Thank you. Just
very briefly, I know the Chair of the
Zoning Board, Regis Murphy, circulated a
memo on the deemed approval deemed
denial issue. Somebody on this Council
and whoever needs to tell him that that
issue has already been addressed and
resolved. I appreciate it.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. I have attended I think
every one of the committee meetings
accept one and we made it clear on at least
two occasions that we were not going to
accept any amendments that had already
been submitted previously and acted upon.
There is no doubt that the deemed
approval deemed denial issue came up and
was debated at length and those things will
stay the way they are as far as I am
concerned. Keep in mind too that any
amendments to this ordinance are like any
amendments to the existing zoning
ordinance, the Planning Commission has
to have a Public Hearing and make a
recommendation on every one of those
amendments. I believe they have already
had their hearing. If they haven't it is
going to be held very shortly.

So we will know exactly what the
amendments are. I wasn't at any meetings
where that deemed approval deemed
denial issue was discussed and I will do
my best to make sure those things don't
end up in front of us again.

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you very much.

The Chair:

All right moving to District Two,

195

Public Works, Mr. Hertzberg.
Mr. Hertzberg:

Mr. President, the first item on my
report is the snow and ice control program
and they have implemented some new
procedures to better address the needs of
the residents especially within your
Council District, Mr. President, in the 31st
Ward which is the Hayes, Lincoln Place,
New Homestead neighborhoods. For
storms where there is little or no notice at
all, the third maintenance division is set
for the first response of the 31st Ward.
Meaning actually the division that is in
Hazelwood which mileage wise it's main
facility is much closer to these
neighborhoods than the fourth division.
But if there is not a notice or little notice
storm, it will be handled by the fourth
maintenance division.

The salt capacity at the Hazelwood
substation has been doubled and the fuel
stations are now fully operational at the
second and fourth maintenance divisions.
If you will remember we were required to
make changes to our fuel storage tanks and
the timing on that was terrible. They were
in the middle of doing that when we had
the terrible weather.

Gas cards for alternative fuel sites
have been issued to all five maintenance
divisions and we can now load salt out of
the county facility in the 31st Ward which
is actually closer than anywhere else to get
salt. So we now have an arrangement with
the county where we can go right there in
the 31st Ward to get salt.

As far as pothole patching, Public
Works has been patching potholes since
January 16th and Public Works has

aaa ———S

expended approximately $91,500
installing 386 tons of cool patch and will
continue to patch potholes every day. At
least ten trucks and 20 employees are
working on that until it is under control.
Public Works has ample supplies and
materials to work on the potholes.

Premium pay with the snow and
ice and the pothole work, in January the
premium paid budget is in bad shape
actually 59% of that budget has already
been spent. $405,000 premium pay has
already been spent out of a budget amount
of $689,000. So Public Works is trying to
evaluate different ways to deal with that
problem to try to stay within the overtime
budget for the rest of the year. They're
looking at only authorizing overtime for
emergency items. In the special events,
they're looking at trying to find a way to
have the staff work at them under their
regular time allowance rather than
overtime and trying to alter shifts so that
people who have to work on the weekends
will be doing it on regular time rather than
overtime.

They're considering executing an
entirely contractual street resurfacing
program and eliminating our in-house
commitment, which is something I have a
big question about whether we even need
to look at that, but they are looking at it. I
don't know that I agree with that at all.
Insure that another item evaluating is that
only insuring that only critical need in
their acting positions is utilized regardless
of vacancies,

Environmental services. The fleet
of refuse or garbage trucks as they are
commonly known is being upgraded. Bids
on ten new refuse packers were opened on
Friday and five refuse packers were

recently refurbished.

Also in the recycling area there is a
new concept being tried and experimented
with 500 containers at non-residential
stops throughout the city have been put in
place for recycling pickup. There are
standardized containers for recycling.
Hopefully what they will do is they will
cut down on back injuries, because they
will allow the people that are collecting it,
they have wheels on them, they will be
moved close to the refuse truck by the
wheels. Then there is a hydraulic lift that
will attach to the standardized container
and pull it into the refuse truck. So that
the employees will put very little strain on
their backs at all. All they have to do is
wheel these things over.

In miscellaneous items. As spring
approaches Public Works is beginning to
look at the services needed at our different
park facilities such as turf and ball field
maintenance, lighting repairs, bathroom
facilities, picnic shelters and court and
playground maintenance.

And also we are beginning to plan
the work to be done in the better weather
on street resurfacing.

The Wall Step Fence Program,
Park Reconstruction flex being guide rails
and at the next meeting when I am called
on to give a report we will report in more
detail on those items.

Also as far as the vacancies in the
Public Works Department, an update on
that and our budget department has
approved filling ten laborer vacancies, two
truck driver vacancies and four tractor
Operator vacancies. Of the ten laborer
vacancies that have been approved, six of
those will be filled between the 15th and

re
SS ETS

22nd of this month.

And the others will take a little bit
longer to fill but we expect to fill them
shortly.

Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. President, a completely
unrelated matter, but somewhat obviously
with Public Works and I have been here 11
years I can't remember the times that I
have actually discussed other than the
infamous Director of Parks albeit the
former director that I have actually spoken
about employee's situations. I usually
refrain. But I believe very strongly that the
Director of Public Works has engaged in
not only discriminatory action but
employee action that was arbitrary an
action that was capricious. As far as I am
concerned engaged in an equitable manner
as it relates to the suspension and I believe
now possibly the termination of one of the
supervisors. I don't want to mention
names even though this individual was the
subject of an article in the newspaper.

Councilman Hertzberg has asked I
believe that we have some kind of
Executive Session. He has made that clear
to me. I would ask that we do that. I
realize that is the prerogative of the
administration, but I have a hard time
believing that out of all the people in the
workforce of 34,000 plus you pick on one
individual who has at least 28 years of
service I think with the city. I think I have
worked with him at least 11, 12, or 13
years and if the episode in question is the
comments made in the Post Gazette, that's
even more perplexing. We haven't
received any information other than folks
from the community that are seeking to be
supportive of the gentleman.

197

But I am really perplexed about
this case and I really question whether or
not any supervisor’s informants are
actually managed from the Public Works
Department. Are there actual employee
files where people have comments or some
kind of disciplinary actions taken? Or
does this one individual stand out so
looming and so large warranting a
suspension and now termination. I really
question the actions of the director in this
Tespect.

I hope that we do have this
meeting. I was actually hoping that there
wouldn't be a termination that whatever
suspension would have been rethought
based on the facts. Or maybe there are
different facts I am not aware of. But there
is not a lot I don't know about that goes on
in Public Works and all other city
departments. Again, if you are going to
use this standard to suspend this
gentleman, you would have to suspend
about 25 other employees in the Public
Works starting with the director himself,
which is really where I think maybe the
problem is in the first place.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. I have asked the
President to schedule an Executive Session
and it's something I am very concemed
about. I have spent quite a bit of time
trying to understand and investigate and
get to the bottom of. It's a personnel
matter though and that's why I have asked
for an Executive Session but I am very
concemed and am taking this very
seriously. I am going to spend as much
time as I need to spend to understand what
is going on.

aeaeaoQQnaeasSsS=Saoam9amaeeeeee——>

Mr. Onorato:
On a different matter.
The Chair:

On this concem there are a lot of
pros and cons that came up. I think it is a
personnel matter. Mr. Hertzberg has been
on this since it happened. We have been
in discussions so we will have, I am sure a
lot of you have questions. But it's a
personnel matter. I believe it should be
held for Executive Session. I will try to
schedule it as soon as possible. I will try
to check with all of you so that most of
you can be there. I think it is a very
important issue that we want to address.

Mr. Onorato:

On a different matter. I don't know
about my colleagues, but over the last two
or three weeks I think somehow we have
performed a disservice to the residents in
the so-called perception that we're hiring
40 people for Public Works. My office
has been swarmed with calls; people want
to apply for these jobs. I am not blaming
any one individual but I think the record
should be set straight very clearly what
exactly the city is proposing to? How
many positions we are proposing to hire?
Is it really six plus the additional ones
coming? Is it 18 total? I know it's no
where near the forty that got out there in
the media somehow and whatever the
number is, I think it would be nice if we
somehow came up with a procedure
maybe with the administration to figure
out how we spread this around a little bit
to qualified individuals who are spread
throughout the City of Pittsburgh,
throughout our districts.

198

There are a lot of qualified
individuals that are calling all of our
offices. I am sure it is not just your office.
Jam sure you all received these calls and I
don't know, everyone who seems to call
my office seems to think there are 40 new
openings that are happening. Unless
something has changed, if Mr. Hertzberg
can address that, I would like to get it
clear.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Only briefly I will try to go through
it again. The current status laborer
positions there is approval from the budget
office, this has nothing to do with me. I
wish I had control and could influence this
process. I am just reporting on what is
happening. And that is that the budget
office has approved the filling of ten
laborer vacancies.

Now the first thing that we do
when we fill these vacancies is we look for
people that want to transfer into those
Positions and there are going to be those
that will transfer. I believe we may have
as Many as six transfers in. So that leaves
really what will be filled from the general
population is four positions. I think the
number almost ten days ago was at least
300 applications and I bet the number is
much closer to a thousand right now for
what is four laborer positions.

There also is approval for two
truck driver positions, which will be done
a little bit different as I understand. The
process is a little bit different for the two
truck driver positions and four tractor
operator positions also and they are still
working on what the test process will be
for tractor operators.

eee

So as Mr. Onorato has pointed out
I think there are not a ton of positions
being filled. In fact all I can say really is
that there are four that are now being filled
that are laborer positions.

Mr. Ferlo:

I think I would even go one step
forward. I think we are at the point with
Public Works where we have at various
times in the last decade with the three
different Mayors and is very similar to the
ongoing debate historically about the
number of uniformed police officers
budgeted versus the authorized number
versus what we actually have on the
payroll. That took ten years at some point
to try to reconcile with three different
Mayors and now the administration of
finally was whited to a higher number,
which now has to go back for review.

But it is the same kind of an
argument with Public Works. If you look
at the number of retirees that will -- the
number of employees that will go off on
retirement this year alone you may be
talking about 20 to 30 Public Works
employees that will leave the payroll.
Now that's 30 that are going to leave the
payroll in all different levels including the
laborer class. You have supposedly 18
that the budget office has agreed to hire
but of that 18 I think there is not more than
four or five that are actually in the laborer
class, six. So we still have a net loss
overall operationally both with the laborer
class and the other trade classes, employee
classes, significant loss in the overall
people power of the Public Works
Department.

So I really think we have to revisit
the whole issue. I think it's really the heart

199

of the issue to me is the actual budget
situation. Councilman Udin has taken
some leadership over the last couple of
weeks to meet with the administration on
this issue. But when we meet on that in
the budget summit on the courts problem
or anything else, I would ask that we
revisit this whole issue of what we will
actually have through the budget office,
through the Mayor's leadership a
commitment as far as fulfilling vacancies
in Public Works. We're going to have by
the year -- by September we will have a
net loss possibly of 20 or 25 jobs in Public
Works.

So we are not going to get any
further ahead. We are going to have the
same debate in January about snow
removal in the year 2000 that we had this
year.

The Chair:

I might want to call on Mr.
Hertzberg and Mr. Udin. I realize I
remember you had a commitment of 52
positions in the budget. Now maybe
something has happened since then. I was
under the impression that as we all talked
about we upgraded all of our parks and
spent $5 million on all of our parks and if
we don't have personnel to take care of
them, we are really spinning our wheels.

If I can get back to the question, if
we are hiring four people I understand and
I have just been told so I don't have it
verified but that they sent out 800
postcards saying they would be reviewing
and hiring laborers. That's the inventory
that they had and people who applied. I
mean I have 20 good friends calling for
themselves, for their kids, and all of us
have the same issue. It reminds me, Mr.

SS O_O

Ferlo, when I think of your leadership
brought, we used to advertise when we
were hiring laborers, and everybody
thought they were coming down to fill
applications out, when we weren't hiring
anybody.

It is really unfair to all those people
to send them 800 cards when you are
going to hire four people. I think the
media picked up on our at least our plan
that we thought was a plan to hire at least
52 people. If you looked at TV it looked
like the McKeesport new plant is going to
hire two or 3,000. So I think the public’s
perception is really that we were going to
hire a heck of a lot more. If it is only four,
then please let people know that there are
only four openings as of now. But I think
we have to get to the bottom of this.

Mr. Cohen:

I will be brief You had said
something happened in the interim and the
thing that's happened of course is the city
is not going to receive four million dollars
that we budgeted for the magistrates court
that this Council questioned whether that
was real doilars if you recall during the
budget proceedings. We are not going to
be getting that $4 million. Apparently the
administration is not going to fill a certain
number of vacancies. I know Councilman
Udin or Councilman Hertzberg would be
able to address this and address a process
and response to this. But it puts us back
into a situation that is an attainable
situation, which is us not being able to
maintain essential city services with the
number of personnel that we need.

I believe that this issue has got to
be addressed immediately and for us to
take potentially drastic action to be able to

maintain city services which we just can't
right now. That's what happened and I got
this memorandum from Scott Kunka about
this and I know that Councilman Udin and
Councilman Hertzberg are working on it,
but I think it has to be addressed
immediately.

Mr. Diven:

First of all, I would like to thank
Council President O'Connor for taking the
time to set up these weekly reports on our
committees. I think it has done a good
service as far as informing Council what
actually is going on. J can tell you over the
last couple of months I have really lost a
lot of confidence in what we hear from the
Public Works Department because it
seems like every time there was a problem
they would find an excuse, blame that
excuse until that excuse fell through. I
will point to a couple different situations
that I saw regarding the storm.

First, we were told that it was the
lack of gas and then you talked to the
General Services Director and they say
that there were gas trucks going out to
each division and they had the authority to
use gas cards. When that excuse no longer
fit, they said that the trucks were broken
down. Then you talk to the General
Services Director and they say well at no
time was more than 10% of the trucks out
of service for their fleet and that there
were additional trucks that could have
been equipped with plows.

Then we talked about the potholes
the other day where the director said that
they couldn't send someone out to patch
potholes because they were down cleaning
out the Mon Wharf. Well I sit on the
ALCOSAN Board with the Director of the

EE ——————————————Eeeeeeee

Parking Authority and he informed me that
there was only one city employee with a
flusher down there cleaning that wharf out.
So from the impression I got when we
were at the Council table on Wednesday
was that we had a whole complement of
Public Works employees working down
there to clean out the wharf and they were
taken out of service of patching holes in
the neighborhoods. Then you find out
later that there was only one person with
one piece of equipment.

So that's a problem and I think
these Council reports of individual
committees help to facilitate the truth to
come out and | think that that's a good
thing.

Another thing 1 wanted to ask
Councilman Hertzberg regarding what was
the part about the asphalt plant?

Mr. Hertzberg:

This is something I disagree with,
Mr. Diven. What the director is looking at
is the premium pay. What are we doing?
We have spent $405,000 out of a $689,000
budget for overtime. So what are some
Measures we can take and it is believed
that if we have an entirely contractual
street resurfacing program, eliminate our
in-house resurfacing crews that that will
save money. I don’t know any way on
earth that saves money. It sounds like it
costs more money from what I know.

Mr. Diven:

That is just one example of how
these committee reports bring out
information that have a direct impact on
what our policy is going to be. I know for
a fact that we have enough equipment

201

sitting in a garage to put three paving
crews out on the street. I know from past
experience we have been as much as a
hundred thousand dollars cheaper per
paving mile to do the stuff in-house than
to contract it out. Now we're hearing them
say as a financial reason we want to take a
look at contracting out our paving services
and it just doesn't make sense.

So I think that I have got a long
way to be reassured that what I hear from
the Public Works Department is accurate
and factual and I think reports like these
make sure that we do get the whole story.

The Chair:

That's the intention. Every report I
have ever seen our in-house does it
cheaper than outsourcing asphalting our
streets. So again, if that's a way to save
money, it is beyond me how we can find
these figures. I will ask Scott Kunka
again, we have got to get to the bottom of
this. If that's a way to save money or are
we going to cut half of our paving down,
that might be the other problem and
believe me our paving needs --

Mr. Diven:

I would like to make a
recommendation that we look at putting
more in-house paving crews out. Would
that be an alternative to contracting it out
and paying more because all the financial
information that I have seen regarding
paving when we do it in-house we do it
cheaper and we do it better and we have
more contro! over the whole process. So I
think that should be an alternative that
should be thoroughly explored by our
Budget Director so that when the time
comes at least we can present the whole
story instead of what Public Works wants

ee
—— SSS

us to see like they have done in the past.
Mr. Hertzberg:

I think tomorrow that will actually
come up. The ability to enter into
contracts is on our agenda tomorrow and
we can delve into that. I am supportive of
the idea of not contracting out street
paving as well. I know that would be a
way to save money. I think by contracting
it all out we are going to end up spending
more money and that's something we need
to talk about tomorrow and the
amendments needed in that resolution and
it has support of Council then that's what
we should do.

The Chair:

I look forward to that tomorrow.
Now move to reports of committees.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MR. UDIN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1240:
Report of the Committee on Finance and
Budget, for February 3, 1999, transmitting
sundry of resolutions to Council.
Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1213:

Resolution providing for
conveyance by the City of Pittsburgh of
certain property, under Act no. 171 of
1984, entitled “Second Class City

Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

202

(A) Three story brick house
Tequiring rehabilitation, being sold to

Robert Warren Baumbach for
$23,500.00.00. Council District 1.
Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1139:
Resolution providing for

conveyance by the City of Pittsburgh of
certain property, under Act No. 171 of
1984, entitled, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

(A) 1426 Sheffield Street, 2.5 story
brick house situated on a lot containing an
area of 3,036 sq. ft, 21 Ward, Block 22P,
Lot 245, being sold to Significance
Partnership, $4,800.00. Intended Use:
Residence and/or Rental. Council District
6.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1160:

Resolution providing for the
issuance of a $4,527.00 warrant in favor of
John Royster, 1345 Manning Street,
Pittsburgh, PA 15206, in settlement of
claim in which claimant’s property was
damaged due to a razing of a three stall
brick garage by the Bureau of Building
Inspection.

Which was read.

Also,

V_—oooooooooooooeee

Bill No. 1173:

Resolution providing for the
issuance of warrant in favor of C & M
Contracting, Inc. in the amount of
$10,305.16 for the repair of a City-owned
wall located within the Lower Allegheny
Riverfront park (adjacent to the 10" Street
By-Pass); and providing for the payment
of the cost thereof.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills? Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ferlo voted no on Bill 1160)

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1241:

203

Report of Committee on Planning, Zoning
and Land Use for February3, 1999,
transmitting two resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 954:

Resolution approving a
Conditional Use exception under Section
993.10(a)A(7) of the Pittsburgh Code,
Title Nine, Zoning, Article V, Chapter 993
to the Allegheny County Court of
Common Pleas, Office of Juvenile
Probation for authorization to occupy a
portion of the first floor of the existing
structure at 5231 Penn Avenue as a facility
for the Community Intensive Supervision
Project; on property zoned “R3” Multiple
Family Residence District, 10" Ward.
(HEARING HELD JANUARY 19, 1999).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 968:
Resolution approving a
Conditional Use under Section

993.01(a)A(7) of the Pittsburgh Code,
Title Nine, Zoning, Article V, Chapter 993
as amended, to Allegheny County Court of
Common Pleas Office of Juvenile
Probation for authorization to occupy a
portion of the 1* floor of the existing
structure at 5231 Penn Avenue as the
Regional Administrative offices for the
Office of Juvenile Probation on property
zoned “R3” Multiple Family Residence
District, 10° Ward, Council District 7.
(HEARING HELD JANUARY 19, 1999).

re
8 8 8 ETS

Which was read.
The Chair;

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonaid Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

{Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
Tequired number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1242:

Report of the Committee on Engineering
and Construction for February 3, 1999,
transmitting sundry of resolutions to
Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

204

Bill No. 1185:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement with Peterson Consulting LLC
to provide expert consulting services in the
defense of a construction law suit against
the City of Pittsburgh at a cost not to
exceed $50,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1188:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement or use of existing Agreements
and/or a Contract or Contracts or use of
existing Contracts, for the renovation of
Recreation Centers and Senior Citizen
Centers; providing for the purchase of
equipment and materials for said projects;
at a cost not to exceed $594,250.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1190:
Resolution providing for a

Contract or Contracts, or use of existing
Contracts for Construction of Handicapped

Ramps in various Communities
throughout the City of Pittsburgh at a cost
not to exceed $833,000.00.

‘Which was read.

Also,

Bill No. 1191:

Resolution providing for a contract
or contracts or use of existing contracts

eo ee

and/or an Agreement, or use of existing
agreements and for the purchase of
materials and equipment and supplies in
connection with the Renovations of
Various Play Area; at a cost not to exceed
$840,000.00.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. President, on the one bill
regarding the services in the Law
Department of $50,000, I did attend an
Executive Session Meeting this moming
with the Law Department and Director
Reginella from Engineering and
Construction. I want to thank both the
Law Department and Director Reginella.
It is unfortunate that we have to incur this
expense. But I want to thank them both
for defending the city’s interest against a
contractor who I think is just being
litigious and being unfair in terms of an
outstanding concem from the construction
of the Public Safety Criminal Courts
Building.

I think we need to unfortunately
expend these dollars. I think we will
easily recoup them. If we don't adequately
represent ourselves we have a significant
exposure. But I think they have done a
good job and I am pleased to see their tact
in proceeding with this lawsuit in
defending the city’s interests.

The Chair:

205

Any other discussion? The bills
are now ready for final action. All in favor
of the passage of the bills vote aye when
your names are called; all those opposed
vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

The Chair:

Under motions and resolutions.

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:

No. 1243 A resolution authorizing
the appointment of Claudette Lewis as a
member of the City Planning Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2005.
Also,

No. 1244 A resolution authorizing
the appointment of Nancy Schaefer as a

member of the Personne! Appeals Board,
term to expire January 31, 2001.

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SSS

The Chair:

Is it the pleasure to bring these two
in front of us?

Mr. Onorato:
Yes.
The Chair:

We will ask them at their
convenience, to be here either tomorrow or
next Wednesday.

Mr. Udin:
Next Wednesday.
The Chair:

Let me make two announcements.
We have a Public Hearing today on the
Home Depot. It will be televised at two
o'clock. And Thursday morning at ten
o'clock a televised Public Hearing on
Pittsburgh Works.

Ms. McDonald:

Yes. If there is no further business,
I would like to commend the community
of Homewood and as well as adjacent
communities last night for a very well
attended community meeting. There were
tons of people there. And I am glad that
now there is fire in the belly of many of
the residents to get something done.

I am pleased to report that in the
break out sessions there were many ideas
discussed including one idea that hit the
paper and that's to call the Govemor in. I
will be meeting with certain officials and I

206

enjoy my colleagues if they want to join
me on this. I think many of us have
communities that are hard hit by violence,
youth are afraid, youth are having
problems. I urge you if you want to come
along. I am going to be meeting with
officials and we are going to have a
bonafide proposal or proposals to send to
the Governor's Office because basically
the Governor's response is that let the local
politicians come up with some ideas and
we will talk about it. So we are going to
come up with some very concrete ideas.

Another thing is the organization
of a potential community policing where
individuals will be trained by police
officers no different than I think Bob is in
Squirrel Hill and you're part of that. So I
will be talking with you for sure to find
out how it is done and monies for phones,
equipment, whatever is necessary so that
people who are not afraid to go out in the
community go out in the community and
be the eyes and ears. If people are
watching I think that there will be less
violence and less crime because it's no
different than cameras on the North Side.
I would like to know how Onorato got that
up on the North Side so fast on East Ohio
Street.

But we need instead of cameras,
we need actually people to stand up, walk
around, look, write things down. Stand on
your porch and if there is -- I have said this
and I don't mean it in reticule but if there is
an elderly woman who doesn't want to go
out on the porch, call my office. Maybe
we will talk about a set of binoculars and
you can watch out of your windows and
write whatever it is down.

Now what to do with the
information, that's a problem. A lot of the

—eoeooo eee

community is in fear of who's going to get
that information. Are they going to know
that I gave that information out? Is there
going to be any retaliation against me?
What I am going to be recommending in
terms of a letter to our Police Chief
McNeilly is to consider designating one,
two or more officers who already have
established a good rapport with the
community, that they can be detectives, I
don't know, someone that a lot of the
community would be able to trust. And
only have those individuals have phones
without caller ID. Give the community
their pager number, so that at least the
community knows that the information
stays with one or two individuals and it
goes no where else. That if they call
anonymously it is not going to kick up on
some computer screen who they are and
then they are afraid well who is going to
get that information. Is someone going to
pick it up and say something?

So that's something that I would
like to pursue, it is definitely not panacea
and there is still going to be a lot of
resistance to report things that are wrong.
But I think that if we have people that the
community can trust, I think the bottom
line is the million dollar question is there
anyone out there on the police force that
the entire community can trust? I would
say yes, there are many individuals. But
we're going to try to come up with one or
two or whatever. And I am going to run
this by the chief and see if we can build up
that trust.

What discourages me more than
anything else about Ms. Patterson's death
is the time element it took for people to
come forward with information. There
were 20 or more kids standing around and
no one was saying anything I know dog

207

gone well a lot of them knew exactly what
happened. They knew the person, they
knew where he lived, and no one wants to
come forward with information. People
from the community know things they
don't want to come forward with
information. It’s a real problem with
Commander Freeman. He has expressed
that to me, he is sometimes livid about
this, because he wants to solve the crimes,
he wants peace and order. He doesn't want
blood shed in the community either. It
frustrates him because we want to solve
the problem.

So again, I am trying to come up
with some ways. I would like to work
with the Chair of Public Safety
Committee, Mike Diven, to look at ways
in which a community is actually in fear
that they know what is going on and
they're scared to report it or scared to do
something about it. So the people who
aren't scared that know when their time is
up, their time is up, know your life is in
God's hands. I don't care who you are,
where you’re at, if it ain't your time, it ain't
your time. So, I am going to go out there
myself if I have to police but those of us
who do have more fear than I do, or some
others, there are ways around that that
everyone can contribute to policing our
community,

Mr. Udin:

Thank you. I want to thank
Councilwoman McDonald for the
leadership that she is providing for the
Homewood Community around _ this
incident and also extend our wishes from
Council District 9, certainly who share a
great deal of those same problems, to work
closely with you because solutions that
you find will be useable in our district and

Iam sure other districts as well.

I was glad to see the strong
response that District Attorney Zappala
gave to the intimidation that was
attempted. As you know in this town we
have several instances of witnesses not just
being intimidated but having their brains
blown out and that word gets around pretty
quickly. That it's easy to intimidate the
public and prevent them from cooperating
with the police when some homicide or
something like that happens in the
community. But it requires a very, very
strong response from the officials that that
kind of intimidation will not be tolerated.

We are not going to live in fear like
we are in some kind of encampment; we
are just not going to tolerate it. I was glad
to see the District Attomey come out in a
very strong way in that regard.

I want to also mention if I could go
on to another subject.

The Chair:

Anyone else have any follow up on
this?

Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you, it was very appropriate
that we remembered Ms. Patterson in our
silent prayers this morning. I look forward
to personally working with Councilwoman
McDonald on this issue because I think
Mr. Sala Udin is correct and that is that we
have to set up a mechanism for all
neighborhoods where people receive
support when they stand up and become
witnesses.

As you know under the Witness

208

Protection Plan, which the dollars were
increased under the initiative of
Councilman Dan Cohen that's a very
important program but at the same time
that is sort of just a snapshot in time. But
there has to be something after that. I
think Councilwoman McDonald touched
upon that when she said we have to build
trust and even better trust between the
neighborhood and the police officials. But
I think we all have to stand with witnesses
because in numbers is strength. I just
would like to say for example under the
leadership -- several years ago Michele
Traficante-Balcer in the Arlington area
that when we had a grave problem and
when the people in the Arlington area were
making certain threats, when we went to
the District Justice Office we all went to
the District Justice Office, all wearing
badges and name tags. And I think there
were 40, 50, 60 people and we carried that
on under the leadership and initiative of
District Justice Anna Scharding.

So I think what we need to do,
Ms. McDonald is correct, she really needs
to work in the dynamics of her own
neighborhood. But when it comes to
witnesses standing up and pointing the
finger, not only do we need as Mr. Udin
has mentioned the strong leadership and
the resources of the District Attorney
Steven Zappala and his commitment, we
need all of us to stand up including this
Council. Maybe during the deliberations
and any judicial deliberations we should
all go, the community should go. We
should send a message out to those that try
to intimidate witnesses that there are a lot
of people.

I can understand witnesses being
intimidated. I mean when it’s all over in
the evening, a lot of people including
myself go home to our very safe

esse
eae eee

neighborhood or our safe homes, but some
people are still out there and seeing the
person that's intimidating to them. So we
have to make sure that we are always there
for their support in numbers. I really think
that's a very, very important dynamic of all
of this and maybe even during the
proceedings.

If Ms.McDonald would put
together a delegation to go to court to hear
those witnesses, and stand by them, and I
promise you I know a lot of people in my
neighborhood will come out to that
particular hearing. So if Ms. McDonald
wants to organize that, I promise that I will
bring people from District Three and we
will stand next to Ms.McDonald and
others.

Mr. Onorato:

Just briefly because I just want
Councilwoman McDonald to know that
she has my full support and we should be
very clear that incident that happened the
other day is not unique to Councilwoman
McDonald's District. This has happened
to all of our districts throughout the years.
As far as | am concemed that child that
was shot we lost one of our children, when
I say ours, the community of Pittsburgh,
this region and the responsibility for
responding to the issue shouldn't fall on
one individual or one individual
organization. All of us should be part of
it. | am there to help any way you want us
to participate. Just let us know and I will
be willing to do whatever I have to do time
wise to make sure we send a strong signal
that Pittsburgh is united on these types of
issues.

The Chair:

Well, Ms. McDonald you brought

209

up help from Harrisburg, I could say our
meeting that we had with the School
Board and legislators has been reset again
as a follow-up meeting, February 26, only
in about two weeks, in the morning, so
that might be something besides our
budget concems. City of Squirrel Hill we
have a citizens patrol in fact ironically last
week and I was at Rigor's (phonetic) Diner
for breakfast and the person from your
community a reverend asked about it. We
were actually setting a meeting up to learn
where we got the radios and things like
that. So it is almost in motion already.

Thad written down too, I wanted to
echo DA Steven Zappala's strong support
for the community that he will not tolerate
these witnesses intimidation. I think that's
a very clear message for his support. But
also I commend Tim Stevens for his
Temarks to come out that he wanted the
black community to rise to the occasion
and knew who they have to look at. But I
don't want anyone to use the word they
because this child was a 3.5 honor student
at Westinghouse High School, I don't care
what color she is. She is a neighbor of all
of ours, a citizen of Pittsburgh.

I am very concerned and upset it
could be anyone’s kid, relative, friend. If
the police -- it is different because I live a
door way in Hazelwood when we have
problems down there, I went down one
Saturday night and I took some police
officers who didn't know where it was.
They didn't believe it was Pittsburgh that's
how bad it was. So we have to be a strong
front to them. It is easy to talk, but once
we leave and the police leave, if you live
in that community, 10, 12, two o'clock in
the moming it’s easy for a lot of us who
live in safer communities to say well why
don't you come forward. We need to show

strong support, similar to the 911 issue.
We got all the cameras and all of us went
and it was a big PR day, but that's nothing
compared to what happened here.

Ms. McDonald, if you need us, I
am a little concemed about last night's
meeting, I think all of us would want to be
part of it. Not to show votes, just to show
support for you. I think we sit there and
listen to you, you are the leader of that
community. Whatever we need we need
to get in our cars, be there and I know
when we come I know when I said to the
cops when we have some problems in
Hazelwood, we had two shootings in a
row. When I said I am going to the door
away, and if I get shot I guarantee you are
in trouble.

So, they all followed me down.
Believe me I don't want to get shot, I am
not a big hero, and I am just as scared as
the next guy. But I think if anything we
have here is ours, Council positions can
open doors for anything. That is what I
like about being a Councilman. You
certainly can bring attention to whatever
issue you want. I think this should be the
forefront of all of our initiatives. If we
have to go to Harrisburg for extra help,
extra police, extra support, let's rally
behind Ms. McDonald and make sure it
happens there and we don't forget.

Ms. McDonald:
I want to thank all of my
colleagues for their support for the

community because again we all basically
share the community. We're City of
Pittsburgh Council members, forget the
district stuff.

But another thing is when you talk

210

about the Governor, there's been a number
of ideas that have been tossed about and
it's School Board member Randal Taylor
that had recommended that the Govemmor
come and visit. But there is a notion that
we want the schools to remain open where
there are no recreational facilities, it still is
a safe place in any community. But there
is a lack of funding basically to keep the
schools open all the time. And it becomes
a drain on the school system to always do
it pro bono because the community group
addresses them.

I had even thrown out the
establishment of even a trust fund of some
kind to keep just for that reason, to keep
schools open in pockets of communities
that there are no recreational facility or
where there is such an urgency in terms of
social ills that you have got to do
something. And it is not spread across the
city, they will only be in certain areas
where I can call hot spots to maybe just
keep the schools open during certain
evening hours to keep the kids off the
streets, just something.

It basically sparks a lot of ideas but
I look forward to working with Gene
Ricciardi who is Chair of Parks and
Recreation and Youth Policy and as well
as Council President O'Connor who sits on
that citizens patrol which is an excellent
idea and Diven and all my colleagues.

I will also say this, because of the
distrust of police and what happens to
information, my philosophy on this or
rationale is that if you can get the
community to seriously trust one or two,
and these folks won't be subject to
transfers they have to stay, they have to
stay in that particular capacity. But it
would give them a little more confidence

ee
eee,

through working with one or two or more,
more confidence in the police force.
That's a big problem is that it's us and
them and maybe it needs to start with just
a small focal point and then it can possibly
grow. And then a community does have a
little more trust, if they can trust one or
two maybe they will trust more than that.
Maybe they will trust more than that.
Maybe they will trust all the guys and gals
who come out and try to keep the
community safe,

Mr. Udin:
Another subject.
The Chair:

One other thing, I think there are so
many things that we can do together with
this district, every 18 year old kid whether
he graduates or doesn't graduate could be a
part of your plan to job applications all
those things. I think we have to attack that
community. We're going in there with
Home Depot, I think that can start
changing the whole culture there, the
business district but we have to make all
those opportunities available.

What Mr. Ferlo said, you know the
job centers have to be there whether we
start with Westinghouse High School or
what. There are so many opportunities. I
think we have to narrow in on it. There is
a 600 million-dollar surplus in the state,
let's give one community something.

Mr. Udin:

I just want to recall that several
years ago a young man named Johnny
Gammage was killed outside, actually
right within the city borders by some

211

police officers from outlying bureaus and
townships. A great deal of division
occurred as a result of the officers not
being brought to justice. And that is a
wound that is still open and oozing in this
community.

But I want to say that the most
recent recommendations coming from the
Coroner's Office that call for charges of
homicide to be brought in, the cases of
Housing Authority Officer John Charmo
and the City of Pittsburgh Police Officer
Jeffrey Cooperstein, I think go a long way
to helping to heal this community and
make this city one city where justice is
meted out fairly to all persons. I think it
took a great deal of courage. I know it
does for the Coroner to recommend
homicide charges against a police officer.
It will take also an even greater level of
courage for the District Attorney Steven
Zappala to accept those recommendations
and bring charges and indictments of
homicide against those officers. But it
points to a systemic problem that I think
we have to acknowledge, that we have to
continue to be vigilant about speaking out
against wrong doing even though it may
appear to some that we are broad brushing
the entire police department. We are not.
We are simply trying to focus like a laser
in on those officers who deserve to be
focussed in on so that we will have a
professional and fair police department.

So my congratulations to the
Coroner. My hope is that the District
Attomey will like mind do what he has to
do to bring justice and that we look within
the system of policing to determine what
we can do to keep wayward officers from
getting into our police force and when they
are there we have to find out who they are
and purge them out. But even more than a

SS OOOO

Citizens Review Board, the Coroner and
the District Attorney acting in the behalf of
justice will do more to bring healing and
cooperation between the community and
the police than anything else I can think of,
it is just about justice.

The Chair:

I hope the focus can go back, I
hope we can put that to bed some day. I
agree with everything you just said, but I
hope the focus starts going on that kid that
did the shooting and that kid that did the
threatening. There are probably a hundred
other kids out there with that potential to
do something like that. The shooter I am
talking about. How we can reach in so
that five years from now there are no more
kids like that in our city to teach them.
We work with them and we do whatever
has got to be done.

I agree 1 am just concerned there is
so much focus on the bad cops, and there
are bad ones. These two are bad, I hope
they get their punishment. We have to
start narrowing in on those kids and they
are kids, these are 19-year-old kids, he
shot somebody, he shot a 17-year-old. We
have got to reach in and help them too. I
just hope the focus can finally after these
two incidents get off of that and get into
that neighborhood and solve the problem.

Mr. Ferlo:

Unrelated issue. I hate to lessen
the moment here because these are
important issues we are discussing. But,
Mr. President, when I start talking about
state revenue money the state legislature as
we well know yesterday and today is
continuing debate on the issue of gambling
of various sorts. And I think appropriate

212

this Council considers sending a formal
resolution to the state legislature, both the
House and the Senate and the Governor on
this issue.

I specifically would like to request
that we not necessarily take a position
because there maybe some division in the
House. But I hope we stand united on the
issue of people's democratic right to
express their view by way of referenda on
the three proposals that are on the floor.

I wish though that they would just
act yesterday on this issue of slot machines
at the Ladbroke because the Ladbroke
racing industry has been around for at least
eight years to my knowledge in
Pennsylvania. We are talking about a
company that employs over 1,000 people
just from the South Westem Pennsylvania
area. Many Pittsburghers actually work
out at Ladbroke, at the Meadows or some
of their localized operations. Their annual
payroll is more than $12 million that's as
big as any big small company in the
greater Pittsburgh area. And the industry
says, at least if we believe their numbers,
that there are some 35,000 jobs connected
with the race industry in Pennsylvania,
which I didn't know it was that many
people.

I guess when you start adding up
all the multiplying factors of
concessionaires and grounds people and
horse people and the public relations
people and the like, it can be a very
significant number. Over all much the
same way that the multiplying effect
happens with employment. They contend
that there is a $752,000,000 economic
activity annually as it relates directly and
indirectly to the horse racing industry.

I believe that the legislation should
move quickly by their own action
legislatively to allow Ladbroke to have
what West Virginia already has. If you go
to West Virginia, and again I want to say I
don’t gamble I don’t happen to play the
slots, I have been to Los Vegas once in my
life. I actually enjoyed the shows and the
food more than I did losing two or three
hundred bucks at the slot machine. So, I
am not a tee toddler here, a moralist
talking about the issues. But I don't have a
gambling problem, but I do realize that
some people do.

I think ‘they have a gambling
problem notwithstanding the presence of a
horse track industry already and
notwithstanding the fact that we may or
may not have slot machines, riverboat
gambling or possibly the legalization of
the video poker machines that are already
in thousands of locations, already paying
off the things that makes me most upset.
As I have stated many times, we don't get
anything in retum from the activity that is
going on.

So there is for the no dice crowd
wake up there has been gambling as long
as we can remember. There will be
gambling legally or illegally for many
decades to come. I would rather try to deal
with it on a more structured and
progressive way. And that leads me to my
point, I think we should pass a resolution
to the State Legislature asking them to
forward to the voters for the May
referendum three questions. However they
decide but can we leam something about
the Plan A disaster in terms of the phrasing
of the question? If they are going to put
the questions on the ballot, three separate
questions I have already spoken to why I
support the slots at the Ladbroke.

213

J would urge anyone to visit the
parking lot in West Virginia and you will
see that 60% of all the license plates are
from Pennsylvania and Ohio. It doesn't
make any sense at all that we're
threatening the viability of economic
industry here in horse track by allowing all
the flight of revenue outside the state to
West Virginia.

I know West Virginia needs
income, but so do we. It just doesn't make
any sense to me that they allow this
activity in Delaware and West Virginia
and I think we have our eyes completely
closed. But if they are going to phrase the
question, could they please allow that
when people vote they will know ahead of
time whether it is the slots at the Ladbroke
or any notion of riverboat casino
gambling, however you want to phrase it
or even legalization of video poker
machines, which are in every one of the 67
counties, in every licensed liquor
establishment whether it be for profit
tavern, every veterans clubs, moose elk,
you name it, of any animal stripe. If it is a
fraternal group they’re supporting their
existence right now on paying for the roof
and the overhead with video poker
machines.

Again, we don't get any of the
income. So, I would please ask that we
forward a resolution asking that we
support the referenda question however
they phrase it for the May ballot. But I
would ask that whatever they do they put a
formula on the ballot that would say that
there be minimally some local revenue
return. It maybe 25 percent, I don't know
if we need to get into percentages. But if
we are going to allow this enhanced
gambling whether it be the race tracks or

ggg» cc O_OT_T

the casino boats or the video poker
machines, some percentage has to come
back to that host community with it, be
Pittsburgh.

If Pittsburgh has several thousand
video poker machines, or has riverboat
gambling we should get some percentage
back of that income to help our operating
budget. I would ask that given the states
economy of the surplus, that at least 60%
of all the money raised whatever profit
sharing they have with the company, at
least 60% go back to the state whether it
be any form of the gambling I just
mentioned, and be specifically dollar for
dollar match back to senior or elderly
property owners for tax relief under
oppressive school board taxes.

Many elderly people don't even
have children in the public school system
any more. J would ask if they want this to
win overwhelmingly, return 60% dollar for
dollar instead of the state taking it for a
bloated budget any ways. Don't give us
that lousy tax break, that eared income
tax, give me back $40 keep the money and
fix our damned bridges and roads. But in
any event take 60% of that money back
and give it to every elderly resident to
relieve them dollar for dollar of their tax
burden for property school taxes. You will
have the passage of these referendum
albeit non-binding, I think they wili be
overwhelmingly accepted. I would say at
least keep 15% of the money that goes
back to the state to support groups like
gambling anonymous, other social
services, self help groups that really should
be funded any ways.

Because whether we want to admit
it or not, you can look at the Super Bowl
and recognize that a billion doliars was bet

214

on the industry. What do they think that
somebody didn't lose their house because
they happened to be at the Super Bowl
event? Many people are hurt. It may be a
more sexy one-time event with all the
fanfare because it's the Super Bowl, but a
lot of people are hurt whether you have
Ladbroke or video poker machines or
casino gambling. There are many people
that are hurt because as a result of the
Super Bowl betting. No one wants to talk
about it. You know you put Jimmy the
Greek on television, make him a super star
but the fact of the matter is, there is a need
Tight now to dedicate some state money for
the self help groups.

So my motion is that we forward to
the legislature and the Governor Council's
request that they move to put these
questions on the ballot in the May primary.
But that they suggest some formula of
localized tax relief for elderly property
owners and local municipal governments
that are hosting these centers of gambling
activities.

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
Mr. Hertzberg:

Friendly amendment. I support all
of Mr. Ferlo's comments. The only
reservation I have and I don't know maybe
it doesn't need to be in this, maybe we're
getting too specific but the concem is for
existing local businesses, with any gaining
that we protect our local restaurants our
local hotels, all of our local businesses
from what could be unfair competition
from any kind of gaming operation. That
is your junket type operations that they
have in Las Vegas where you know you
get there and all the food is free as long as
you participate in the gaming. I know the

—
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legislature is familiar with the problem, I
know our Convention Visitors Bureau,
which has supported riverboat gaming has
also had those reservations. So whether
that needs to be part of this or not, that is
the only concem I have. Otherwise, I am
100% behind.

The Chair:

I am a member of the restaurant
association, I think they over react because
those riverboats the ones I have seen have
hot dogs and a beer and a coke or
something. They're not the elaborate Las
Vegas all you can eat for $6.99 dinners.
So I believe if those boats are very vanilla
because they want you playing the
machines, those couple hour cruises, they
don't want you spending two hours on a
fancy dinner.

So I believe it's something they
have to look at. But I believe what you are
saying let's put the question out there and
we have to trust that they work out the
details later.

Mr. Ferlo:

Let's put it out there and have
aggressive voters where this money is
going to go. I am not for gambling if we
don't see a return on where their money is
going. I am not for gambling if it means
just the state is going to go get an ante. I
am for this if we get elderly property tax
relief or we get some money back for our
operating budget since we just got stuffed
on the courts money. I am for this if we
see a real retum including some funding
support for self-help peer group
organizations that right now really need
money to help people with their gambling
addiction. If we aren't going to see the

return, then you know, forget about it.
The Chair:

As you alluded to, the Renaissance
initiative failed because it didn't do what
you said. They need grassroots support
and there is no way to get the voters to
support it more than helping seniors.

Mr. Ferlo:

If you tell elderly property owners
in this state who have been burdened with
property school tax and most of them don't
have children any more in the system, and
many of them still very much believe in
public education, that they will get a dollar
for dollar rebate and relief, they will vote
for those three questions. We can move
out of being Westem Pennsylvania
Kentucky and be Pennsylvania for a
change.

Mr. Udin:

I just want to point out that on the
same subject that the riverboat gaming
referendum does have specific
requirements in it that all funds going to
the state are reserved for education. So it's
not just a gaming bill it is a way of
identifying much needed dollars for
education. The Governor has already
clearly indicated that he does not intend to
put additional resources into education, yet
everyone knows that the state's educational
needs are sorely lacking. So I welcome
the opportunity to find some resources
from the riverboat gaming referendum that
might be put towards education.

Mr. Onorato:

T have to just chime in here. The
only way I will support any type of

aSeSaS—=—oaoaS Se

legalized gambling it has to be a dollar for
dollar reduction in the property tax and
possibly the wage tax when it comes to
funding education. It cannot just be a pot
of money to add to education. It has to be
dollar for dollar reduction.

IT will go a step further, Mr. Ferlo, it
has got to be a dollar for dollar reduction
for everyone, senior citizens, the young
couple that is struggling, that has taxes that
pretty much means they have a mortgage
for life on their property. It has to be a
reduction. Our real estate taxes in this
area are way too high. If you happen to
live in this municipality, your wage taxes
are way too high and 2/3 go to the school
district. I am not saying we punish the
school district, they should get a dollar for
dollar replacement, but we should have
property and wage reduced dollar for
dollar. Then I could support legalized
gambling because then it is a benefit to
every taxpayer and it goes back into
education. School districts are made
whole we just don’t take their money away
and not replace it. But the burden and how
we fund education is out of whack in this
state and this has to be a reduction, not a
50% reduction, that Regional Renaissance
vote failed for a lot of reasons.

One, it was an increase in tax on
people. Two, there was only some tax
reform, not 100% on the dollar. This I am
saying has to be a dollar for dollar
reduction. What we get in reduces the
funding of schools for how we do it now
because right now the system doesn't work
and that is a way you will get passage of
this type of bill and that's the way I can
support --

Mr. Ferlo:

216

I was very explicit. I am not
talking about increasing the pot. I am for
increasing the pot, I think that should be
done by the Governor and the legislature.
My motion is that to relieve 50% or
otherwise must go for property tax
reduction. 1 use the phrase elderly
property owners. The fact of the matter is
we have a uniformity clause that we know
if it is going to help anybody it has to help
the old class of those individuals who pay
schoo] taxes, which are property owners
regardless of age. So I want to be clear on
my motion.

The Chair:

I hope that anything that comes
also helps our budget, the City of
Pittsburgh.

Mr. Ferlo:

I am suggesting that we talk about
dollar for dollar reimbursement for
individuals who are pressed by property
taxes, to support the schools. I am saying
that there should be some local dollar
figure going back to whatever the host
community is that is hosting whatever the
gambling function is. JI think it is
legitimate that some percentage which
every other state that has approved
gambling has allowed some percentage
back for gambling anonymous and other
kinds of social service self help agencies
on the issue.

The Chair:

Las Vegas is not the fastest
growing city just because of gambling;
there are no taxes. There are very little
business, very little property tax, the
casino's pay for everything.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I will be very brief. I will support
and vote for the resolution today because I
believe the people of Pennsylvania and the
voters of our region should have every
opportunity to state their views on
gambling. I will tell you when if it does
become a referendum at the voting poll
that I will be voting no on all three. No,
no, no.

I find it very interesting how we
make the leap towards increase revenue
from gambling to helping our education
system, to lowering our taxes while the
state legislators are sitting up there with a
billion dollar surplus. Tomorrow they
could help our public schools, they could
help our parochial schools, our private
schools through the voucher systems.
They could lower our property taxes. We

‘ have a very strong economy and not
because of what is happening down in DC
or any big decisions that our State US
Officials have made, but because of the
private sector, the generator that is
happening.

So that surplus is going to continue
to grow. So just in short I will vote for the
resolution today because I look forward to
the voters of Pennsylvania and our region
to measure, get a measure of what they
think of gambling. I will be voting once it
hits the voting poll, I will be voting against
all three.

And just as a friendly amendment
or part of the letter, I would like the
Governor to let us know where ail the
lottery machines are in the City of
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Where
they are located, which neighborhoods and
also what the play is at that particular

machine in terms of how much money is
brought in from that particular machine? I
will definitely like to look at the location
of those particular machines to see which
ones receive a lot of transient business,
meaning that people are just maybe going
through Carson Street to others and which
ones are really strictly in the
neighborhood.

It will be interesting to see where
this money is coming from just from the
lottery system that is supporting some of
our senior programs. I noticed a lot during
our discussion we were talking about self-
help programs. So I think that we do agree
that increased gambling is going to hurt a
lot of families. So once again, I will vote
for the resolution. I hope it loses at the
voting polis however.

Ms. McDonaid:

Yes. I have definite reservations
about legalized gambling but I am very
open minded to it. I will agree with
Councilman Ferlo that it should be on the
ballot. I think it should be on the ballot
and let the voters decide.

The one concem though that I am
going to ask Councilman Ferlo is that this
resolution that you would like us to vote
on and support you in, is the resolution
simply to say that a hundred percent of the
revenue will go towards property tax
relief?

Mr. Ferlo:

I don't think it should. I was
suggesting that to the extent that there is
income generated, I would suggest that
help the state reimburse property owners
for dollar for dollar match for relieving

————

some of the school tax burden. I was also
suggesting that the host community like
the city get something back for our
operating budget. Thirdly, that there be
some, as every other state has done, that
there be some support for gambling
anonymous and other self-help peer group
organizations that need some
organizational funding to assist individual
families effected by gambling addiction.

I didn't really break it down per
say.

Ms. McDonald:

That is okay. Just to try to make
some logic out of this. If you want to
provide property tax relief in terms of
school taxes you're really not raising the
revenue or the budget over all for
education. The problem in the state is
there is not enough money, there is not
enough money allocated for education, it is
not at the top of the list. In fact, I really
wish they would reprioritize nationally as
well as statewide the budgetary priorities
and put more in terms of kids and family
and people and less in term of you know
the Band-Aid approach which is bigger
jails and more police officers.

The problem that I have with the
resolution, I will abstain because I do
agree with the principle that it needs to be
on the ballot, but I don't agree it should
necessarily be dollar for dollar property tax
relief. Simply because you're not growing
the pot of money for what you want. You
want to grow education. If you go into, I
have been to Las Vegas, and I can tell you
something when it comes down to those
slots, most of them are senior citizens,
hello. Most of them are senior citizens.
Now J don't have much compassion for a

218

senior citizen who is spending all of their
limited income at the slots because it’s fun
and because they look to do that.

I don't mind senior citizens who
have that luxury, maybe they are sitting on
a nice nest egg, but there are a lot of senior
citizens that really should not be there at
those slots playing at the levels that they
play. And to provide them property tax
relief, no. They don't need to be there in
the first place. So what you're doing is you
are providing them property tax relief,
giving them more money to what, gamble?
So again, I think there is a lot of debate
that needs to be at the table. I am not
saying senior citizens are gambler abusers,
Iam not saying that, But let's be real as far
as what will happen in gambling.

Mr. Ferlo:

I think you would concede that
80% probably are lower income elderly
property owners who are burdened with
school tax, are probably not the 20% of the
elderly that you see getting on our buses to
go. Imagine how Ladbroke feels every
time a senior citizens bus passes them to
go to other hills of West Virginia? I think
most elderly don't have the income to play
slots or gambling. Maybe once in a while
they will buy a $1 lottery ticket. But I
would say that the norm basically, I would
guess that 60, 70% of most elderly
individuals especially those at the lower
rung of the economic ladder are typically
not the individual that is going to end up in
Atlantic City, Las Vegas or playing the
slots.

Ms. McDonald:

T agree. I agree with that. But I
want to see more checks and balances and

—eeeeeeeeeaSSS eee

I want to see a broad based discussion of
the issue and for people to either put there
biases but also put realities on the table
and see what we're dealing with here. The
other thing is that senior citizens are a very
popular issue amongst politicians because
they vote, that's our largest block of voters.

Mr. Ferlo:
That's why I want it to pass.
Ms. McDonald: -

Senior Citizens are our largest
block of voters. We treat them well, don't
we now? We treat them right. But J will
say this, the salvation of this city is to
draw young people here, is to keep our
young people here when they graduate
from our higher institutions of leaming to
keep young people here who are raising
their children, that is the salvation of the
city.

So I don't want just revenues to go
towards just senior citizens. I love them
dearly but we have got to also grow this
city too. There is a lot of debate, there are
a lot of issues on the table and I agree with
Councilman Hertzberg, we do have to take
into maintaining our businesses.

So I look forward for the
referendum, but I am going to abstain,
Jimmy, because I don't want it to be
worded such that dollar for dollar property
tax relief to senior citizens, It's a bigger
issue as far as gambling and what to do
with the revenues if in deed it passes.

Mr. Diven:

T have a problem with voting for
this. I, like Councilman Ricciardi said, I

219

believe the money is great and the money
is something that we need to be focusing
on in areas coming from the state. But I
think and J don't want to claim to take any
moral high ground here, but I think what
happens at least from the information that
I have read regarding legalized gambling,
it effects the people who can afford to
gamble the least, the most.

I think that when you
institutionalize that it's almost an
endorsement by the local government and
the state government, which is going to
prey upon people who can't afford to be
gambling in the first place. I think there is
a number of negative repercussions that
come out of situations like that. We
always hear about Las Vegas as being the
model but you have to remember the
majority of the people who come into Las
Vegas are not residents, they're there on a
week vacation or four days vacation. So
they take their problems and they leave.

With gambling in the local
community that takes an impact on the
tool on that local community and I think
that's something we have to be cognizant
of when we start to have this debate. This
isn't just something that is going to be free
money for the City of Pittsburgh or for the
state or for education, this is money that
has a price tag and this is money that we
are going to shift our focus. I know that
and most of the cities where they have
legalized gambling, there was a dramatic
increase in white collar crime and check
forgery and things of that nature that have
taken a dramatic impact. I think that it’s a
big step and it institutionalizes those
problems by condoning it from the state
level.

I think that is something that we

oa eee

have to be able to look past the benefit,
which is the financial benefit and
investigate how bad the damages are going
to be on the other side when we talk about
gambling.

Mr. Udin:

I want to check in with
Councilman Diven see if he wants to band
bingo?

I just want to make a point that if
we extend this debate much longer the
state will have already voted on all three
referendums. They are debating it right
now, so if we are going to do anything, it
is going to have to be by fax.

The Chair:

Are they voting this week?
Mr. Udin:

They're voting today.
The Chair:

Why don't we simplify it? In
reality if you remember about two years
ago I took a trip up to Philadelphia to urge
them to put on the ballot. In reality
Philadelphia needs something to pay for
their stadiums. We are that far ahead of
them. I am sure this referendum will go
through and go on the ballot. I am
certainly supportive of putting it on the
ballot. I don't know in my debating the
whole issue if we dictate what you said. I
agree with what you said but why don't we
simplify it and say put it on the ballot for
now. I think there is a lot of work that will
have to be done in the interim what to do
with the money.

Mr. Ferlo:

These ballot
non-binding referenda.

questions are

The Chair:

I don't know if we want to go into
details because you certainly don't have
unanimous support on where they are or
what issue whether it be seniors or not.
Do you want to just put in that they
support the referendum?

Mr. Ferlo:

T think I will draft something that
expresses the concern of the body about
adequate public education which the state
has never fulfilled their 50%. At the same
time, I think we clearly want some
property tax relief if there is a windfall and
we want some local governmental support
for operating budgets. I think we can
express the concems of the body.

The Chair:

So you want to do that now, you
want to put something in writing today? I
certainly support putting it on the ballot.
Everywhere I go, at least let them vote for
it.

Let them vote you know. Because
I am sure it is going to happen in
Philadelphia.

What is your pleasure?

Mr. Ferlo:

I thought I made an eloquent
motion at the beginning.

The Chair:

You want to draft a resolution we
can sign or do you want to -~

Mr. Ferlo:

I made a motion earlier that was on
the floor. Don't ask me to repeat it though.

Mr. Udin:

Let's vote on the motion.
The Chair:

“You want a roll call vote.
Mr. Cohen:

Can you get Mr. Ferlo to restate the
motion, please? I understand it is to put a
referendum on the ballot, and to relieve all
citizens of property taxes, well let's hear
the words please.

Mr, Ferlo:

I thought I worded it to everyone's
satisfaction.

The Chair:

Why don't we put it in writing and
have everyone sign it this afternoon.

Mr. Udin:
Different subject.
Mr. Ferlo:

Are we going to vote on this?

221

The Chair:

I thought you were going to put it
in writing and we will sign it.

Mr. Udin:

We will vote by signature. I just
want to point out, Mr. President, the
importance of the upcoming Public
Hearing on Public Works. We worked
very hard to get Plan B passed because of
the economic benefits that will accrue to
the city. But the most immediate
economic benefit will be jobs. As we can
see from the number of applications that
are coming into Public Works for just six
or four jobs, we have got a thousand
applications. We can see that the City of
Pittsburgh is in desperate need of
benefiting from these Plan B projects and
from other construction.

If we do not pass this Pittsburgh
Works, J am afraid that the ones who will
benefit will be suburbanites who do not
live in the City. Pittsburgh residents will
continue to stand around with their hands
in their pockets while people come in from
West Virginia, I guess after they finish at
Ladbroke or down in the West Virginia
Tace tracks come in and work. And,
Pittsburghers don't get an opportunity to
benefit from their own tax money at work.

So I want to encourage the city to
join us at this Public Hearing on Thursday
at ten am. when we will have the first
Public Hearing for Pittsburgh Works. It is
very important for those who need work
for Pittsburgh.

Mr. Cohen:

Another issue, Mr. President. I just

SSeS

want to announce a meeting tomorrow.
There is going to be a meeting of all of the
community development corporations and
all of the community groups have been
invited to this meeting as an issue with
respect to cable franchise renewal. That is
the establishment of community access
networks all over the city to try to help
bring technology to people who wouldn't
otherwise receive it. Particularly moderate
and low income citizens around our city.

Councilman Ferlo and
Councilwoman McDonald attended a
meeting that we had with the Bloomfield
Garfield Corporation and some other
community groups about this issue. It's
very important when it comes to cable
franchise renewal and that is really

bringing the community into cable
franchise renewal and into the
technological future.

So, we would invite all Council
members to attend if they are able to do so.
It is tomorrow at two o'clock. It looks like
it is going to be moved from the
conference room into this chamber here
because of the number of people that are
expected to attend. Thank you.

The Chair:

This would include libraries and
community groups?

Mr. Cohen:

It may, the Camegie Library
already has a program, which is a good
one and we will talk about it tomorrow.
But what this would do is help us put
together a proposal to TCI to establish
exact sites around the city for low and
moderate income citizens to be able to

222

have access particularly to the Internet but
also to technology. So that community
groups can communicate with each other
throughout the city. It is a real interesting
way of promoting education in our city.

Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. President, as Chairman of
Engineering and Construction I wanted to

take the prerogative of inviting
Commissioner Dawida and other
commissioners to appear in Council

Chamber to outline to us whatever capital
budget they're announcing today to the
extent that it has an impact within the City
of Pittsburgh.

I think it would be helpful early on
before Director Reginella or the
administration start working on issues that
we be appraised of what the county capital
budget is, especially those projects that
may effect the City of Pittsburgh. Whether
it be roads, bridges specifically I believe
there is a proposal that I believe would be
in Councilman Hertzberg’s District
regarding the West End Bridge, the
entrance the connection of the West End
Bridge to 51. There maybe other county
projects, I don't know if other things are
planned along the 51 corridor.

T am not sure what is in the plan,
but I thought it might be helpful maybe for
us to have a cablecast televised meeting
with the elected officials and their
department leaders regarding the capital
budget in the county as it relates to those
projects that will be physically located
within the City of Pittsburgh. So, I would
like to make a motion that when I establish
the Post Agenda that we cablecast it.

MR. HERTZBERG - seconded _ the
motion.

Which motion prevailed.

MR. ONORATO moved to adjoum the
meeting.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.

And on the motion made by Mr.
Onorato, the meeting adjourned.

223

a
MUNICIPAL RECORD

Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
a

VOL. CXXXTIT

February 16, 1999

No. 7

—e6sSsaamama90S SS

Municipal Record

——————
eee
ONE-HUNDRED
THIRTIETH COUNCIL

BOB O'CONNOR......

ene - President
LINDA M. JOHNSON-WASLER ..

City Clerk
JOHN R. MASCIO.......10+ Deputy City Clerk
Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday, February 16, 1999
PRESENT:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato
Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin
Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor
Ms. McDonald (Pres't)

The Chair:

Will you all please rise for the
pledge of allegiance and remain standing
for a moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the world.

Today we have a special guest
Paige Cohen. She is ten years old in the
fourth grade at Ellis School. She is
accompanied by her father, Jeff Cohen,
and naturally she lives in Dan Cohen's
Council District.

Paige Cohen:

224

I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for alt.

The Chair:

Thank you. Paige, we have a flag
for you. Mr. Cohen, you want to come up
and take a picture with us?

PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Cohen:

Folks from the American Heart
Association please come up. Members of
Council, members of the audience, it's my
honor this morning to present this
proclamation for a special program that the
American Heart Association is sponsoring.
It is called a Race to No Place. They will
tell you all about it, but they have
stationary bicycles that will be set up at
PPG Place on February 20th, this
Saturday, that they already have over 500
people signed up to do this. And I think
we should try to place a challenge for City
Council to join this as well. Because J
think it's something like 25 or 27 teams set
up all on behalf of the American Heart
Association. So without further ado, let
me read this proclamation.

MR. COHEN PRESENTS:
No. 1245 WHEREAS, the

American Heart Association is a national
voluntary health agency whose mission is

ee
i 8

to reduce disability and death from
cardiovascular diseases and stroke; and

WHEREAS, in order to increase
awareness about the dangers of heart
disease and stroke, the American Heart
Association sponsors the “Race to No
Place”; and

WHEREAS, for fifteen years the
Race to No Place has attracted thousands
of stationary bike riders to participate in
team competition to recognize the
importance of regular exercise and
maintaining a healthy heart while raising
important funds for the fight against the
number one killer in our nation - heart
disease and stroke; and

WHEREAS, the 16” Annual Race
to No Place will be held Saturday,
February 22, 1999 at the Wintergarden at
PPG Place; and

WHEREAS, the Race to No Place
was organized so that all groups or
individuals can be part of it and participate
in a healthy and fun way to raise funds for
AHA’s research and community education
programs.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend the
American Heart Association and proclaims
Saturday, February 22, 1999 as “Race to
No Place Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.

MS. MCDONALD moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

Mr. Cohen:

225

Iam very proud to be on the board
of the American Heart Association. They
really have been making a lot of progress
towards eliminating this disease.

We have here this moming three
people representing the Heart Association
and the Race to No Place. First, Martin
Winnoch who is the chair of Race to No
Place and we will get Martin up here to
say a few words, also Gary Santell who a
volunteer of the committee and Dan
Cashiato from the American Heart
Association who is in the communications
area.

So thank you all three of you for
being here. Why don't we start with
Martin? Please accept this proclamation
on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh and tell
us about the race.

Mr. Winnoch:

Thank you, Mr. Cohen. First of all
I would like to thank Mr. Cohen. He's
been quite active with the American Heart
Association. Like he mentioned he served
on the Board of Directors now for the
Allegheny Division for several years now.

The Race to No Place is a
Stationary bike marathon at PPG Place
where teams compete in 15-minute
increments, everybody rides 15 minutes,
pretty much everyone can ride a stationary
bike and we raise money for the Heart
Association.

Each year for the past so many
years, cardiovascular diseases have ranked
as America's number one killer and
through events such as the Race to No
Place we have tried to raise money to
increase awareness that helps fight

eee eee

cardiovascular diseases.

February is American Heart Month
and we would like to invite everyone here
as well as everyone at home to come and
participate at our race this Saturday at the
PPG Wintergarden. We have teams
competing from six in the moming to six
at night. Like 1 mentioned previously, all
you have to do is jump on a bike for 15
minutes and pedal a stationary bike.

This is good because the Surgeon
General’s report recommends 30 minutes
of moderate intense physical activity
several times a week. Events such as the
Race to No Place who have been
instrumental in contributing to almost 25%
decline in cardiovascular diseases in the
past ten years, So it is through help, it is
through the efforts of the volunteers such
as myself and Gary Santell as well as other
riders who have raised money to help fight
this deadly disease.

I would also like to thank from the
City of Pittsburgh where the race has been
held for the past 16 years, Dom Costa who
helps us every year with parking, street
parking down there and also Richard
Bruce who does a lot behind the scenes
efforts to raise money and help us get
some food and prizes for everyone.

And I would like to echo
Mr. Cohen's challenge to everybody and to
see City Council to come on down this
Saturday if the weather holds up and we
will be down at the Wintergarden riding
bikes. Thank you.

Mr. Diven:

Thank you, Mr. O'Connor. At this
time I would like to invite all the people

226

here from the police and community picnic
to come on up and be recognized for the
incredible work you performed last year
and I know the effort that you are going to
put in for this year's picnic. So if you want
to come on up I know we have District
Justice Ricky King from my district and
District Justice Charles McLaughlin from
the 19th Ward. We also have our District
Attorney Mr. Steven Zapalla. We have the
Chief District Attomey Detectives, come
on up here.

First of all, I would like to thank
everyone assembled here today for such
hard work that they put in last year. Last
year was the first annual, which we hope
to be continuing and growing event
sponsored by the law enforcement
community here in Western Pennsylvania.
And all the people that you see in front of
you here today are peopie that really went
above and beyond and volunteered their
team and effort and did a fantastic job
organizing an event that was
unprecedented in Allegheny County and I
think across the country.

The spirit behind it, it started from
talking with a number of city police
officers who expressed how they felt like
they were only being seen when they wore
their uniform as a law enforcement officer.
And behind that there are many officers
who volunteer their time working with
kids whether they're coaching sports or
after schoo] mentoring or doing things that
reach out into the community and show
people they have a stake in the community
and they want to be a part of it. So what
we tried to do is set up an event on a large
scale that would bring people together and
showcase the volunteer work that
members of our law enforcement
community bring to our neighborhoods

every day.

It started out and it grew rapidly,
we ended up having, I believe, over 70 law
enforcement agencies represented that day,
coming from as far away as Butler and
Westmoreland, four counties in the
Western Pennsylvania area. We also had
about 15,000 people that took part in the
aftemoon and a lot of that had to do, well
all of it had to do with the people that you
see assembled here. They put a great deal
of time and effort into organizing and
making sure that things went perfect and
they’re police officers not event
coordinators .or people who have a
working knowledge of parks and
Tecreation.

So the job that they did was
fantastic but knowing the background of
them all just being regular everyday police
officers, it was something that was
phenomenal for anyone that was there and
saw how much work and how much effort
went into that day. With that I would like
to read the proclamation.

MR. DIVEN AND MR. O'CONNOR
AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS
PRESENT:

No. 1246 WHEREAS, police
officers from the City of Pittsburgh,
Allegheny County and several surrounding
Counties and Boros in Southwestem
Pennsylvania came together to form the
P.A.C.T. foundation (Police And
Communities Together); and,

WHEREAS, this organization has
been created by police officers to
strengthen their community ties and give
back to the community that supports them.
The following individuals have
participated to make this a success:

227

Chairman: Police Officer Frank Rende
Co-Chairman: Police Officer Eugene
Grattan, Jr.

Co-Chairman: Special Agent Joe Diven
Officer Ophelia Cookie Coleman

Officer Mike Kunsa

Officer Frank Hartle

Captain Donna Best

Legal Advisors:
Thomas Santone

Edward Grattan &

District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala,
Jr.

Assistant District Attomey, Thomas Swan
Chief Detective Terry O'Leary

Detective Richard Hogya

Pennsylvania State Police
Major Hawthorm Conley
Captain Coleman McDonough
Sargent Lapoto

Corporal Jennifer Brown
Corporal Drew King

Corporal Jeff Seeley

Corporal James Caranahan
Trooper Terry Hunt

Allegheny County Sheriff Department
Sheriff Peter R. Defazio

Chief Deputy Dennis Skosnik

Captain Robert Brasso

Captain John Tozzi

Sargent Jeff Sheldon

Deputy Carla Sweringen

Deputy Tim Skoog

Deputy Ed Wemer

Allegheny County Police
Superintendent Thomas Sturgeon
Inspector Paul Wolf

Sargent Robert Clark

Officer James Wobby

Officer Jesse Start

eee

Port Authority Police Department
Officer Joseph Smith

University of Pittsburgh
Officer Richard Troy

Pittsburgh Police Department
Assistant Chief Nathan Harper
Commander Anita Bryant
Commander William Bochter
Commander Dom Costa
Commander John McMahon
Lieutenant Dan Quinlin
Lieutenant Michael Hajduk
Sargent Jennifer Biddel
Sargent Becky Bassano
Sargent Shirley Epperson
Detective Michael Blake
Officer Laurice Jetter

Officer Chuck Hanlon
Officer Florence Hunt
Officer Joseph Arroya
Officer Pamela M. Lewis
Officer James Bassano
Officer Tom DeTemple
Officer Larry Huber

Officer Rich Ruffolo

Officer Corette Buggs
Officer Laurice Jetter

Officer Richard O'Neil
Officer Millie Johnson

Community Volunteers
Marlene Cassidy

Kelly Mareno

Marie Fischer

Joseph Crumb

Ray Hamandez

Cheryl Bodner

Housing Authority, City of Pittsburgh
Chief Frank Coppola

Commander Joy Pekar

Lieutenant Ronald Griener

Officer Don Mayer

228

Officer Mike Miller
Officer Chrissy Bruno
Officer Keith Miles
Officer Jon Gault
Officer Rich Hereda
Officer Sean Fuska
Officer David Clouse
Officer Sean Cassidy
Officer Jim Payne
Officer Jim Sippey

Aspinwall Police Department
Chief Charles Clouse

Castle Shannon Police Department
Officer Tod Erlich

Monroeville Police Department
Chief George Polnar

L.E.O.M.
William Burke
Ray Micknowski

Public Works, City of Pittsburgh
Michael Gable
John Somosky

District Magistrates
Dan Diven

Richard King
Charles McLaughlin
John Swearingen

WHEREAS, on Saturday, May 8,
1999, the 2° Annual P.A.C.T. celebration
will take place at Point State Park,
bringing _ together many _ police
departments, police officers and their
families to reward those who unselfishly
give, remember those who gave and to
morn those who died while giving; and,

WHEREAS, the celebration will
include such festivities as a police bike
patrol race through downtown Pitisburgh,

games and entertainment for children and
adults, involvement by Special Olympics
and much more.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby applaud
P.A.C.T. in its efforts to honor fellow
police officers and their families and to
improve the relationship between police
and the community and wishes them the
best of luck with their celebration.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare Saturday, May 8,
1999, "P.A.C.T. Day" in the city of
Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Diven:

Before I bring up Officer Rende
and Officer Grattan and Officer Coleman,
T would like to ask our District Attorney,
Mr. Steven Zapalla, to step forward and
say a few words. Having seen how much
work these guys put into it, I can honestly
say that the picnic would not have gotten
off the ground without Mr. Zapalla's
assistance. I know he, aside from
providing contacts and links with law
enforcement agencies outside of the City
of Pittsburgh, he also provided a
substantial contribution to finance the
event.

With that I would like to give him

229

the opportunity to at least talk about his
involvement and let him know how much
we appreciate his help for the work that he
did.

Mr. Zappala:

Mr. President, ladies and
gentlemen of Council, fine ladies and
gentlemen to my lefi, it's a pleasure to be a
part of PACT. All too often what you hear
about the law enforcement community is
in connection with some tragedy that you
read about in the newspaper. The ladies
and gentlemen to my left and the other
persons not here this morning or out in the
audience are persons who are family, have
families, moms and dads, people with
children, people who are role models in
this community, people that we can all be
proud of, and certainly again the ladies and
gentlemen to my left are those types of
persons.

When PACT was first brought to
my attention, and by the way Officer
Rende, Officer Grattan, Special Agent
Diven, Mike's brother, Officer Coleman to
name just a few, they came up with this
idea. When they first brought it to my
attention I thought it was a great idea. We
routinely by the way, we confiscate money
from drug dealers. I couldn't think of a
better use for those moneys than to
reacquaint the ladies and gentlemen of the
law enforcement with our children. It
worked out very well last year; we were
very pleased with the result. Substantial
participation throughout the community
and this year I think it is going to be twice
as good.

As you can see from the ladies and
gentlemen of Council who have supported
this proclamation and who consistently

er
=e

have given support to the law enforcement
community and to this particular endeavor,
there is no question in my mind it is going
to be a tremendous success.

I don't want to take up much of
your time here this moming, Mr. Diven,
Mr. President. I appreciate the opportunity
to have input into this and ladies and
gentlemen thank you for letting me be part
of the team.

Mr. Diven:

Thank you, Mr, District Attomey.
Now I would like to ask Mr. Rende to
detail some of the headaches that he
suffered through last year to make this
event a success. Also, I would like to
point out that this is only a small
representation of all the people that
worked last year to put this picnic on. In
here I have a listing of everyone by name,
it is totaling over 90 names of people who
really dedicated a lot of time and effort to
make this successful. I think Frank you
can speak to how much work it really was.

Officer Rende:

Thank you very much. Last year
was exciting; it was time consuming on a
lot people in this crowd. Last year my
wife was here, she is not here this year
because she left me. But it was
consuming; it was very time consuming.

I would like to thank Councilman
Diven and Councilman O'Connor for their
support and also Councilman Ferlo for the
bicycle helmets, it really made a difference
last year, DA Zappala with the money. It
all started us going and the whole idea
with this PACT was children and nothing
else. Nothing else. Not race, not police,
nothing. It was children. Letting children

230

grow up in a law abiding society and show
them that policemen — believe it or not no
matter what you read, are the children's
friends. We are people's friends. We want
the kids to come up to us and talk to us.

We got our point across last year.
It was a lot of work; we kind of made
some growing pains with the event as far
as the mistakes that were made. We had a
jot of adult entertainment, we are cutting
all that out this year. It is going to be
strictly a children's event. What we need
from City Council is to go out in your
districts and talk to your community
leaders and get them involved with us.
We have a number that they can call, we
need volunteers, we also need money too.
So if you guys have your checkbooks, we
would appreciate you slashing us a quick
check before we leave.

But it is definitely for our children.
Our children are our future. As corny as it
sounds, it really is. And from the grow up
with us together with the police and the
children together, maybe we can make this
community a great one, greater than it is.
So I would appreciate your help.

Like I said we need community
contacts, go out into your districts and talk
to the community people, have them get
involved with us. It’s a great event. It is a
great event for children and adults alike.
And I can guarantee they will have a good
time this year.

Mr. Ferlo:

Who do we make the checks out
to?

Officer Rende:

PACT, P-A-C-T, that is all it is.
We are a non-profit organization. We
have bookkeeping from the DA's Office,
we don't touch anything, it is all checks
and everything is above board and that's
the way we want to do it. We would
appreciate any money you can get us and
any publicity. The news people, I am
going to be pleading to you, every time
you pick up a newspaper it's not good for
the police. We appreciate a little bit of
coverage on this, front-page maybe. Give
us adig. I appreciate it. But thank you for
your time and hope to see you down there
this year.

Mr. Diven:

I would also like to ask Officer
Coleman if she would like to say a few
words, if you would about the event. I
know she has got a speech. I can tell you
she was one of the ones who kept Frank in
line and made sure that everything went
off without too many hitches last year. We
appreciate your work.

Officer Coleman:

I guess J am the senior citizen of
the crowd now. You know community
problems are our problems and our
problems and community attitudes are our
attitudes. We are in this together.
Engaging people within our community
and the performance of our duty, we work
actively to become a part of our
community. By being a service and
getting involved with community affairs. I
have said over and over again, we must
put an end to the us against them or we
against they, mine and yours, and thinking.
This type of thinking obstructs the efforts
to have a cooperative joint responsibility
for fighting crime. And in this place I

231

would like to just one time for it to be a
total we, are in this community together.

That speaks volumes because you
know so often we get put into different
situations as police officers. As police
officers we have taken an oath that is
under the constitution which states that we
will serve and protect even those that are
non-law-abiding citizens. And we do that
and also to keep in mind that we uphold,
we uphold the ethics and the values and
we do not comprise those in doing our
jobs.

I would just like to say that I am so
glad to be a part of this organization.
Because when I walked in, it wasn't about
Cookie Coleman, it wasn't about Frank
Rende, it wasn't about Eugene Grattan, it
was about let's see what we can do for the
community as a whole. And I will be here
until you all get rid of me.

Mr. Diven:

Officer Grattan you want to say a
few words?

Officer Grattan:

We just want to thank everyone. I
know J am being a little repetitive here, but
from the upper command staff of the City
of Pittsburgh, you see some commanders,
Assistant Chief Harper behind us, as well
as many patrolmen and the District
Attorney's Office, we can't thank you
enough for being apart of this.

Again, it's a we organization and
we need everyone out there to help us. To
make this new day with all the other added
things that we have, make it special for our
community. Make it more worthwhile.

Sa——_eacIjxTw]q_oa_60—5 eee

Make it more meaningful and let's stop all
the BS out on the street, that is the bottom
line, That's it. Let's get across and amend
the bridges and start again a new. Thank
you.

Mr. Diven:

Colleagues, one of the reasons why
we had this group together here today
before -- May eighth is a long way off.
We wanted to get everyone together and
let you know that we just started the kick
off plans and we're putting it in high gear
to get the picnic organized. I am sure
during the next few months there is going
to be a number of things that we as the
City Council body can do to make it a little
easier for them to continue the great work
that they're doing.

So I am sure we will be coming
back to all of you individually and asking
for your support and your help in building
links to the community. Your help
designating some funds from the city to
help them with their job and also with any
of the obstacles that we might run into
regarding the use of Point State Park on
that day.

So we think that by having
everyone here and showing how much
work that they put in last year and how
much work they are planning to put in
over the next few months, it would be a lot
easier to get your support to make sure that
this year this program grows and expands.
Hopefully I would like to see 20 years
from now we can look back and see this as
a model for the rest of the country about
how we can bring people together and
solve problems as individuals and not as
anything else.

And so with that I would also like
to recognize constituency from the
Pittsburgh Housing Authority Police.
They were very active in the last year
event with the finger printing ID things
they put together to have kids have a
packet of information in case the kids were
ever missing or abducted the information
was on file and parents had copies of that.
We appreciate the University of
Pittsburgh, UPMC also provided us with a
great deal of financial support. So these
are the people that --

Mr. Ferlo:

Better introduce the two judges
here.

Mr. Diven:

I introduced them on the way up.
We have got my judge -- they are actually
from my Council District, so I have to do
that. Judge Ricky King, Judge Charles
McLaughlin. 1 would want to keep them
happy obviously because they represent
my neighborhood.

But I would also like to thank
Council President Bob O'Connor. I know
last year when we started out we were ina
position where we had dinner with a
couple of the police officers and they came
up with the idea. Bob bent over
backwards to make sure that the city had
the ability to help and provide these guys
with the resources that they needed. We
want to thank all of you. We look forward
to the great work that you have done in the
past and are planning to do this year.

Mr. Ferlo:

IT am not sure if that is the

Marathon weekend or the weekend before
is marathon weekend?

Mr. Diven:

I believe it is the weekend after the

marathon. It is the week before the
Children's Festival.
Mr. Ferlo:

If there is any effort you can make,
I mean we have a lot of active groups in
my Council District that work with all the
officers here. I'think a lot of Block Watch
Committees would be helpful if you can
let them know when the plan meetings are
or we would like to plug in. We have a lot
of active groups in all the seven
neighborhoods that I represent.

Officer Rende:

We are going to have a phone
number they can call.

Mr. Ferlo:

I would like to kick off with a
$1,000 pledge from my Council District
from my account.

Mr. Diven:
Anyone else?

Mr. Ferlo:

I was hoping it would be a
challenge.

Mr. Diven:

Well, I am going to match you. I
will match you.

Mr. Hertzberg:

I wanted to comment on the PACT
picnic last year. I really enjoyed being
dunked in the dunk tank in the cold water.
I think the Mayor's son really enjoyed
putting me in there. I will match the
thousand and I will also volunteer to do
that dunk tank again. See if you can get
that water hotter.

Mr. Diven:
Anyone else?
Mr. Zappala:

If we're going to match checks,
why don't we start with $15,000 and see
what we can get? Where we go?

The Chair:

I would like to as Frank or Gene
said and you said, there are four or five of
us together for lunch I think in March of
last year. They said they wanted to do this
huge picnic, Allegheny County include
everyone and it really came from the heart
because | think Frank said it best.

He was concemed when he would
go into a restaurant that the kids, he didn't
have that feeling that the kids new what he
was all about and really had that bonding
that maybe years ago they did. And he
was concerned about that. Especially a lot
of negative publicity that the police were
getting and that was his major concem
because he said Eugene, you see his
daughter is here, they were concerned
about their relationship with the kids.
Because of their own kids because how
they saw it, they wanted a bonding.

When they said, you said you only
have two, three months to do this, time
wise it was almost impossible. But they
really rolled up their sleeves, DA Zapalla
jumped in full force, all of our colleagues
on Council as soon as we approached all
of you. Really gave it an effort. Cookie, I
think again this is such an effort and we
have been talking about it on Council if
you don't already know for the last couple
of weeks. Let's make this and Mr. Ferlo I
think that's a great idea, all of us bring our
neighborhoods together. We just want to
bring kids down to Point State Park to
have fun and to meet the police officers.
That's what it is all about. There are no
hidden agendas, no political agendas. I
think it is remarkable what you have done.
And just not to be outdone by my
colleagues, I will donate $1,001.

Mr. Onorato:

First I want to thank everyone. I
know Councilman Diven talked to me last
year, or year and a half ago when this all
started. I will be glad to be supportive of
the whole organization. I also want to
thank everyone here and the officers that
are not here today that are out working. I
deal with you all the time within my
district, I know Cookie is over in my
district a lot of times too and we have a lot
of events going on. My zone works
closely with my community works and I
teally appreciate that.

Hearing the discussion of the
funding and hearing District Attorney
Zappala's $15,000 that he put in,
Councilmen, I feel very confident as
Opposed to each of us trying to raise a
thousand here, that we could put together
one bill that we could all endorse that

234

could be at least $15,000 to match his.
Why don't we do it that way? That's
something in our budget a lot of time,
$15,000 on one hand where it is
insignificant to the total operation of our
budget. I believe there are certain things
that we can pay for that go a long way for
the price of the dollar and $15,000 for
something like this and what was the total
count again last year? How many people
showed up?

Mr. Diven:
I believe over 15,000.
Mr. Onorato:

And you are expecting how many
this year?

Officer Rende:
Hope to double it if we can.
Mr. Onorato:

Hopefully double it. The one point
I heard earlier in addition to if we can
match the 15, which I am confident we can
do. I think we can put together a bill that
we can all support is that the media has to
step forward on this one. We joke about
it, but they have to step forward with it.

This sensationalism that goes on
and not that they shouldn't cover that, but
they also have to show that the 99% of the
times where things aren't going wrong has
to be exposed also. That things are going
right on a daily basis in this town, that
never gets covered. Because you’re doing
the right thing and that is not news worthy.
This sort of brings to the attention that hey
listen there is a lot of good out there that is

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going on and we want to make sure it gets
the attention that this isn't happening just
on this day. This happens every day 24
hours a day in this town. We want you to
know we recognize that. Thank you.

Mr. Cohen:

I want to join in the chorus if I
could. First of all, just to thank our Public
Safety Chair, Mike Diven. Councilman
Diven had just been elected, in fact he
hadn't been sworn in for very long before
he dove into this project. I think he's done
it with an incredible amount of energy and
enthusiasm. So we very much appreciate
his efforts as well as Council President
O'Connor's who really kicked this off for
us.

I guess what struck me when I
went to the picnic with my son last year,
four year old son, is that once we entered
Point State Park, all politics were left
behind us. And when my kid saw the
petting zoo and went running towards the
goats and dogs and other animals that were
there, he didn't care what kind of politics
were going on in the city. He just came to
have a good time and to see police
officers. And in a positive light that they
deserve to be seen and to recognize that
police officers are also fathers and mothers
and sisters and brothers and family
members. That is so critical a message I
think to the City of Pittsburgh.

And for you to take it upon
yourselves voluntarily for people who are
watching, they are not getting paid to do
this, but to take their own initiative to put
together this incredibly successful project
to bring the community and police
together is something that really deserves
tremendous recognition. So I want to
thank you very much.

235

I know that this picnic will be even
more successful this year. I look forward
to attending. I would rather not be dunked
because that was quite cold last year. And
I never figured out how to get back on the
seat in order to be dunked again. I know
Councilman _— Hertzberg is better
coordinated than I am. But anything that I
can do to help, I was going to suggest what
Councilman Onorato suggested which is
we all join in together to give a financial
contribution to certainly match the District
Attorney, that's a good challenge for us
and I look forward to being there. Thank
you very much.

Mr. Ferlo:

Councilman, my thousand was a
dollar for dunk for each one of my other
colleagues.

Mr. Onorato:

You just made it 16,000. Thank
you.

The Chair:

Like most of you, I would certainly
like to get involved but I passed the baton
right over to my assistant, Marleen
Cassidy, who does all the work. She is
Frank's sister.

Ms. McDonald:

But I thoroughly enjoyed the event.
I think you treated all the people, all the
elected officials with the greatest you
know very gracious to all of us. This year
I do anticipate it is going to be bigger.
And I think we are going to have good
weather again. Remember last year, we

lle,

were sweating that and the weather was
absolutely gorgeous.

I would like to as soon as you get
the phone number, I think many people in
the community as well as us would like to
know how we could volunteer in various
ways, how other groups could help. I
know that this is you know the police, this
is you all's event but there are a lot of
people out there that would like to help.

Another suggestion I would have is
that there would be youth. Maybe youth
that are marginal, you know they're not
little angels, but they need to be able to
work with you all for a day, volunteering
to other community members just like you
guys. Side by side. So it's an idea that I
think would be good. I would be more
than willing to work with you on that.
And again, you can look forward to me
and let me know. J just won't do the dunk
tank, that's the only thing. Anything else I
will volunteer.

Mr. Diven:

I have to mention Martin Bronze
from Special Olympics, if you would like
to say a few words? This is one area
where we are growing this year is the Law
Enforcement Torch Run. I want to
acknowledge him, I know.

Officer Rende:

We're going to tie in with the
memorial on the North Side the torch run
all on the same day.

Mr. Bronze:

Thank you very much. We're very
happy to be here as part of the Allegheny

236

County program. Quite simply the Law
Enforcement Torch Run consists of 20
Tuns around the state of Pennsylvania.
Last year we only had seven runs, we
upped it to 20 this year. It involves all
levels of law enforcement, the Department
of Corrections, everyone in between.

The dates are quite numerous
around the State of Pennsylvania. Last
year 500 officers, this year we're going to
be well over a thousand. This program the
Special Olympic Torch Run involves
70,000 officers around the world to raise
funds and awareness for Special Olympics.
The way they do it is by doing runs, the
second part is by developing shirts such as
I am wearing. This year's theme,
continued theme for the next two years
will be the community heroes.

And from what I have been
hearing, what a better fit than with the
program we have here the picnic in the
park. So, we're excited to be here. I want
to thank Frank Rende, Gene Grattan for
the invitation last Tuesday to attend the
meeting. We are excited and I look
forward to seeing you all on May the
eighth. Thank you.

Mr. Diven:

Additionally, I would also like to
recognize another one of my constituents,
the Chief of District Attomey Detectives,
Chief Terry O'Leary. I want to mention
him. Also, we would be remiss if we
didn't mention the contribution of the
Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Pete DeFazio put
forth and his commitment to this picnic. I
know he couldn't attend this moming but
he has worked very strong to put a full
complement of sheriffs involved in this
picnic.

Mr. Udin:

I want to again express my own
appreciation to all the officers that have
come forward in this activity trying to
close the gap in relations between the
community and police officers and to
show more human side and a human face
to the children and to the community.
Especially the work of District Attorney
Zapalla and Cookie Coleman who worked
tirelessly in this effort.

This is not’the first time that they
have stepped forward to try to do mending
of fences and building of bridges and I
want to count myself among the supporters
of your efforts. I hope that they will move
from this effort to higher levels of making
this a single city that we can all live in
comfortably and happily. Thank you.

The Chair:
Can we all get a picture?

‘We have several to be read into the
record.

MR. UDIN AND ALL COUNCIL
MEMBERS PRESENT:

No. 1247 WHEREAS, the United
States Postal Service, Pittsburgh District
regard diversity as fundamental to business
success and to achieving our corporate
goals of employee commitment, customer
satisfaction; and :

WHEREAS, this Diversity
Development Committee within our
Pittsburgh District is committed to the
creation of resources, programs and
policies to create an environment which

237

accepts diverse characteristics, such as,
age, neighborhood, birthplace, age, gender,
education, and race effecting community
Postal Service throughout Pittsburgh's
district. The Pittsburgh District of the
United States Postal Service will work in
collaboration with craft, the National
Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees,
management, unions, community-based
organizations, educators, and
governmental agencies to attain solutions
in communications; and

WHEREAS, this Diversity
Development Committee is committed to
identifying barriers to upward mobility of
all employees, and ensuing that various
organizations including, but not limited to,
people of color, women, and people with
disabilities are aware of these activities.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh declares February 20, 1999
as Diversity Awareness Week in the City
of Pittsburgh.

MR. O'CONNOR AND ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:

No. 1248 WHEREAS, twenty-five
years ago, Gene Adams founded the
Blessed Sacrament Tournament in Erie,
Pennsylvania, playing a vital part of
Blessed Sacrament Athletics; and,

WHEREAS, Gene Adams not only
served as Athletic Director and Coach, but
was very active in the Blessed Sacrament
Ushers Society, of which he was President
in 1995. He also served as Chairman of
the Erie Diocesan Board of Athletics; and,

WHEREAS, due to his ongoing

dedication to grade school basketball,
Gene has given teams from several areas

throughout the State of Pennsylvania and
New York an opportunity to compete in
the "Erie" Blessed Sacrament Tournament;
and,

WHEREAS, the "Erie" Blessed
Sacrament Tournament was re-named in
1999 to the "Annual Gene Adams Bulldog
Tournament" in honor of his dedication to
the program; and,

WHEREAS, the following teams
participated in the 1999 Tournament:

Saint Rosalia Panthers, Pittsburgh

Blessed Sarament Bulldogs, Erie
PA

Saint John Panthers, Girard PA

Saint Alphonsus Flames, Wexford
PA

Saint Boniface Braves, Erie PA

Nativity of our Lord Warriors,
Orchard Park NY

Saint Malachy Bombers, McKees
Rocks PA

Saint Mary's Cvaliers, St. Mary's
PA; and,

WHEREAS, Gene Adams had
been an excellent role model to all
children, his unselfish dedication to the
youth that had participated in the Blessed
Sacrament "Gene Adams" Tournament
truly made a difference in their lives; and,

WHEREAS, Gene Adams helped
to develop confidence, respect, discipline,
maturity and sportsmanship that will stay
with the children throughout their lives;
and,

WHEREAS, Gene Adams eared
the respect of the youth of the
Tournament, but he also eared the respect

238

of their parents, teachers, coaches and all
of those who knew him.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize the
important role that Gene Adams
contributed towards grade school
basketball; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare Friday, February 12,
1999, “Gene Adams Day” in the City of
Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved to adopt the
resolutions.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

We have Meir Rochelle Pheffer
please come up. We have Meir Rochelle
Pheffer who is the Auditor Supervisor
from the Pittsburgh Public Schools, Tom
Flaherty's Office. You see him quite a bit
in the lawsuits and running around. He
does an excellent job. But I am really here
to salute Yeshiva Schools.

Just in case you don't know I have
three nieces, Anite, Oralee and Adina, and
I hope you are all watching. I will get
them to watch the Council meetings
because of this. It's a wonderful school
and I am very, very proud to be a supporter
of Yeshiva School, especially the girls
school. The boys school is good, but the
girls school, I have three there.

I will read this resolution but I have

been at the competitions I think last year's
voice competition it’s amazing what they
do. I will let you explain some of the
competitions better than I would.

MR. O'CONNOR, MR. COHEN AND
ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL
PRESENT:

No. 1249 WHEREAS, Yeshiva
Schools instill a sense of belonging in the
community which gives students a finn
grounding and allows them to grow with
the knowledge that they are contained
within a safe and loving environment; and,

WHEREAS, since 1997, the
Yeshiva Girls School has competed in the
North American Girls’ Sefer HaMitzvos
Competition for elementary schools; and,

WHEREAS, the Yeshiva Girls
School of Pittsburgh is hosting this year’s
contest on Sunday, February 21, 1999, for
girls from 5" to 8" grand; and will include
four finalists each from eight schools
throughout the United States and Canada;
and,

WHEREAS, the contest
coordinators have prepared study booklets
for the participating schools to use a
curriculum guide detailing a course of
study to prepare; and,

WHEREAS, the contest
curriculum includes the first three volumes
of the Torah, from the knowledge of God
to the holidays; and,

WHEREAS, the participating
contestants have successfully mastered
testing at their respective schools; and,

WHEREAS, ithe finalists will
compete in a written and oral competition,
including applications to the laws of the
Torah.

239

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby wish all of the
contestants in this year's competition the
best of luck; and,

BE JT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby congratulate Yeshiva Schools
of Pittsburgh on their continuing
dedication to education and hereby
declares Sunday, February 21, 1999,
"Sefer HaMitzvos Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh.

MS. MCDONALD moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Meir, do you want to tell us
something about it?

Mr. Pheffer:

Thank you very much, Council
President Bob O'Connor, Councilman Dan
Cohen, members of City Council, who
have always been very supportive of the
needs for our community and our
neighborhood. My mentor Tom Flaherty
and I just want to thank everyone for their
support for our school and community.

Speaker:
It is an honor to participate in this
wonderful program and we are ail very

proud of all of our students in the Yeshiva
Schools. Thank you.

The Chair:

How many children do you have in
the school?

Mr. Pheffer:
Over 400.
The Chair:

200 in the girls. They have over
420 students in the two schools. It is a
tremendous effort and it makes a great
effort for people to live and stay and study.

Mr. Cohen:

In Hebrew the word HaMitzvos
means the good deeds and that's really
what you’re promoting at Yeshiva Schools
is for your children to do good deeds. Do
good deeds for their community and do
good deeds in the world at large. So I just
want to congratulate you for putting on
this program and Councilman O'Connor
for presenting this proclamation. I wish
you every success. Thank you.

The Chair:

Now move to presentation of
papers.

MR. FERLO PRESENTS:

No. 1250 Resolution Providing for
a Contract or Contracts, or use of existing
Contracts, and/or an Agreement or
Agreements, or use of existing
Agreements for the renovations to the City
County Building and for the purchase of
equipment and supplies for said projects;
at a cost not to exceed $180,000.00.

240

Which was read and referred to the

Committee on Engineering and
Construction.
MR. ONORATO PRESENTS:

No. 1250 An Ordinance amending
the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title
Nine, Zoning, Chapter 902, by changing
the Zoning District Map Conversion Chart
to specify that the "M2" and "M3"
Industrial Districts are converted to
“UNC” Urban Industrial District rather
than "NDI" Neighborhood Industrial
District,

No. 1252 An Ordinance Amending
the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title
Nine, Zoning, Section 925 by revising the
Contextual Setback regulations.

No. 1253 An Ordinance Amending
the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title
Nine, Zoning, Chapter 911 by revising the
definition of Bed and Breakfast (Limited).

No, 1254 An Ordinance Amending
the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title
Nine, Zoning, Chapter 911 by revising the

Use Table for Religious Assembly
(Limited) and Religious Assembly
(General).

No. 1255 An Ordinance Amending
the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title
Nine, Zoning, Chapter 901, by revising
regulations pertaining to uses which are
institution, educational institution, or unit
group buildings thereof; and hospital or
unit group buildings thereof.

No. 1256 An Ordinance Amending
the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title
Nine, Zoning, to include the Urban
Industrial District.

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eee

No. 1257 An Ordinance Amending
the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title
Nine, Zoning, Chapter 908 by revising the
Public Realm District Regulations.

No. 1258 An Ordinance Amending
the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title
Nine, Zoning, to revise regulations
applicable to the EMI District.

No. 1259 An Ordinance Amending
the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title
Nine, Zoning, Chapter 911 by revising the
Use Standards.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Planning, Zoning & Land
Use.

MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.
MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:
No. 1260 An — Ordinance

Supplementing the Pittsburgh Code, Title
Seven, Business Licensing, Article VII,
Service Businesses, Chapter 765,
Commercial Hauling of Municipal Waste,
by adding requirements to keep dumpster
lids closed at all times. --(SPONSORED
BY MR. RICCIARDI)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Public Works, Water &
Environmental Services.

241

No. 1261 An Ordinance Amending
the Pittsburgh Code, Title Five, Traffic,
Article VII, Parking, Chapter 549,
Residential Permit Parking Program,
Section 549.08 Visitors Permits, by
changing the amount of days available for
visitor permit parking within a specified
period of time. —(SPONSORED BY
MR. RICCIARDI)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Planning, Zoning & Land
Use.

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

No. 1262 Resolution Providing for
the issuance of a $2,858.62 warrant in
favor of Jan Sipula, 107 Dunbar Drive,
Pittsburgh, PA 15235 in settlement of a
claim in which a City Public Works truck
hit and damaged claimant’s vehicle.

No. 1263 Resolution authorizing
the purchase of a $15,000 group life
insurance for each part-time, non-union
employee.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

The Chair:

Thank you. We will now move to
unfinished business. Any unfinished
business to come in front of Council?

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mr. Ferlo:
I don't know if this qualifies as
unfinished business, but I think it was at
least last year City Council requested the

Personnel and Civil Service Department,
Director Parees changed or modified the

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vacation policy for city employees. I
actually voted no because despite the fact
that I can understand arithmetic I could not
understand what the administration was
actually doing.

Now they explicitly stated because
I asked it 15 times not being able to
understand the bill, despite having the
ability to read and write, they explicitly
stated on record that there were no
changes, no reductions or no one is going
to lose anything. Now I don't know if I am
alone but other employees in the city
communicated I think not only to myself
but other colleagues that for employees
white collar who have more tenure the
actual calculation is such that there is a
reduction in the established benefit that a
white collar salaried employee has
experienced,

Now what I would like to know is
that true? Is that not true? What are the
facts? Because I believe the majority of
my colleagues thought they were voting
for something that would extend the
benefit or improve the benefit for most
employees especially start up employees
who want to accrue vacation time
beginning with the January month. So
they can utilize the benefit during the
course of the year not have to wait until
the anniversary date.

I am not going to try to explain all
the math because I don't even understand
it. That is one of the reasons why I voted
no. But if that is the case, Mr. President,
can we ask for a ruling from someone? I
don't know who we can get a ruling from,
but I would ask that the Personnel and
Civil Service Director respond to this
criticism from some of the tenure
employees. If it is the case that there is a
teduction, I would ask my colleagues to

jointly co-sponsor a resolution to restore
that benefit and if someone can write it up,
God bless them, I can't.

The Chair:

I certainly agree with you and I
have been approached by quite a few
employees. I requested Ms. Parees a small
Meeting again to explain it. Because the
way it was explained to me I thought it
was a positive benefit to the employees. I
know all my colleagues who voted for it at
least we thought it was good for them.
Evidently there are some problems and it
is hard to understand. I still haven't
comprehended it myself. So I certainly --

Mr. Ferlo:

I have no problem with part of the
benefit that was for the newer employees.
If they can start accruing time and if they
want to take vacation time earlier in the
year, I can understand that. That's what I
liked about it. But I did not; of course, I
didn’t like the process if you remember. I
thought they should have been required to
go back to each department including
those that didn't have the benefit of
collective bargaining and explain the
policy, If they had done that, I am sure
some of the individuals who are writing to
us now would have articulated their
criticism and we could have modified it,

But to the extent and I am not
going to any meetings. As far as I am
concemed if it is not the way Council
thought it was, we should immediately
amend it and get it back on track. It is not
fair to the tenured employees.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I just want to thank Mr. Ferlo for

bringing up the issue and for you, Mr.
O'Connor, for revisiting the issue itself.
Just for the record, I also voted no. I was
unclear on the benefit for the older
employees those with more seniority but I
am getting a host of letters and phone
calls. I was going to write a memorandum
today but if you are already setting up a
meeting, Mr. O'Connor, I would like to
take part in that meeting.

The Chair:

I will ask Council, his personnel
and I would like them to either explain it
properly again, we can rescind it. I would
be glad to, especially since it hurts the old
employees. It certainly wasn't our intent to
your credit if you voted no you were
probably ahead of the game, but I thought
it was -- I saw it as a benefit as it was
explained.

Mr. Ferlo:

Ask the District Council to
reconcile their math, because I didn't
understand it to be honest with you.

Mr. Hertaberg:

Mr. President, I think it was at last
Wednesday's Standing Committee
Meeting Mr. Ferlo brought up the issue of
the empowerment zone and the recent
determination that we were not winners of
that empowerment zone. Councilwoman
McDonald is Council's Chairman of
Housing Economic Development and
Promotion and myself as the Urban
Redevelopment Authority Board member
decided to call a cablecast Post Agenda
meeting because we think that a very
important issue to delve into that. Why
someone else was selected, why we

243

weren't selected again and maybe there is
going to be another round. But we need to
get on top of this. 1 am going to make a
motion to have a cablecast Post Agenda on
that.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Hertzberg:
One another topic.
Mr. Ferlo:

Can we please extend an invitation
to the elected delegation at the
Congressional _level. Not only
Congressman Coyne but as I mentioned
last week Congressman Klink not even
being aware or asked to be supportive of
this. Also we are paying individuals I
believe Mr. Kolling works more locally in
the Commonwealth but to the extent that
Ms. McCormick and/or others have been
employed, I would like to have them
participate in the meeting also.

Mr. Onorato:

And on that same point, I hope if
we get ignored again I sure hope that
people don't starting bringing through here
presidential candidates that have some
power right now and expense that this
region is going to just stand up and
endorse them again. It doesn't work that
way any more. If they aren't going to
listen to us once they're in, I don't want to
be over campaigning for them.

Mr. Ferlo:

T already retumed a retum to sender

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an Al Gore fundraising request this week.

So, ifhe thinks he is going to come
here and have a democratic rally in Market
Square, he is sadly mistaken.

The Chair:

I think it is very important that we
talk to our union leaders. We always rally
behind them and then we get the crumbs.

Mr. Ferlo:

The most right wing reactionary
republic congress people from Ohio who
are anti Clinton and Gore got three
empowerment zones,

Mr. Onorato:

Tell
campaign.

them to go there and

The Chair:

Let us get to the bottom of why we
didn't get it too. I think there are a lot of
problems out there and issues we should
address and certainly start at the bottom
and go all the way to the top.

Mr. Ferlo:

Maybe we should impeach Clinton
and Gore.

Mr. Hertzberg:

One other topic that was raised at
the end of last Wednesday's Council
meeting, I believe by a speaker that came
in at the end who came in from the Public,
Mr. Zotter, was the issue of our street
cleaning program. That's an issue that I

244

think we really need to get a better handle
on in Council. I get calls on a very regular
basis from people that want to be in the
program. I probably get more calls from
people that are in it that don't want to be in
it. They don't want to move their car once
a week, it is more trouble than it's worth. I
get more calls like that than anything else.
It is a program that I am sure is costing the
city plenty of money.

So either way, I would like to get
to the bottom of it, find out where the
program is? Where it should be? I am
going to call-- make a motion for a
cablecast Post Agenda on street cleaning.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

I don't know if you want to include
at the tail end of that the asphalt paving
this year. So we're up-to-date on what is
really happening. If you have a few
minutes at the end of your cablecast we
might want to delve into that. Anything
else?

Mr. Ricciardi:

Just on street cleaning, just to duck
tail some of Mr. Hertzberg's comments. I
think Public Works realizes any and all
shortcomings because obviously we finally
approved new sweepers for them. We
have to give them the right tools and
vehicles that they're going to do a fine job.
So I believe several months ago we did
approve, if I am not mistaken, five street
sweepers. Once those street sweepers
come in, I think we are going to see a
marked improvement here in the City of

See

Pittsburgh with street cleaning.
Mr. Ferlo:

Can we have a lie detector machine
brought in for the cablecast Public Works
Post Agenda?

The Chair:

I will echo Mr. Ferlo some of your
remarks. I know two years ago my
Council District they were short of any
drivers with CD licenses to drive the
sweepers. So again, we can go out and
spend a million dollars buy new sweepers,
we don't have qualified people or trained
people with the proper licenses. Again, it
is not that hard so again we certainly have
our management challenges.

Anything else under unfinished
business?

Hearing none, move to Reports of
Committees.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MR. UDIN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1264:
Report of the Committee on Finance and
Budget for February 10, 1999, transmitting
sundry of resolutions to Council.
Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 846:

Resolution authorizing the City of
Pittsburgh to enter into a Cooperation

Agreement with the Public Auditorium
Authority of Pittsburgh for the
establishment of a trust fund and the
deposit therein of eamed income tax paid
by nonresident professional athletes and
other nonresidents who use government
owned sports facilities. | (HEARING
HELD DECEMBER 2, 1998).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 994:

Resolution authorizing and
directing the Treasurer of the City of
Pittsburgh to make appropriate changes to
the City of Pittsburgh’s earned income tax
regulations and procedures so as to include
the requirement of all professional sports
players working in the City of Pittsburgh
on a part time basis to pay the City’s
earned income tax. (SPONSORED BY
MR. FERLO)

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1060:

Resolution transferring $50,000.00
from the Non-Departmentals — Personnel,
Pension Account to the Law Department’s
Miscellaneous Services Account in order
to hire outside assistance to help the Law
Department with the technical aspects of
the cable communications franchise
Tenewal process.

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1210:

Resolution authorizing a
Cooperation and Support Agreement
among the Public Auditorium Authority of
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, the City
of Pittsburgh, the County of Allegheny, the
Stadium Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh and the Allegheny Regional
Asset District Relating to allocation of
Certain Allegheny Regional Asset District
Revenues to the Stadium Authority and the
Auditorium Authority in connection with
financing the construction of two new
professional sports facilities, and
Tenovation and expansion of the David L.
Lawrence Convention Center.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1211:

Resolution authorizing the City of
Pittsburgh to issue a deed, in form
approved by the City Solicitor, for
property in the 16th Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh, known as 2700-2702 Spring
Way, designated as Block 13 S, Lot 261
to Carl R. Calio and Kimberly Calio, his
wife, for the sum of $500.00.

Which was read.

Also,
Bill No. 1212:

Resolution providing for the
acceptance by the City of Pittsburgh
from the Wester Pennsyivania
Conservancy of certain property on
Mooney Road, Block 134-L Lot 288, in
the 31° Ward of the City of Pittsburgh,
for the extension of the 31° Ward
Greenway.

246

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1214:

Resolution providing for
conveyance by the City of Pittsburgh of
certain property, under Act No. 171 of
1984, entitled, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

(a) 3622 Smallman Street, 6”
Ward, Block 48M, Lot 14, vacant lot
containing an area of 1,600 sq. ft, being
sold to William H. Michaels for $110.00.
Intended Use: Additional Yard Space.
(Council District 7).

(b) 7008-7010 Frankstown
Avenue, 13" Ward, Block 125H, Lot 261,
vacant lot containing an are of 5,671 sq.
ft., being sold to William D. Jackson for
$610.00. Intended Use: Add to adjoining
property and keep as green area. (Council
District 9).

(c) 818 Parkwood Road, 16"
Ward, Block 32B, Lot 335, vacant lot
containing an area 20,200sq. ft., being sold
to Rhonda Michel for $600.00. Intended
Use: Additional yard space. (Council
District 3).

(d) 115 Fountain Street, 25" Ward,
Block 23H, Lot 312, three story frame
house an done story brick & frame garage
situated on a lot containing 2,940 sq. ft.,
being sold to John R. Rush, $5,010.00.
Intended Use: Rental Unit. (Council
District 6).

Which was read.

=————eNGsoeaeaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you, Mr. President. In
relation to Bill 846 and 994 these are the
bills that institute or extend the city’s
earned income wage tax to non-resident
professional athletes, ballplayers. In
particular the Pirates, Steelers and the
Penguins that would generate close to a
million dollars in this year alone because it
would be retroactive back to January of
this year.

I did want to reconcile the
discussion at the Wednesday session.
Accordingly I would like to amend by
substitution Bill 846. This was a draft
agreement based on the discussion
Wednesday. It was written up by Director
Hennigan in the Finance Department and
my proposal as part of that would be to
table 994 with the net effect. For purposes
of discussion I would like to move the
amendment by substitution of 846.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion,
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ferlo:

I would ask that my tabling of the
994 be also on the table. But for purposes
of discussion this reconciles what I think
‘was a consensus expressed at the last week
Standing Committee Meeting. I do want
to thank Mayor Murphy and _ his
administration for their commitment. In

247

the spirit of compromise trying to
recognize that it is important not only to
move ahead and maintain the momentum
of Plan B for the construction of the new
ballpark, the new football stadium as well
the new convention center, long over due,
their commitment to recognize that the
income that would be generated. This is
one time folks you want to have
millionaire ballplayers because we will see
a direct return with an investment pool for
capital construction of the three major
projects that embody the Plan B initiative.

But as well this year alone we
expect hopefully if our guesstimates are
right I think there was a lot of thoughts in
them, if the guesstimates are correct, we
will generate at least $250,000 above and
beyond the $750,000 that we are trying to
commit for the construction of the three
new major entities. So this amendment by
substitution clarifies what the authorizing
language is of Council. The City
Treasurer has already changed and
modified the particular section 206D under
his prerogatives to amend the City's wage
income tax language. And the income
would be the $750,000 baseline going into
the broader pot of money for capital
construction of the three projects I
mentioned. The surplus expected to be
$250,000 this year growing to a pot of
money possibly as much as a million
dollars in year eight. Eight years from
now all of that extra money would come
back to the city’s operating budget but
specifically targeted for the Parks and
Recreation Department to support badly
needed Parks and Recreation programs and
activities.

Everything from Little League
team initiatives, the money we spent right
now for the city's Big Leagues, which is in

excess of $100,000, we have the NFL flag
football, all of our Little League fields and
football fields, soccer fields are badly in
need of repair or resodding or changing or
fencing. You name it there are all kinds of
money that needs to be expended out there
both for infrastructure and operating costs
in the parks department.

We have the successful community
enrichment program we would like to
expand that both within the present sites as
well as possibly expand that to some of the
schools around the city. Fortunately this
will begin to give us some of the money
that is badly needed and will not be eaten
up by the disproportionate burden of the
Public Safety Budget and the city’s
operating budget.

I think it's a win, win for everyone.
Personally I would like to have seen it all
go to the Parks Department. But I think
we need to be supportive of the Mayor's
agenda on Plan B. I think it's a fair return.
Again, I want to stress I hope we have
more millionaire ballplayers for the next
few years since money comes back to us.

The Chair:

Does this mean we will be glad to
see Barry Bonds back in Pittsburgh?

Mr. Ferlo:

I don't know about that.
Ms. McDonald:

Councilman Ferlo's remarks I
wanted to commend Councilman Ferlo as
one Council member for his efforts in

pushing the envelope on this issue. With
the resistance that we have received in

248

terms of well this is how we are supposed
to finance it and this was the original plan.
If we tax the players this goes towards
building the stadiums.

It was through Councilman Ferlo's
efforts that we said no we want to see a cut
of that go back into the community, go
back to the very people who are supporting
the building of those stadiums. So I just
want to commend him for his efforts, and I
whole-heartedly support both pieces of
legislation.

Mr. Cohen:

Mr. President, I also want to thank
Councilman Ferlo for his leadership on
this issue. It's only appropriate that
professional athletes pay the wage tax in
the City of Pittsburgh because they work
in the City of Pittsburgh at least on
occasion when they come into play. So
even without Plan B it's a good idea to do
this. But given Plan B and given that these
professional athletes are playing or will be
playing in facilities that are funded in large
part by tax dollars, then it only makes
sense that the professional athletes pay
taxes as well.

This is a win, win because it's
helps Plan B to move forward. It is also
going to help our city to pay its bills and I
support it whole-heartedly.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes, thank you, Mr. President, if I
could take a minute. First of all I also
would like to commend Jim Ferlo for
raising the issue several months ago and
all the hard work and effort that he put
towards this issue. When he first
approached me regarding the original

SS COELETOSOE_

legislation, I was very supportive of it and
very excited about it. And what that did
was that took all the eamed income tax
revenue collected from the professional
sports players and put it into the city
coffers.

That's where I split company with
several of my colleagues especially now
the sponsor of the bill who says we have to
carry out the Mayor's agenda. I totally
disagree. Let me just say Plan B and the
sports facilities have definitely benefited
from tax dollars and will continue to
benefit from tax dollars, I mean there is
going to be over $400 million of interest
payments on the loan to the sport
franchises, which is going to be absorbed
by the taxpayers.

There is going to be 14 probably
nearly $15 million of sales tax going into
the Plan B which is going to benefit the
sport franchise putting a side the millions
of dollars that the rate payers in the City of
Pittsburgh through the Pittsburgh Water
and Sewer Authority are going to put
towards Plan B. But if you really look at
this, once we collect these revenues from
the sports players, from the athletes
themselves, that this money now becomes
tax money. No different than the wage tax
that is being paid by an employee of the
Rex Theater. When an employ on Carson
Street in the Southside pays his wage tax
that money belongs and rightfully so goes
to the city coffers. It does not go back to
the Rex Theater and the Rex Theater says
well we're going to use our wage tax to
improve our marquee. That's what we are
doing here.

It is the same to that employee,
well you can keep your wage tax, we will
shoot it back to and you can improve your

249

marquee. It doesn’t work that way. All
this money should come back into the city
coffers. If it does not, what we are in fact
doing is, it is not the sports players, the
athletes that are actually giving the money
to help improve their stadiums. It is
actually the taxpayers then. And the
$750,000 of initial money dollars should
go back into the city coffers.

I will say this that Mr. Ferlo
tightfully pointed this out several weeks
ago when I was very interested in the
Storm Team Task Force that what was
being done. He argued quite eloquently
that I was moving something dollars
around not creating new revenues. This is
new revenue. $750,000 would pay for the
first year salaries of 25 police officers in
the City of Pittsburgh. 25 additional
police officers or you could pay for and
cover the entire projected hires of 1999.

$750,000 would pay for 66 school
crossing guards here in the City of
Pittsburgh. We all received numerous
requests throughout the year for additional
school crossing guards throughout the City
of Pittsburgh. This would pay for 66
school crossing guards in the City of
Pittsburgh. Or 29 firefighters.

We all talk about Public Works.
The chair just spoke about street cleaning.
We just spoke about snow removal. Ralph
Kraszewski is very honest when he comes
to the table and he is not getting new
employees because as Mr. Ferlo pointed
out there is going to be attrition. Well
$750,000 would pay for 25 Public Works
truck drivers. That would increase the
budgeted by the truck drivers this is nearly
one half of all the operation drivers
budgeted or $750,000 would pay for 28
Public Works laborers. Twenty-eight

additional Public Works laborers here in
the City of Pittsburgh that would increase
our laborers by 15 percent.

Thirty-three new paramedics. Or
the $750,000 would pay for 55 percent of
the cost of operating all the swimming
pools here in the City of Pittsburgh.
55% or 100% of the swimming pools fees
and the operation of the Scheniey Ice Rink
and the Frick Park, totally paid for. We
could also pay for 50%of the Public
Works capital construction division. Or
we could increase the heavy construction
division here in the City of Pittsburgh by
50%.

We are always
retaining walls.

talking bout
We are always talking
about city steps. We are always talking
about the condition of our streets. We
could increase the Public Works capital
division by 50%. We could cut the
amusement tax by 12%. We could cut the
deed transfer tax by 10%. We could cut
the mercantile tax by 11%.

In conclusion, and | think the
administration and some of my colleagues
have very fortunately as you can tell, I
have a cold that was passed on to me by
my four year old. So I apologize for my
raspy voice. But the dollars from the
eamed income wages from the athletes
should not go back into the stadium it
should go into the city coffers. By putting
them into the stadium now the taxpayers
of the City of Pittsburgh have just again
subsidized through their tax dollars, from
their city tax dollars, $750,000 to Plan B.
Because once you collect a tax it doesn't
become a tax from the athletes, or doesn't
become a tax from a waitress or a tax from
an attorney or a lawyer or a laborer, it's
goes into our checking book. It's taxes.

250

Everyone has a right to those taxes.

L really believe that residents in the
City of Pittsburgh especially from my
district would vote no and would
adamantly object to the $750,000 that's
going to go back into Plan B. Times that
by 30 you are talking about nearly $25
million. So this is new revenue. If we
want more laborers for snow removal in
the City of Pittsburgh or more crossing
guards to protect our children in the City
of Pittsburgh, or we are talking about more
police visibility here in the City of
Pittsburgh, this is real money.

We want to talk about helping
small businesses here in the City of
Pittsburgh. We want to talk about cutting
the amusement tax, the mercantile tax, the
business privilege tax, here is $750,000
that should not go into the stadium
construction that should go into the city
coffers. I will stay with that example
because I just went to the Rex Theater
over the weekend. But when an employee
of the Rex Theater pays his wage tax, the
money is not redirected back to the Rex
Theater for the upkeep or for the approval
of their marquee. Thank you very much.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Yes just down the road on the LTV
site where we are about to vote on a TIF
and assuming that passes, a percentage of
the real estate taxes that those property
owners there pay will not go into the
general fund. It will be diverted into a TIF
and this is very similar to a TIF is what it
amounts to and it is the same.

I mean you can question TIF's; a
lot of people have. But this isn't very
much different than a TIF and everyone
can ask themselves well would we be able

aaa eee

to have these developments and there are
three developments. A baseball ball park,
a football stadium, and an expanded
convention center. You can argue well we
should have forced the private sector to
pay more and you can what if yourself to
death, but this isn't really very much
different than a TIF.

The users of the facilities, the
owners, the major users of a facility their
tax dollars end up getting plowed back
into those facilities. 1 think that
Councilman Ferlo has done a great job in
finding an area compromise where we are
able to both do that benefit these projects
and at the same time benefit our
Department of Parks and Recreation.

In my mind there is no department
that has suffered more over the last five or
ten years, that has been cut back more, that
is working with less and getting more, than
the Department of Parks and Recreation. I
think it is about time that some funding be
found. This is a great source of new
funding for that department to start to
expand and hopefully add some personnel,
add some programs. I think we couldn't
find a better way to do this.

Mr. Ferlo:

Obviously I might philosophically
and personally share some of Councilman
Ricciardi's views as I originally stated late
last fall when I first introduced this. There
is the old sports adage about no pain and
no gain. Now that things are safely signed
on the dotted line in relation to Plan B, I
think we should start telling the truth about
Plan B and that is the City of Pittsburgh
disproportionately made out like a bandit
and we should say that proudly. That's
why I vocalize my support for Plan B.

251

We finally get the yoke of the
stadium debt and its structure off of our
backs, the City of Pittsburgh taxpayers.
Now all of this burden, new stadium, the
Convention Center is not bor on the
backs of the City of Pittsburgh debt service
and operating budget. The $750,000 or
roughly the seven million dollars figure
had always been used by the
administration, Mr. Leeper and others as
part of the original financing package.
But when you add up the overwhelming
amount of public dollars going into this
project, they're not being spent in
Swissvale or Mon Valley or Fayette
County, they're being spent
disproportionately in the City of Pittsburgh
even within one or two Council Districts.

When you add up all the state
dollars that are coming into the city for a
change and not going to Philadelphia, not
going some where else, but coming back
to the City of Pittsburgh, when you add up
the return of the investment that every
resident has made by the increased sales
tax and you look at the amount of money
that that revenue is and how it is coming
back to the City of Pittsburgh not only to
build two new stadia but to build an
expanded Convention Center, which I
think everyone has agreed the Convention
Center even more so than the two sport
facilities actually bring in new income and
revenue that other wise would not be
present without that expansion. When you
look at the direct capital investment that
Plan B not the city taxpayers but the whole
region if not the state will be paying for,
major infrastructure repairs to Fort
Duquesne Boulevard and the ancillary
infrastructure in and around almost as far
as the north shore area, I don't see how you
could in anyway denigrate the amazing

amount of financial impact this will have
disproportionately to the city.

In fact we are not being truthful in
a way because unlike the pass these
expanded activities will actually bring
more money into the City’s operating
budget. The product of this construction
will increase the amusement tax of the
City of Pittsburgh did in the past, it will
increase the parking tax, more money than
we had for the things that Councilman
Ricciardi has talked about, the business
privilege tax, the wage tax, the occupation
tax all of that added up is actually again
disproportionately going back to the City
of Pittsburgh’s operating budget as a
surplus not as a pass debit which has been
the case with the city taxpayers only
paying and funding the existing Three
Rivers Stadium.

We made out like a bandit and I
can give a _ better speech than
Commissioner Dunn any day if I want to
talk about the rhetoric of tacky millionaire
ball players that had a relevant time back
late last fall when we were arguing about
Plan A which I did not support. Plan B if
you are a city official it's a no brainer we
make out like bandits, take the money and
run. Keep a smile on your face.

Mr. Cohen:

I don't usually ask for a round two.
I want to add one thing to the whole Plan
B scenario. Maybe this is an intangible
but what is going on at the Convention
Center right now and that is we are having
a design, we being all of us, a design
competition for a new Convention Center,
which will be a spectacular world class
Convention Center. This design
competition is getting worldwide publicity

252

for the City of Pittsburgh.

The four designs are in now, this
weekend I will be participating along with
other members of the Auditorium
Authority and the Design Committee to
review each of these, to hear from four
world class architects about the new
Convention Center.

I only raise this because there are
also intangible benefits to the City of
Pittsburgh. And that is that we're going to
have a spectacular Convention Center by a
world class architect. And not necessarily
before we even get to the construction of
the Convention Center, the competition
itself has given world class recognition to
the City of Pittsburgh and that's just one
aspect of this whole program.

The Chair:

You led into something that I want
to talk about. I certainly commend you as
a member of the Auditorium and Design
Commission, but I have been meeting and
I believe we have to as a group send a
strong message that they will hire an
outside architect that world class designer.
But 70% of the work could be done in
Pittsburgh. So we want to urge them all
to-- they semi committed the draftsman,
the engineering all of that should be local,
minority women firms are all here in
Pittsburgh. So we want to make sure
strongly that that money stays here.

Mr. Cohen:

It's in the request for proposal and
in the documents themselves. They are
required to partner with a local architect
just by the way as HOK is on the PNC
Ball Park, as well as satisfy all MBE/WBE

8 gz “cH;

requirements. 1 actually put into place a
MBE/WBE policy at the Auditorium
Authority and they are required to abide by
that policy.

The Chair:

You will be having one of the final
votes. You represent Council so we
certainly urge you to support that in which
you already are.

Again, my hats off what you
mentioned, Mr. Ferlo, about the white
elephant on our backs. Two years ago I
strongly made a commercial about my key
issue. I am a sports nut, I have taken my
kids and I want to.take my grandchildren
to the games. The biggest question was
who was going to pay the $45 million on
the old stadium? 1 didn't want to say it that
way, but we got it off our backs. It took
two years but that was the key element to
any sport (support) any one in Pittsburgh
should have for a:new stadium that's off
our backs. It is paid by Harrisburg, the
county and the owners.

We are small players now instead
of a $45 million white elephant on our
backs. So that is the most important thing.
As you said this is a no brainer. I took my
car into the shop today and everyone there
was saying the same thing. I think we're
finally getting the message through that
this is very, very smart dollar wise on the
part of Pittsburgh.

Again, I want to compliment you,
Mr. Ferlo. I don't know who could come
up with a popular tax, but Jim did.
Everywhere I go I have gotten more phone
calls for a tax wanting to tax those ball
players and I think I will give you credit
too for the art of compromise. I think this

253

was something that benefited everyone.

Again, Mr. Ricciardi has a lot of
strong points and | don't think anyone can
really disagree with him, but this is
helping build the stadiums and Convention
Center. But most of all this is a growth
tax, this is only in a million, this will grow
and grow. These ball players and places
keep coming, which it doesn't look like an
end to it, that tax will be well over a
million half two million dollars which will
all go to benefit the kids and the parks
program of our city.

So I think it is a great initiative you
have come up with and I want everyone to
make sure they know where it came from.
I want to thank you for it on behalf of all
of our kids, not just ourselves.

Mr. Ferlo:

We are getting closer to the
milestone; we will even have a bigger
payroll.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Point of order, if I can ask the
sponsor of the bill, if I am not mistaken the
two bills before us do not create the tax, it
just creates the two trust funds and
redirects money into those trust funds for
the legislation?

Mr. Ferlo:

The actual language is always
promulgated in the city, which allows the
treasurer to modify the city code of
ordinances on eamed income tax, which
he did in December. We need to have the
authorizing resolution and that's what the
Bill 846 by substitution --

ee
8 8 SSS

Mr. Ricciardi:

Does it establish the tax?
Mr. Ferlo:

It establishes the tax but the actual
collection guidelines are written in the city
code by the prerogative of the treasurer.

The Chair:

Do you need a motion to table
994?

Mr. Ferlo:

Yeah, the motion on the floor is to
approve by substitution 846 and to table
the Bill 994.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.

Mr. Ferlo:

The amended bill creates the
special Parks Trust Fund, I mean
reinforces --

The Chair:

So, it is two separate bills?
Mr. Ferlo:

So we are clear, the amendment
that I have on before you clarifies the
appropriate language for 846 but it
includes the expansion of the excess and
the 750 going to the special Parks Trust
Fund.

I am proposing that we table the
language that is expressed in 994. We are

254

using legal language here to make it clear
that it is by non-resident professional
athletes whose compensation is generated
at least in part by services requiring the
use of government owned sports facilities.
This is to address the issue of the WWF
coming in once and being required to pay
the tax, which they will not. So, I would
like to stick with the legal language here
so we don't mess this up.

The Chair:

Would you like a second on the
table?

MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
Mr. Ricciardi:

Just a follow up, is the tax in
existence to date as we speak?

Mr. Ferlo:

The language has been modified by
the city treasurer to collect the tax, yes.

Mr. Ricciardi:

So it’s established as we speak. So
I will be voting no on the bills because I
disagree on where the money is being
directed. Obviously, I agree with the tax
itself.
The Chair:

We have a second on the table?

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

The Chair:

949 is tabled. The bills are now

lla

ready for final action. All those in favor of

the passage of the bills --
Mr. Ferlo:
Vote on the amendment by

substitution and then a final vote.
The Chair:

All right, on the amendment.
MR. HERTZBERG seconded the
motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Bills are now ready for final action.
All those in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were.

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ricciardi voted no on bills 1210,
846, 994)

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed

finally.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

255

Bill No. 1265:

Report of the Committee on Public Works,
Water and Environmental Services for
February 10, 1999, transmitting sundry of
resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 1192:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements, or the use of
existing Agreements for the furnishing of
professional services for the benefit of the
residents of the City of Pittsburgh effective
January 1, 1999 and providing for the
payment of the cost thereof, not to exceed
$275,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1193:

Resolution providing for a
Contract or Contracts or the use of existing
Contracts for the repairs, maintenance,
improvements and emergencies at various
parks and park facilities in CD areas
throughout the City of Pittsburgh and
providing for the payment of the cost
thereof, not to exceed $430,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1194:

Resolution providing for a
Contract or the use of existing Contracts
for the repairs, maintenance,

improvements and emergencies at various
parks and park facilities throughout the
City of Pittsburgh and providing for the
payment of the cost thereof not to exceed
$200,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1195:

Resolution providing for a
Contract or the use of existing Contracts
for street resurfacing programs to include
but not limited to ultra thin hot mix
asphalt, hot mix asphalt, crack sealing,
micro surfacing, sawing and sealing, nova
chip, flexible pavement, asphalt milling,
truck rental, brick and blockstone repairs,
handicap ramps, concrete slab replacement
and parks related asphalt work at various
locations throughout the City of
Pittsburgh, and providing for the payment
of the cost thereof, not to exceed
$2,815,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1196:

Resolution providing for a
Contract or the use of existing Contracts
for street resurfacing programs to include
but not limited to ultra thin hot mix
asphalt, hot mix asphalt, crack sealing,
micro surfacing, sawing and sealing, nova
chip, flexible pavement, asphalt milling,
truck rental, brick and blockstone repairs,
handicap repairs, handicap ramps, concrete
slab replacement and parks related asphalt
work in CD areas throughout the City of
Pittsburgh and providing for the payment

256

of the cost thereof, not to exceed
$2,161,603.00.
Bill No. 1197:

Resolution Establishing a

Newspaper Vending Machine Task Force
and Directing the Departments of Public
Works and City Planning to prepare an
Objective Report on Newspaper Vending
Machines. --(SPONSORED BY MR.
HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1198:

Resolution providing for a
Contract or Contracts, or the use of
existing Contracts for flexible beam
guiderails at various locations throughout
the City of Pittsburgh, and providing for
the payment thereof, not to exceed
$63,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1199:

Resolution providing for a
Contract or Contracts, or use of existing
Contracts and/or an Agreement or
Agreements, or use of existing
Agreements and for the purchase of
materials, equipment and supplies in
connection with the Wall, Step and Fence
Program at various areas throughout the
City, and providing for the payment of the
costs thereof, not to exceed $700,000.00.

Which was read.

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Also,
Bill No. 1200:

Resolution Vacating of Alcor (E.
General Robinson to River Ave.); Burdock
Way (E. General to River Ave.); Cabra
Way (Alcor St. to Burdock Way); River
Ave. (Federal St. to Westerly Terminus) in
the 22" Ward, 6" Council District of the
City of Pittsburgh.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you, Mr. President on Bill
1197 this is regarding newspaper vending
machines, If you.recall I introduced two
other bills that would regulate newspaper
vending machines and we held a Public
Hearing. Those two bills have been held.
It's my intention tomorrow to make a
motion to table them.

This bill in front of us would have
us give a trial period to the Good Neighbor
Program that the newspaper distributors
have entered into and we are going to try
to modify it a little bit. But it would give
them an opportunity privately to try to deal
with the problem. We will look at it over
the next year.

Thad a concern that the Pittsburgh
Downtown Partnership be involved in the
analysis over the next year and the
newspaper distributors have informed me
that they have no problem with that. So I

will be making a motion to table those two
bills tomorrow.

Before you is an amendment that
makes a couple of changes in this new
tesolution for the Good Neighbor
Program. First it ups the number of
representatives from the publications from
four, which was a number I chose to six.
They have asked for two more. I don't see
any problem with that. Also we have
added a section at the request of
Councilwoman McDonald and I think it
was a good point. Once this task force
comes up with a hopefully an amended
Good Neighbor or a program that then
Council members will have the
opportunity to review it and comment on it
before it is finalized. So I have added that
in the form of section two. And, I make a
formal motion here to amend bill number
1197.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Udin:

You indicated, Mr. Hertzberg, that
you intended to include the Pittsburgh
Downtown Partnership but I don't see
them mentioned here in items A through G
in the amendment.

Mr. Hertzberg:

All right. My intention and it
really isn't dealt with in this written
document we could. But the intention is in
the analysis program during the next year
the objective report that gets done I mean
that's all that is specified that it be an
objective report. I didn't say by whom and
how and I kind of wanted to leave that as

—— SSS

part of the process of this task force on
how we are going to develop that report.
But I have been assured that the
Downtown Partnership will be free to
participate and do what they exist to do.

Mr. Udin:

Would you have an objection then
to including as another item a
Tepresentative from the Pittsburgh
Downtown Partnership? I so move.

MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
Mr. Hertzberg:

Just a clarification. Would you
like that in the part where we have --
would you like them on the task force add
them as an H or do you want them in
section three where we talk about the
report? I don't care either way.

Mr. Udin:

On the task force.
Mr. Hertzberg:

On the task force. So we would
add that by placing an H__ there,
representative of the Pittsburgh Downtown
Partnership. I take that as a very friendly
amendment.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

Mr. Ferlo:

I want to ask about asphalt, not
about this.

Ms. McDonald:

258

I just wanted to commend
Councilman Hertzberg. As I indicated last
week on all the efforts as well as he
working with our Public Works Director
Ralph Kraszewski and Assistant Director
Lamar Barnes for the fine work and the
tesearch that they performed that there is a
lot of work that went into this bill even
though the bill is going to be tabled.

I would urge my colleagues before
we do receive an objective report as to
well what are we going to do and how
things faired with this Good Neighbor
Policy that we do understand and read all
of the particulars that went into the draft
legislation, in terms of setbacks and what
have you and understand, I guess, the
goals of all the details in the legislation.
What it meant? What it was supposed to
actually look like? Mathematically it’s put
on paper but actually what it's supposed to
look like? Is it going ‘to make a more
pleasing appearance particularly in
downtown areas on the comer?

Again, I am thanking you very
much for including the amendment to have
this draft proposal. This Good Neighbor
Policy be reviewed by Council because I
can tell you personally I would like to see
what it will eventually look like. I do
insist on some of those details being in the
Good Neighbor Policy to actually make it
worth while, to make it at least different
than what we already have.

Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. President, Bills 1195, 1196
together roughly generate $5 million for
the City's 1999 asphalt paving program.
By whatever method might be appropriate
half of it is roughly Community

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Development Block Grant, half is Capital
Bond Fund. I am going to abstain if we
have to finally vote on this today.

I am not clear, maybe other
colleagues have a different perception of
this, but the work that was done this past
year, ] am particularly unhappy with at
least my Council District. I think it was
probably more of the outside contractors
as opposed to the city work force. For
what I saw the outside contractor do, I am
mot sure we should continue the
relationship with the contractor.

I also question maybe there is a
way for us to strengthen in the bid
specifications who gets these contracts.
It's seems like whoever seems to be doing
driveways ends up becoming a big
contractor for the city and that does
asphalt. I think -they are apples and
oranges. There are smaller companies that
can do a driveway but they don't have the
equipment, the people power, the expertise
to take on long street corridors, boulevards
and avenues. It seems like sometimes
because of the way the bidding is, it is so
loose, that anyone can come in and grab
this contract. That is what I think
happened at least this past time.

Thave had streets I don't know how
they were done. I don't know if they were
painted on, they're completely breaking
away, there is no sealing done around the
curb line or the Public Works sewer lids
and the like, not enough consideration
given to the grading of the banking of the
street. It seems like we are throwing a lot
of good money away only to have streets,
and I could point to a number of them in
my district that have been done just a few
short months ago, that are already breaking
up and it had nothing to do with the winter

259

thaw.

I really think there is a serious
question about who gives these contracts?
How we are bidding it out? What our
inspection and requirements are? I would
rather just spend the money in-house to
either add more crews or spread it out a
little more. I would rather see more streets
grated down lower to the curb line, we just
keep piling on you know asphalt. Now it
is not even quality asphalt, it is like this
chip stuff and whatever it is called these
different methods of that have been
developed over the years. But it just
seems like we are wasting a lot of money.
We are throwing good money after bad.

We are not doing the streets well
and the quality the way -- I would rather
do less streets but do them better and let
them sustain themselves or last for five,
seven, ten years than streets that we are
doing now. Because we are trying to save
a buck and two years or less, they are
already breaking up, chipping away, it
seems like a foolish strategy to me. I am
just worried that I don't know that we have
the quality management that we should
have in Public Works that can give us
some guidance on this. But if I have to go
by my own subjective view, my own
Council District, and I have been
observing asphalt for the last 11 years, this
past year and a half, two years in particular
has not been what we should be doing.

We are throwing good money after
bad. I would ask that we rethink this. If
we are going to vote on it today, I am
going to respectfully abstain. I would
rather have the city workforce do it, take
their time more, rake the street down
better, do it at a higher quality asphalt, do
the sealing, take the time to do the sealing,

which even that crew is not doing some of
the sealing they should be doing.

Mr. Hertzberg:

I have no problem’ with
resubmitting this and I tend to agree with
Councilman Ferlo on almost everything he
said. I think tomorrow, I mean we
recommit it and tomorrow we focus on
what we can do in-house. I am not so sure
we are set up to do for example the milling
in-house at all. But I know we are set up
to do the paving. I know the cost is much
less to do it all in-house. I think that is an
excellent proposal especially this year
when the overall amount of street
resurfacing we are doing is much lower
than it has been in the past. We did over
100 miles I believe it was in 1994. This
year we are doing about 50 miles, a half of
what we did. So we aren't even doing that
many miles this year. I think it is a good
opportunity to gear up to do all the work
in-house.

So, I am going to make a motion to
recommit these two bills 1195 and 1196.

The Chair:
Discussion on the bill?
Mr. Onorato:

I don't mind doing that, but you
better have real discussion. We got $29
million of bond money that is in a capital
account, I am prepared to gut URA, gut
some other development if we are willing
to talk about really paving it. I will shift
%5 million tomorrow in a vote, but you
have to have five votes to do it.

So, we have to put our money

260

where our mouth is tomorrow if we are
going to seriously reconsider how we pave
the streets. That means the CD budget
which is another 22 million, I am willing
to have the debate and I am willing to vote
to do maintenance of this city. I will tell
you right now I will vote to transfer
development money tomorrow. I hope we
have four more votes to do it, but you have
got to be willing to do it, not just criticize.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank = you. Colleagues,
Mr. President, I believe you can take any
government program or activity and find
any shortcomings. You could even look at
the private sector, you could probably even
jook at my particular office and you could
always say well we could do it better. Let
me just say Ralph Kraszewski the Director
of Public Works has been to the table
numerous times to explain the resurfacing
program here in the city of Pittsburgh. I
believe we have had a Post Agenda on
that. I believe we have also had Executive
Sessions on this. I can't see any new
information coming about.

It's a policy decision that's being
made by the administration regarding
some short-term maintenance of our
streets here in the City of Pittsburgh.
Because obviously if you look at the cost
and I believe it is between 60 and 90
thousand dollars, if you want to properly
have a base scrape the street, I forget mill
the street, two to 3-inch base and one mile.
So to be perfectly honest with you, I am
voting no on a recommittal. What more
additional information are we asking the
department of Public Works to provide to
us? I think there is a fine line between
asking for information and just badgering
a department and the department head. I

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am voting no on the recommittal.
Mr. Ferlo:

Just on the issue of the
recommittal, and Councilman Onorato has
Taised a substantive issue which I am
willing to discuss. But I am also
concemed even with the five million that
we have allocated the method by which we
are going to allocate the dollars.

Personally if you amend this bill
that says the city work crew will lay the
asphalt in my Council District, I will vote
for it. I don’t want that fly by night
contractor in my Council District. I have
seen the work; I don't like the work. We
are just throwing money away. So, the
discussion would be two fold, one how are
we spending the five million? How are we
going to prioritize what is being done by
the outside contractor versus the in-house
workforce, and a little bit of discussion
about the methodology that the street will
be repaved or redone.

Secondly, I think Councilman
Onorato's point about whether or not we
want to increase the pot which is always
up for discussion but again that is a
question of where else we want to cut and
how we want to reprioritize. 1 would say
if that discussion is up, that is great, but I
wouldn't even want to increase this pot of
money because I am not happy about the
manner in which the work is being done.

So, if you want to amend this and
just say that the city work force will Jay
asphalt in my Council District as opposed
to contractors you go back to paving
driveways, I will vote for it.

Mr. Diven:

261

I think I am committed to casting
my vote to do more maintenance in the
neighborhoods. I agree with Councilman
Ferlo on his points about using city
workforces to do this. I know personally
that we have enough equipment already in
a garage for Public Works that is not being
utilized that could put three more paving
crews out on the street this summer. The
only problem is that I see that we have to
have a commitment from the
administration to hire those people to man
those paving crews.

I think that is a policy decision that
we need to have. Obviously in the budget
we talked about putting 52 additional
laborers or 52 different people in Public
works on and a number of those laborers
could be used to staff paving crews during
the summer months, I think that from our
perspective we should be looking at doing
work in house. I believe the numbers will
show it is cheaper to do it in-house, plus
we have more accountability. We have
more input and we can demand better
service out of our own employees than
argue with an attorney by a fly-by night
paving company that we're not satisfied
with their work.

If we are going to have the debate
about whether we contract out or in house
or I think that's a first step we need to over
come is getting those vacancies filled so
we can have the bodies out there that can
work the paving crews to make sure that
we're in a position to handle the streets
that are currently being contracted out.
But I would support that and I would hope
that we would be able to develop
consensus on Council that would reflect
that.

eee

Mr. Cohen:

On that issue that Councilman
Diven just raised, we were supposed to get
weekly reports from Public Works on the
status of filling the vacancies. I am not
sure that we have gotten those. Now that
it sounds like we have not gotten those,
now that the city is not going to be getting
the Magistrate Court money of four
million dollars I am not sure those
vacancies will even be filled. So that's
certainly one issue Councilman Diven and
others raised.

Another issue, I am willing to
recommit because of what is happening in
my district. Just to give you an example,
Walnut Street was paved, I can go through
street after street after street, but let me
just take one because it happens to be a
busy commercial street. Walnut Street
was paved in November of 1998 and it
already has developed some serious
problems particularly between Copeland
and Bellfont with the potholes there.
Apparently a sealant wasn't put on.

These are questions that I want to
be able to ask Director Kraszewski
publicly and really as a discussion not to
bring him here to reprimand him or to
criticize him. But obviously there are a lot
of issues that are pertinent to street paving
that we need to ask. So for that reason I
am willing to vote to recommit.

The Chair:

I will agree with a recommittal
because Mr. Ferlo whether we have to
bring a lie detector test or an auditor, I
have been asking for years and it never
fails, I got the figures yesterday to back up
Mr. Diven. The city is telling me it costs

262

the city $90,000 per mile, private people
$120. That is a $30,000 savings per mile
if we do it in-house.

Mr. Diven:
That is one additional laborer.
The Chair:

Not only laborers. If we would
hire a second crew we would save a lot of
money and do more streets. The other
question we may need a site visit. I
haven't seen it but I have been told by our
workers that we have all this equipment in
storage that has been sitting for years. So
someone is not telling or laying out the
facts.

So tomorrow if we do anything,
let's lay out the facts. I want Mr. Tortorete
here, who runs the asphalt plant, Mr.
Kraszewski here and maybe we need an
auditor to say who is telling the truth. If
we have to bring Joe Asphalt man in to see
what his prices are because I think the City
of Pittsburgh is getting shortchanged. If
you want to come to Squirrel Hill or
Greenfield you will be amazed at how bad
it is, Shadyside, it is embarrassing how
bad our streets are.

I just went to Regent Square,
which is probably the nicest, quietest
corner of Pittsburgh and it is a disgrace
that those streets haven't been fixed again
from gas companies too. The gas
company leaves it like your amendment
said, we should roll up our sleeves, let's
get the facts. If it was me, I would hire
two or three crews, learn from Dick
Caliguiri, you want to get re-elected, just
hire and pave them. That is what the
people in Pittsburgh are paying for.

So where we get the money, | think
Mr. Onorato you give us a good challenge,
let's get five votes to fix our city before we
fix anything else.

Mr. Onorato:

Here, here.
Mr. Ferlo:

Can we have Mr. Tortorete.
The Chair:

I said Mr. Tortorete.
Mr. Udin:

Last word, Mr. President.
Mr. Ferlo:

1 would like to request Mr.
Tortorete.
The Chair:

I said that, so I will second that. I
am sure --

Mr. Udin:

Just as a matter of procedure and
climate, Mr. President, since I will have
the task of chairing this Standing
Committee discussion tomorrow, my hope
is that we come to the table with a problem
solving purpose. Let's leave this
discussion of lie detector and all of that
kind of innuendo here today. We don't
need to take that into tomorrow because
we will never get to the concrete facts,
pardon the pun, if we are putting people on
the defensive and suggesting that they are

263

coming to the table lying. Let's come talk
about the facts that we want to discuss and
leave the personal attacks off the table.

The Chair:

I was saying that in jest. But we
have heard so many numbers --

Mr. Udin:

He May not take it in jest.
Mr. Ferlo:

I didn't mean it ingest.
The Chair:

We are getting two different facts.
We are getting facts from our Public
Works people telling us it is cheaper, the
budget department is telling us it is more.
Why would you go out and hire someone
at 30, 40 thousand dollars more to do a
street which you already said and I think
when the Councilman requests city
workers to do his streets he knows what
he's talking about. So why are we hiring
somebody that is not capable?

They tried to get rid of the asphalt
plant. We know what is going on. If you
don't know it, I will explain it to you. I
think the media is here. There is some
friendship, there was something tried to be
pulled for the last two years about getting
rid of our asphalt plant so that they can
take care of their friends and pay
somebody else to do all the work. Even if
they low bid us, they can low bid us for
two, three years, after the third year, where
is it going to go? The price of asphalt
doubles then what do you say, oh what are

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we going to do next? I was in the
restaurant business; every produce guy
came in had a cheaper price than the guy I
had. Two weeks later, two months later,
all of a sudden it jumped up.

So this is, I want to know facts of
why we can't do more in-house, we need
an auditor to check the books to verify the
figures and we also might need a site visit
lead by your office. Your person has the
experience, is that equipment there? Can
it be used? We paid for it ten years ago
and it is sitting in mothballs, let's bring it
out. Andy can be there tonight with his
camera. Channel 2 will be at 11:00. Let's
move on. Vote on the recommittal.

Ms. McDonald:

Excuse me, ] have not had an
opportunity to discuss this. We have been
ranting and raving about asphalt. I am so
sick of discussing asphalt. The problem is,
I think the problem that we're facing is that
every one in our district we have
individual problems. I agree and concur
with Councilman Udin and Councilman
Udin good luck tomorrow. We have to
have a process in place.

I am not sure whether it would be
proper to hold a bill for tomorrow for
discussion about a myriad of issues that
we brought to the table. We will be here
all day tomorrow discussing a bill. 1
would defer to the chairperson of Public
Works, Councilman Hertzberg, to
ascertain whether we should not hold this
bill for a Post Agenda so that we would
have adequate time to discuss the myriad
of issues that have been placed upon the
table. I just don't want to beat one bill up
when we really do have a number of issues
that are on our minds.

So my suggestion to colleagues is
to not to just recommit it for tomorrow but
to recommit for a Post Agenda so that we
have adequate time to discuss it.

The Chair:

I personally have one problem with
that. I don’t want Council to be blamed for
the streets not being paved. If we hold it
up then it might come back at us that we
were holding up the money.

Ms. McDonald:

I agree but I ask you all, will you
all be able to move on it tomorrow?
Because to tell you the truth from what I
am hearing at the table, I am not so sure if
we are going to be prepared to move on
this bill. We have so many ideas that have
been placed on the table. We could hold a
Post Agenda really at any time and move
the bill as early as next week if we want.
We are talking about possibly even one
week. I am just concemed that we have
other just as equally pieces of legislation
that need to be discussed and moved upon
tomorrow.

The Chair:

Can I let him make the decision
tomorrow? We can always hold it for a
week,

Ms. McDonald:

Ihave a comment as far as policy.
This is just an opinion then. This has
nothing to do with specifically the bill or
process of order. As a legislative body I
also do not want to just bring someone in
because we're frustrated with the way

_————
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things are. We have had a horrible ice
storm, a horrible bout of winter storm, that
has brought devastation upon our streets
and upon our communities. I just don't
want one person to be a whipping boy for
frustrations that unfortunately we had an
ice storm that is an act of God. I don't
want to get into that situation either.

I agree we want answers, we want
to know the let's look at the numbers. Is it
cheaper to use in house? I want to include
overhead and everything else that goes into
formulating a figure as how much it costs
versus privatizing... That's a policy issue
and that's a real issue that we're supposed
to be discussing. But as far as the
individual, this alley way, listen I really
wish that the director would have a
process in place that each of us could get
our questions answered about individual
streets. It is frustrating to me to have to
always discuss individual streets in this
and that. It just seems chaotic at times. It
veers away from policy and it seems like
we have crossed that line over into the
administrative branch. I am not a Public
Works Department Director, I expect to
have details from the Public Works
Director but not to the point of actually
making all the decisions. Otherwise, why
we do we have them?

So again, I would hope that we
would keep that in mind in all of our
discussions whether it be Standing
Committee, Post Agenda, etc. We're
supposed to set policy. If there is going to
be that detailed of a discussion as far as
individual streets, individual gripes, it
needs to be something that the Director or
whomever can discuss individually with
Council] members and resolve that and
when it is not resolved, fine bring it to the
table, But try to resolve that outside of the

265

policy thing we're supposed to be doing.
Mr. Ferlo:

I intend to not deal with one
particular street has nothing to do with the
recent snowstonn, my discussion has to do
with the marked deterioration in the
quality in the manner in which we are
laying down asphalt either by contractor or
at the city level. That is the focus of my
concerns,

The Chair:

All right. We will please hold it to
that agenda only and I have been told by
everyone who works, does the job,
including outside contractors that the city
does it good and in fact they do it better
and they do it cheaper. Our people are
telling us get it on the record and let's try
to do something about it. If we can't do it
this spring, certainly next year.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Call for vote.
The Chair;

On the recommittal.
Mr. Ferlo:

1195 and 1196.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Onorato and Mr. Ricciardi voted
no.)

The Chair:

Bills are now ready for final action.
All those in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

Mr. Ferlo:

Can I ask the Clerk to please notify
the Public Works Department if he could
have in addition to Director whatever
asphalt staff, Mr. Tortorete, or other
appropriate staff? Also could we just get a
listing of streets that were completed last
year and whether or not they were done by
city work force versus the contractor
community I would appreciate having that
for tomorrow's discussion?

266

The Chair:

If it is possible, anyone who could
verify the figures us versus the outsider
what it costs? If it is possible.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1266:

Report of the committee on Planning,
Zoning, and Land Use for February 10,
1999, transmitting one resolution to
Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1052:

Resolution providing for the
addition of the property located at 920 Ft.
Duquesne Blvd., Block and Lot No. 009-
N-245, in the Second Ward, to the existing
Penn-Liberty Historic District, under
Section 513 of Chapter 1007 of the Code
of Ordinances.—(COUNCIL DISTRICT
No. 6)

The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bill, any discussion on the bill?
Bill is now ready for final action. All
those in favor of the passage of the bill
vote aye when your names are called; all
those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were.

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
{Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1267:

Report of the Committee on Housing,
Economic Development and Promotion
for February 10, 1999, transmitting sundry
of resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1083:

Resolution adopting a Tax
Increment Financing Plan presented by the
Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh creating the South Side Works
Tax Increment Financing District and
making certain findings. (PRESENTED
BY MR. RICCIARD), (HEARING
HELD JANUARY 20, 1999).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1084:

Resolution authorizing a
Cooperation Agreement or Agreements

with the Urban Redevelopment Authority
of Pittsburgh, the County of Allegheny and
the Pittsburgh City School District
providing for the financing, monitoring,
implementing and terminating of the South
Side Works Tax Incremental Financing
District. (HEARING HELD JANUARY
20, 1999).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1201:

Resolution Amending Resolution
No. 617 of 1996 as amended by
Resolution No. 826, effective November 1,
1996, and by Resolution No. 1001 of
1997, entitled "Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements with various
community organizations for
operational/administrative expenses,
maintenance, purchase of equipment;
and/or rehabilitation of neighborhood
facilities for the benefit of residents of the
City of Pittsburgh, at a cost not to exceed
$1,155,600.00, chargeable to and payable
from the 1996 Community Development
Block Grant Program" so as to reprogram

funds in City Council. --(SPONSORED
BY MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1202:

Resolution Amending Resolution
No. 624 as amended by Resolution No.
1000 of 1996 and by Resolution No. 250
effective May 17, 1997, entitled
"Providing for the filing of a Community
Development statement by the City of

Pittsburgh with the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development for a
grant in connection with the 1996
Community Development Block Grant
Program; providing for the execution of
grant contracts and for the filing of other
data providing for required assurances;
providing for execution of payment
vouchers on letter of credit and for
certification of authorized signature; the
deposit of the funds in a bank account and
providing for the payment of expenses
within categories", so_as_ to reprogram
funds in City Council. ---(SPONSORED
BY MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No, 1203:

Resolution Approving Execution
of a Contract For Disposition of Land By
and Between the Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh and 800
Waterfront Associates for the sale of
Parcel 5 (Block 48P Lot 215) in the
Twenty Fourth Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh in Redevelopment Area No. 45,
800 Waterfront Drive, Council District
No. 1 (office building construction).

Which was read.

Also,
Bill No. 1204:

Resolution Approving Execution
of a Contract For Disposition of Land By
and Between the Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny
Center Associates, for the sale of Parcel 3
(lock 8G Lots 206 and 207) in the
Twenty Second Ward of the City of

268

Pittsburgh in Redevelopment Area No. 21,
Council District No. 1, 334 Federal Street
(parking lot).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1233:

Resolution Approving execution of
a Contract for Disposition by Sale of Land
by and between the Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh and Chartiers
Nature Conservancy, Inc. for the sale of
Parcels 11 and 14, for $1.00 said property
being located in the 28th Ward of the City
of Pittsburgh, in Redevelopment Area No.
24, Block 108 H Lot 200 and Block 108 R
Lots 239, 240, 242, 246, 50, 60 and 64 --
Summerdale Street --Council District No.
2 (recreation area).---COUNCIL
DISTRICT NO. 2

Which was read,
The Chair:

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor

_——
=e

(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None
Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed

finally.
MR. COHEN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1268:

Report of the Committee on Lands,
Building, and Procurement for February
10, 1999, transmitting one resolution to
Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 1184:

Resolution providing for an
agreement or agreements and/or a
cooperation agreement or cooperation
agreements and/or lease or leases
authorizing the conveyance of lands and
buildings, more commonly known as the
River Rescue Facility and a tract of land
located adjacent to said facility by and
between the City of Pittsburgh and the
Stadium Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh (the Stadium Authority) at a
cost of One Dollar ($1.00). And also
providing for an agreement or agreements
of lease for approximately two thousand
(2000) square feet of space located within
PNC Park, for use of the River Rescue
Unit for a term of approximately Twenty
Nine (29) years, six (6) months at a cost of
One Dollar ($1.00) per year.

Which was read.

269

The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Bills are now ready for final action,
all in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1269:

Report of the Committee on Parks,

Recreation and Youth Policy for
February 10, 1999, transmitting one
resolution to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 1209:

Resolution Authorizing the
Director of the Department of Parks and
Recreation to enter into agreements in
individual amounts of Ten Thousand
Doilars ($10,000.00) or less with various
performers, instructors, artists and persons
with specialized skills in connection with
the Department's various recreational and
instructional programs.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

The Chair:

270

Under motions and resolutions.
MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:

No. 1270 A resolution authorizing
the re-appointment of William Simmons
to the City of Pittsburgh Magistrate Court,
term to expire January 31, 2003.

Also,

No. 1271 A resolution authorizing
the reappointment of Irene McLaughlin to
the City of Pittsburgh Magistrate Court,
term to expire January 31, 2003.

MR. FERLO moved to approve for
purposes of discussion.

Mr. Ferlo:

I would like to urge that we vote
today if it is possible on both of these
appointments. Both of these individuals
have served well the City of Pittsburgh and
our residents on the city bench.

I want to thank the Mayor for re-
appointing these folks. Our Chief Justice
Mr. Simmons has done a great job not
only dispensing justice but also being the
chief administrator of the department and
he has had a tough job. As well, I am very
impressed with some of the advocacy
initiatives he's set up in the community.

Judge McLaughlin I think has done
a great job getting a management
information system together working with
Building Inspection Department. I think
she is the first magistrate ever to put
someone in the County Jail as a result of
not dealing appropriately with fines and
taking seriously their abuse of the building

ooo

code. I think we need to move on it.
MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
The Chair:

I will support your initiative. I
think both of them are outstanding
individuals and have well proven
themselves over the last couple of years
with an outstanding job. All in favor?

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

We have twenty appointments that
just came over this morning for the Shade
Tree Commission. I would like to give
them to you today to look over and I
believe we can approve them next week or
if there is any questions before that.

Mr. Ferlo:
Thank you.
Mr. Onorato:

I think it is ironic that the
Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission came
over and we probably killed about 20 trees
to inform us about it.

The Chair:

We also have a_ pre-agenda
Wednesday, tomorrow moming regarding
two appointments before Mr. Udin's
meeting tomorrow. And tomorrow
evening we have a Public Hearing,
Wednesday the 17th, at six o'clock in
Council chambers for the creation of an
Oakland business improvement district. It
will be televised.

271

Mr. Ferlo:

Are we notifying folks about the
evening hearing for the business
improvement district? That's the first I
heard about it.

The Chair:

They requested it and I believe the
Oakland Development Corporation has led
the charge. I am sure they have-- we
made an exception because of all the small
business owners have an opportunity to
speak.

Mr. Ferlo:
Good point.

Mr. President, very quickly, I know
the hour is getting late. I will have the
pleasure of joining the picket lines
Thursday moring outside the Board of
Trustees at the University of Pittsburgh. 1
am very disappointed that I have to go out
there and picket the Board of Trustees.

Nine years ago this City Council,
albeit some members were not who were
on the Council at the time in 1990 and
have moved onto other careers and other
positions of higher office, felt in their
wisdom along with myself that it was
appropriate to extend the protections under
the Pittsburgh Human Relations
Commission and the ordinance to
discriminate faced by sexual minorities
either real or perceived in the areas of
public accommodation housing and
employment. I believe since 1990 there
have probably been a couple hundred cases
where individuals rightfully sought and re-
addressed their grievance before the

EEE

Human Relations Commission to their
satisfaction and to the satisfaction of many
involved.

And finally when I thought we
were coming out of the woods with the
University of Pittsburgh and the Syria
Mosque battle and the Bigelow Boulevard
battle, and it just seems like we have had
to some extent and it is unfortunate
because the University of Pittsburgh is so
important to this community, to
employment, culture, you name it. It is a
great institution and it's a bedrock of the
City of Pittsburgh. I find it ironic if not
really disappointing that after so much
public debate and dissention and discourse
in 1990, finally leading up to passage of
the Pittsburgh Human Rights Ordinance
extending the HRC protections, that it is
the University of Pittsburgh itself now that
is poised legally with its corporate law
firm to undo or negate the very essence of
that Council ordinance in 1990.

I think it's a slap in the face to all
residents in the City of Pittsburgh. I think
it is unfortunate the Board of Trustees has
not intervened with their corporate lawyers
who are representing the University and
the dispute around domestic partnership
but to go after the ordinance itself I think it
is a terrible mistake. I hope that the City
of Pittsburgh and I know our Law
Department is already working to prepare
legal briefs to defend our code of
ordinance and to defend the Human
Relations Commission prerogative.

I think it's very unfortunate that it
is the University of Pittsburgh that I think
should be of any major employer in the
City of Pittsburgh should have much more
of an enlightened view about the change of
character of our city and being fair and

272

being in principle for equal justice under
the law. I would expect that it would be
the University of Pittsburgh and the Board
of Trustees. Needless to say, I am very
disappointed.

I will be joining that picket line
Thursday morning. I ask others in the
community that care about this issue to
come out Thursday moming at the Board
of Trustees meeting to let them know that
it is not just a university issue. But if you
are going to gut and negate the
amendments that this Council struggled
over and it was a lot of public discourse
and debate and it was democracy in action.
Obviously there is some for whatever
reasons a lot of misinformation at the time
it was a hot and heavy debate and we
resolved it and I think to the satisfaction of
all. I think we see the situation nine years
later where it has been a proper
amendment and been a proper remedy for
many people who feel that they have
suffered or faced some level of
discrimination in housing _ public
accommodation and employment.

So, I think it is a major step
backwards. I am extremely disappointed
at the University of Pittsburgh. It has
already soured at least my own personal
view of the sports complex that is being
proposed for the Southside and the people
that are criticizing me and saying oh don't
beat up on Pitt on other issues because of
this issue, but I am sorry. I mean we are
trying to be partners with the University of
Pittsburgh. I applaud them for their work
in supporting the business improvement
district. We have committed so much
public and state funds and just so it is clear
that I have a level criticism here, I am also
criticizing the for profit attomey in the
ACLU that is representing the client in this

_———— ee ee
Eee

case. Because I don't believe that you can
win on the domestic partnership issue by
utilizing the City's Home Rule Ordinance,
the citys HRC ordinance. I think the
ordinance has a different intended policy
and purpose. I think it is improper for the
advocates of the plaintiff to use that as a
way to defend the right or the need of the
University of Pittsburgh to the extent of
domestic partnership.

I have my own views about
domestic partnership, I am supportive of it,
but the fact of the. matter is I don't think
because we extended the HRC ordinance,
that you can use that in a court of law to
say de facto Pitt should be supporting
domestic partnership. They should be
doing it because it is the right thing and
because it is a negligible amount of money
as opposed to the corporate law firm that
they hired to gut the HRC ordinance.

So, I would ask that as this battle
unfolds, that people consider joining me
out there at the Board of Trustees. I would
ask that the Law Department not only file
the appropriate briefs and defend our
ordinance but if there are community
organizations out there that would like to
file a friend of the court briefs I would ask
that they consider doing that. I would ask
that the University, obviously they have to
do their fiduciary job at defending their
interests, but I would ask the board to find
some way to raise their debate about
domestic partnership, but not do it at the
expense of an equal justice clause in the
city code of ordinances.

Mr. Cohen:
On the same issue, Mr. President, I

will also be out there on Thursday. I have
told the people who are organizing this

rally or picket whatever it is that I will be
there and the reason is because as
Councilman Ferlo said, it was this Council
that passed the non-discrimination
ordinance in 1990.

I was proud to be a co-sponsor of
that legislation and the University of
Pittsburgh is making an argument in a
legal case that could have the effect of
doing away with that ordinance and that
would be in my view a drastic problem.
This is all in the context of a case before
the City of Pittsburgh's Human Relations
Commission called Henson versus
University of Pittsburgh and I have the
legal briefs here that I have been reading,

The case has to do with as
Councilman Ferlo said whether the
University of Pittsburgh should by law be
granting domestic partnership benefits
particular health care benefits. The
University of Pittsburgh in its motion to
dismiss included an argument that the City
of Pittsburgh anti-discrimination ordinance
is not legal. The Chancellor of the
University of Pittsburgh and the Board of
Trustees may say that that is just a legal
argument, but it is not, it is more than that.
It is a policy position of the University of
Pittsburgh when they put it in a written
brief before the Human Relations
Commission. That policy position is at
odds with the City of Pittsburgh and they
need to address that directly whether they
truly believe that the City of Pittsburgh
should not have an anti-discrimination

ordinance on the basis of sexual
orientation.
I can't believe that in as we

approach a new century that the University
of Pittsburgh would actually take that as a
policy position as opposed to a legal

position. My view is they are one in the
same. So, I will be there on Thursday to
try to urge the University of Pittsburgh to
take this position away from their briefs
and not stand in opposition to a long
standing statute in our book of ordinances
that many, many people have used to
redress their grievances. It is am
important statute, it is one that was passed
by City Council, albeit in 1990 but one
that I think we should all stand up and
defend because it is totally a statute having
to do with abolishing discrimination of the
City of Pittsburgh. I can't believe that the
University of Pittsburgh would say we
should not abolish discrimination in the
City of Pittsburgh.

I can't believe that they would do
that as a policy matter. I am going to be
and I know Councilman Ferlo already did,
but I am going to be calling Chancellor
Nordenburg on this issue just to inform
him of it if he doesn't already know
because the University of Pittsburgh is
such an important asset in the city and it is
hard for me to believe that they would
actually be taking this position. So, I hope
that they resolve it.

Mr. Udin:

I just want to remind colleagues
how important it is for us to consistently
stand up for civil right laws across the
board because as the saying goes if you let
them come for me to night, they will be
coming for you in the morning. I believe
this same very ultra conservative legal
interpretation is also what caused the
University of Pittsburgh to back away
from a long standing practice last year in
affirmative action policy to women and
minority contractors doing business in the
University of Pittsburgh.

They formed a task force and then
just decided to abandon the task force and
withdraw their entire policy on fair
distribution of contracts at the University
of Pittsburgh. I believe it is the same law
firm as a matter of fact that is rendering
the same very conservative opinions and
somehow the University of Pittsburgh
feels compelled to backtrack on
progressive legislation that they had
supported for a very long time.

So I join the concerned and the
protest of Councilman Ferlo and
Councilman Cohen I will not be able to
join him on Thursday morning but I surely
will extend my concems in writing to the
University Chancellor and the board of
trustees.

Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you, Mr. Udin. I would also
ask and I will ask directly I am not asking
for a motion but J think the public officials
that are on that board including judges,
state representatives, state senators,
including a number of very progressive
foundations and corporate leaders of our
city, I think they need to speak out clearly
at this board meeting on Thursday and try
resolve this issue. Especially the public
officials, I think Representative Robinson
is on the board. I don't know if Mr. Irvess
(phonetic) is still on the board, obviously
he is retired but there is a large number of
I think Judge Flaherty, Jim Flaherty, who I
worked very hard for in his common
wealth court election. There are a number
of elected officials on that board and I
would ask that they please speak out on
this issue and try to sort out an intemal
discussion or debate about domestic
partnership from the very essence of our

Sa==CN—aeaeaeeeeeeSSS ee

ordinance in the city.
The Chair:

Can I ask you a question? Should
we be asking our Law Department for an
opinion? | agree with you, it seems like --

Mr. Ferlo:

The Law Department is already
involved. They are going to litigate and
defend our ordinance.

The Chair:

It looks like they are mixing apples
and oranges I was very disappointed the
way they approached it.

Mr. Ferlo:

I also think the plaintiffs are
mixing apples and oranges too as far as I
am concemed. .

The Chair:

I meant the

Pittsburgh.

University of

Mr. Udin:

A different matter. I just want to
thank colleagues for their attention and
sitting through a very long and emotional
Public Hearing last week on Pittsburgh
Works. You know the city was very
hopeful and we all celebrated at least many
of us celebrated with the passage of Plan B
because people are very hopeful of the
opportunity for employment. Whether or
not those who have been chronically and
intergenerationally unemployed for a long
time in this city get an opportunity to

benefit from this construction largely lies
with the passage of this legislation of
Pittsburgh Works.

So I want to encourage Council
colleagues also to again be attentive and be
open with their hearts and open with their
ears when people come forward at the next
public hearing. I don't want to in anyway
sound threatening but I really want to
share with you a sense of a dark cloud of
doubt that is beginning to form in the
minds of a lot of unemployed people in
this city as to whether or not this Council
will actually support Pittsburghers getting
a share of the employment.

I remember way back to the ugly
confrontations that occurred during the
Pittsburgh plan days when marches and
demonstrations and ranker and people
were throwing things at each other, the
construction workers were throwing things
down of the scaffold. It was a very angry
and violent period. We don't have to
repeat that 30 years later. We can avoid
that and I hope that Council will take the
kind of leadership that will enable us to
avoid a similar kind of confrontation here
as we enter the year 2000.

Again the next Public Hearing will
be Thursday, February 25th at 6:30 p.m. at
Peabody High School and immediately
after that the bill will be coming back to
Council force the liberation and decision.
I hope Council will have the courage to
vote with the citizens of the people even
though it maybe a vote that certain labor
union leadership may not like.

Mr. Ferlo:

It's unfortunately too late in the
hour to start a debate about the ordinance

ooo

and I want to thank Councilman Udin
because he obviously put a lot of hard
work into this. But unfortunately based on
his comments just now, I can see where
this polarization to some extent is leading
and that's how if we don't support his
ordinance some how we have turned our
backs on those residents in our city who
are most deserving and most in need of
meaningful employment.

I am not voting to create a new
bureaucracy. I am not going to vote to
create further dissention between
unionized workers both black and white
and women and underemployed or those
who have been disenfranchised for a
variety of different reasons. So whatever
the bottom line is, I hope through the
public debate of these hearings, and I have
been trying to be as attentive as possible, I
apologize I had to leave the last half hour
of the last meeting, I look forward to the
meeting on the 25th. But I would like a
legal review of the actual ordinance so that
we can have a discussion about that. I
would like to try to find some way that we
can discuss the bill without the atmosphere
of polarization on this issue.

There is a policy faimess here and I
will pick an example. We have approved
tax increment financing for a number of
projects in this city that have not proposed
to extend the residency requirement. As
opposed to for instance the Plan B projects
which you could probably fairly argue
disproportionately are being paid for by
residents at a county wide level through
the RAD, through the state sales tax, I
mean through the state capital bond fund,
and the like. Now I don't want to be
presented with like if I am not allowed to
discuss those kinds of faimess issues that
somehow I am backtracking or I am in the

276

pocket of labor movement and the like. I
hope we can have a spirited debate and
discussion about the bottom line.

To me the bottom line is how do
we make sure that the boat rises, it lifts,
that the rising tide rising in this city with
Plan B et al that that boat lifts everybody's
tide not just the individuals that are in the
trades or not just the developers locally,
not just the contractors. So, I am
unfortunately already hearing to some
extent and I respect the passion around the
bill because it is important, but I hope at
some point we can have a frank discussion
about not solely the legality of the bill, but
how is the bill actually going to have an
impact and what will actually have an
impact for at least the intended purpose?

So, I am not going into this bill
around an atmosphere of polarization, and
I am not going to be like yelled at or
screamed into supporting a bill if it is not
in the end going to achieve what I hope is
going to be the intended goal.

Mr. Udin:

I am just confused by how we can
advocate for another level of bureaucracy
to correct the injustice at the University of
Pittsburgh to discriminate against gays but
now all of a sudden we're not supporting a
non-level of bureaucracy because it
supports and looks out for a fair
employment in the city? I don't
understand the in balance. The so-called
bureaucracy is necessary to defend the
tights of certain people who have been
historically excluded from the market
place. That is why it is not an extra
unnecessary layer of bureaucracy. These
are necessary layers of monitoring and
data gathering that is essential to correct

SN OO OCCOCOOOEOEONO_O

long standing wrongs. If we are going to
be consistent, let's be consistent across the
board. I can wait until the debate comes
back to the table.

Mr. Ferlo:

I also look forward to hearing
Councilman Udin on the administration of
the bill which unfortunately because of
maybe the way the hearing went there
wasn't really time to kind of lay out what
the perimeters of the bill are and what your
view is as to why the commission is, what
it will do and how will it respond to the
administrative obligations under the
codes?

The Chair:
We have a public hearing.
Mr. Udin:

I will be looking forward to laying
that out.

MR. COHEN moved to adjourn the
meeting.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.

And on the motion made by Mr.
Cohen, the meeting adjourned.

MUNICIPAL RECORD
cee eee tte te
Proceedings of the Council of the City of. Pittsburgh
sr pm

VOL. CXXXIT February 23, 1999 No. 8
Kadirra Wallace:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of
i the United States of America and to the
Municipal Record republic for which it stands, one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.
ONE-HUNDRED The Chair:
TRUSTE TH COUNCTE Thank you. Here we have a flag of
BOB O'CONNOR President our country and our city for you.
LINDA M. JOHN: City Clerk Ms. McDonald will come up and take a
JOHN R. MASCIO .......... Deputy City Clerk picture with us.
Pittsburgh, PA PRESENTATIONS
, Fi 3, 1999
Pupeday, Rebniary 2 MR. COHEN PRESENTED:
TENT No. 1272 WHEREAS, Judge
Robert E. Dauer was appointed to the
Mr. Coh Mr. at
Me e a ne peat Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny
. AA County in 1972 and subsequently was
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin ed fi ‘ ;
Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor elected to the first of three ten year terms;
Ms. McDonald (Pres't) and

The Chair:

Will you all please rise for the
pledge of allegiance and remain standing
for a moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the world.

Today we have Kadirra Wallace
Gaine she is a third grade student at East
Hills School and she is accompanied by
her parents and her grandmother. Say
hello to Mr. Nicholas when you go back,
your principal.

WHEREAS, in 1977 Judge Dauer
was elected by the Criminal Court Judges
as Administrative Judge of the Criminal
Division, a position he held through 1993
when he was elected unanimously by all of
the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas
to the position of President Judge; and

WHEREAS, Judge Dauer
introduced the PDQ System of disposing
of plea bargains in 1990 and to date over
18,000 non-violent criminal cases have
been disposed by this program, over
14,000 by Judge Dauer himself; and

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WHEREAS, in 1995, Judge Dauer
was named the recipient of the annual
award of the St. Thomas More Society of
Catholic lawyers and was honored by the
Allegheny County Bar Association in 1997
with its prestigious Philip Werner Amram
Award; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his
daily caseload and administrative duties,
Judge Dauer has taught legal courses at the
Community College of Allegheny County,
Robert Morris and Point Park College. In
1998, the University of Pittsburgh School
of Law accorded to him its Judicial
Leadership Award: for his distinguished
service on the bench.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend and
congratulate Judge Robert E. Dauer for his
bold leadership and visionary approach
during his tenure on the bench of the
Allegheny County Court of Common
Pleas.

MR. COHEN moved adopt the resolution.
MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.

Ms. McDonald:

This is presented by Councilman
Hertzberg, myself and Councilman Udin.
Would the party for the kings and queens
of Africa come forward? All right. I am
going to read the proclamation, which the
primary sponsor is Councilman Hertzberg.

MR. HERTZBERG, MS. MCDONALD
AND MR. UDIN PRESENT:

279

No. 1273 WHEREAS, The Kings
& Queens of Africa, in celebration of
Black History Month, are presenting the
Fifth Annual “Spirit of Life Awards”; and

WHEREAS, the Spirit of Life
Awards are presented to individuals who
unselfishly made contributions to society
and have been role models for others to
follow; and

WHEREAS, the Award Ceremony
will take place Saturday, February 27,
1999 in the Emerald Room on Chartiers
Avenue, McKees Rocks, PA with this
years Master of Ceremonies Mr. Harvey
Adams; and

WHEREAS, this years honorees of
“The Spirit of Life Awards” are:

Marlene Banks
Scholarship Program .
Lois Burkholder President of the
State of Pennsylvania Women’s Caucus
Ora Lee Carrol Community Activist
Louis C. ColesMagistrate, City of
Pittsburgh

Nate Harper Assistant Chief of Police,
City of Pittsburgh

Florence Frances Kennedy Salvation
Army Divison Headquarters MSW,CSM
Connie (Bunny) Mozee Mckees
Rocks Family Foundation Community
Organizer

June Patterson Deputy Warden
Allegheny County, President
Thomas H, Sumpter, Jr.
Radio Host

Charles Watkins Holy
Institute Youth Counselor
Cyril H. Wecht Coroner
Allegheny County

Ida Bryant

of
WCXI]
Family

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh commends the Kings &
Queens of Africa and congratulates all of
the recipients of “The Sprit of life
Awards” and thanks them for contributing
time to the communities and for being
positive role models for others to follow.

MR. ONORATO moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.
Ms. McDonald:
Thank you. I think that Wanda

Dixon would best be able to describe what
are the kings and queens of Africa?
Maybe how they got started and when I
mean five years ago and why they started
to honor people with the spirit of life
award? So congratulations to the kings
and queens of Africa.

Ms. Dixon:

The kings and queens of Africa are
an organization that believes empowering
people through economics, education and
politics. We're a grass root organization
from McKees Rocks and we have
branched out every where. We believe in
giving anyone and everyone a helping
hand.

I would like to now introduce my
Vice President, Gerard Thompson, our
secretary, Betty Robinson, our Chairman,
Richard Stewart, Frank Morris, John
Wilson. I thank you very much. Thank
you for this award.

280

By the way tickets are still
available and the event is February 27th at
8:00 p.m. Thank you.

Mr. Udin:

Thank you. I just want to
congratulate Brother Stuart, Ms. Dixon
every year these awards are given to
people who might other wise just
contribute to the community and have
those contributions go unrecognized. But
even more so than just recognizing the
spirit of community service and
volunteerism of outstanding community
leaders, it's important that you continue to
promote during black history month the
culture of African people and African
American people. That's more important
than ‘all the programs put together. The
ability to tap into the strength of African
culture and history and to bring that
strength forward and recognize it for role
models for our children today to benefit
from. That's what will make the difference
in changing our lives providing role
models that people can really see.

So thank you very much for
keeping an important tradition alive.
Anyone who has not yet purchased a ticket
to attend the affair, Saturday the 27th
please do so by making how can
people-- is there a telephone number
people can call? 771- 5867 they can call
between the hours of six to eight p.m. --
‘You can call 24 hours a day. Thank you
very much.

Ms. McDonald:

We have a resolution for Elizabeth
McCombs. | will read the resolution.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTS:

a OOCCOCOOOONS

No. 1274 WHEREAS, Elizabeth
McCombs, was the second African-
American Librarian for the Carnegie
Library of Pittsburgh; and

WHEREAS, Elizabeth McCombs,
began her career as a children’s librarian in
1947. She was eager to teach children of
all age groups, from tiny tots to sixth grade
students the importance of reading; and

WHEREAS, Although Ms.
McCombs enjoyed her job as a Hill
District Librarian she soon realized that
the library was not reaching the masses of
children in the community. Ms. McComb
immediately felt the need to do something
to reach the children that the library had
been unable to reach; and

WHEREAS, Elizabeth McCombs
was instrumental in beginning the “Book
Van”. The “Book Van” was a small van
that carried mostly paperback books
around to the communities for all the
children to enjoy. Several years later a
larger van was purchased and more books
were able to be purchased; and

WHEREAS, Elizabeth McCombs
was able to retire from the Camegie
Library after 31 years of service as
Supervisor of Inter-City Services.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Elizabeth McCombs for being
instrumental in opening the doors of
knowledge to our youth through “books”.

MR. ONORATO moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.

281

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

I don't know if we're going to let
you retire.

Ms. McDonald:

I think this is wonderful for black
history month to acknowledge that we do
have historic figures here and they are
alive and well. And we can look up to
them and say thank you for starting
something and paving pathways for us and
starting to open up doors that other wise
would not have been open to us.

So thank you so much Ms,
McCombs. | don't have a list of all of your
entourage. Ms. McCombs has a large
entourage of people. Many of them
librarians, sorority sisters, Alpha Cappa
Alpha, who just had their founders day
weekend about two weeks ago. And
Councilman Udin and myself had attended
the festivities as well as friends of the
library. Did I get everyone? Saint James
AME Church, part of Council District
Nine. Thank you so much.

Now without fiurther ado
Ms.McCombs would you like to say
anything? Just say thank you.

Ms. McCombs:

This is really an occasion, which I
just had not even dreamed of. I want to
first of all thank those of you who have
taken time out from your busy lives to
come here to honor me. What can I say?
Well only that I can see that much of what
I started is still being carried on.

Sollee,

I was very surprised when I
retumed to Pittsburgh, it's been ten years
now and saw that some of the things that I
had just started were being carried on, they
forced the library. Jt was really a force.
The parents recognized the importance of
books and reading for their children. They
would not give up; they would not destroy
what had been started. So we now as you
can see from the young people who were
here today that there is much to be said
about books and leaming and reading or
reading and learning. And not only that, it
is a past time that I don't think will ever
disappear from this earth. At least we
hope not.

So thank you those of you who
came to honor me. Thank you,
Ms. McDonald, for letting us take up this
time. I hope that you have well many
years ahead of you to accomplish many
things I would like to do but as you climb
up that ladder of age, you find you can't
get around as you once did. So, it's not a
farewell it is just so long.

Mr. Udin:

I just want to take a moment if I
may to extend my personal congratulations
to Ms. McCombs. On behalf of a lot of
young, naughty kids who would run in off
the streets into the libraries and find
ourselves being disciplined by librarians
like yourselves, to make us be quiet and
open up a book and sit down and read it.
It provided for us a whole new world of
information that we often didn't have at
home. We didn't have the kind of books at
home that you see in the library and it
provided a safe haven and alternative to
getting into trouble on the streets.

282

1 know that August Wilson who is
a person who J went to grade school with,
every time he is asked what is it that most
strongly influenced you to become a
writer, he says it was the public library
system in the Hill District where he grew
up. The staff in those libraries that
encouraged him to read and to become
exposed to other writers and to music and
to all the things that were available for
someone coming into the library. So
sometimes librarians don't really see the
result of their work because people leave
the library and then go on to other more
famous things, but you are certainly
responsible for the success of a lot of the
young people I know who personally I
grew up with. I just want to say thank you
very, very much.

Ms. McDonald:

Now I am going to need my staff
member to help orchestrate this. If the
cameras would focus in on the audience.
These are going to be the honorees for
Black History Month sponsored by myself
and all members of Council.

Now where we got the idea was
this, we have given numerous resolutions,
Council as a body before I was here has
always given numerous resolutions to
individuals who deserve to get
acknowledged in City Council for Black
History Month as well as any other month.
And I had talked to Twanda I said I would
like to be doing something a little bit
different because it seems like everyone
has gotten a resolution already. And I said
we need to look at unsung heroes. Let's
focus on folks who you never hear about
them, you never hear them on the radio,
you don't see their face on TV, you don't
see them at all, but they are busy doing

a COCO

good work for others.

While we were talking, she had
thought about children and didn't know
how we were going to do it and then a
tragedy happened in Homewood. We are
commemorating our youth in honor of
Ebony Patterson. Simply because we don't
know how long we will have our youth.
And we want to give them their flowers
and their props and their honor while we
have them. So this commemoration is for
our youth. For African American youth
who have overcome obstacles, who are
doing well, who. are doing their best to
make sure they achieve and also who will
make us proud and hopefully will reach
back one day and help others a long the
way.

So this is an honor of Ebony
Patterson. We're giving our props to our
youth while you are here. Now Twanda is
going to -- again, I have to give a lot of
acknowledgement to Twanda Carlisle, my
chief of staff, who worked feverishly -- the
entire staff, she is so diplomatic. I know
who was here late last night. But really to
all my staff who worked very feverishly to
insure that we have the information.

I believe it was 20 schools, was it
20?

Ms. Carlisle:

We had over 150 letters, faxes that
came from the schools throughout City of
Pittsburgh as well as the parochial schools.
Ms. McDonald:

Tam going to repeat it so they can

hear. We had 150 letters faxed out to the
schools. We're not talking just to the City

of Pittsburgh Public Schools, we tapped
into all the private schools, we tapped into
parochial schools, we tapped into all the
schools throughout the City of Pittsburgh
and out of that -- what did we do?

Ms. Carlisle:
We got about 30 finalists.
Ms. McDonald:

We have 30 students who are
finalists. So we're going to call them up in
groups because there are so many out there
and we're just so proud. These resolutions,
students so that you understand are
sponsored by each and every Council
member. All nine of us are giving this to
you. And I wish there was a way we could
have all nine of us plus the families, just
the logistics aren't there. But we'll figure it
out.

Ms. Carlisle:

Read the first five names that you
have.

Ms. McDonald:

IT am going to call the names and
the families come forward. Each of you
all will be getting, Reverend Grigsby is
here. Now for your information these are
not duplicate resolutions. The first few
paragraphs are similar. But there is one
paragraph in there that is just for the
student. So there are 30 different
resolutions here. What I am going to do is
read the first, second and the last
paragraph and then I am going to call the
student up with their family and I am
going to read the paragraph that is just
modified for them and them alone.

Sunni Ali Herndon, your mom and
grandmother are with you.

MS. MCDONALD AND - ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:

No. 1275 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

WHEREAS, during February we
have saluted some of histories greatest
achievers such as; Phyllis Wheatley, a
slave who put her own fears aside and
made dozens of trips into the South to
assist other slaves through the
Underground Railroad to migrate North to
“Freedom”; Rosa Parks, a seamstress from
Montgomery, Alabama who on December
1, 1955 decided that she was too tired to
get up from the seat she occupied on the
bus to allow a white person the seat, thus
this was the beginning of the Montgomery
Bus Boycott; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
Civil Rights Leader who in December
1964 won a Nobel Peace Prize for his
nonviolent approach for Justice; and Dr.
Mae C. Jemison, a pioneering African-
American astronaut, a mission specialist,
in 1992 she flew on the shuttle
“Endeavor”; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS Sunni Ali Herndon
attends Conroy Education Center. At Age
seven (7) Sunni was diagnosed with
autism however, that did not deter Sunni
somehow he taught himself to read. Now
at 20 years of age, Sunni is a very
responsible young man. He is now the

284

schools mailperson. Sunni is a member of
the chorus, he is a Special Olympian, and
he has come in 1" place in the ARC
Allegheny Art Calendar Contest

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Sunni Ali Hemdon for his determination
and commitment to succeed.

Ms. McDonald:
Congratulations.

Daniel Miller. The man that gave
me his business card. He is with his sister
and mom. Mr. O'Connor sent the letter
since he was highlighted in a publication.

Also,

No. 1276 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

NTE eee,

in 1992 she
“Endeavor”; and

flew on the shuttle

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS Daniel Miller, Jr. a
student at Linden Academy is already an
entrepreneur. Daniel runs Danie] Miller
Jr's Custom Postcards from his
Homewood residence. Daniel creates
designs for stationery, postcards, and
letterhead. Recently Daniel obtained his
own website. Some of Daniels clients
include Danny Glover and celebrity
Attomey Johnnie Cochran.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Daniel Miller, Jr. for having a vision and
the desire to make it become a reality.

Ms. McDonald:

Courtney Clark, she is here with
her mom, dad, little sister, and Counselor.

Also,

No. 1277 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

283

1, 1955 decided that she was too tired to
get up from the seat she occupied on the
bus to allow a white person the seat, thus
this was the beginning of the Montgomery
Bus Boycott; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
Civil Rights Leader who in December
1964 won a Nobel Peace Prize for his
nonviolent approach for Justice; and Dr.
Mae C. Jemison, a pioneering African-
American astronaut, a mission specialist,
in 1992 she flew on the shuttle
“Endeavor”; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS Courtney Clark is a 5"
grade student at Liberty International
Studies Elementary School. Courtney is
an active member of the Red Cross Club.
She visits the Heartland Nursing Home
where she interacts with the residents.
Courtney’s warm smile always leaves the
Senior Citizens awaiting her next visit.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Courtney Clark for her outstanding
academic and community achievements.

Ms. McDonald:

Erica Davis. Erica has her
brothers, father, teacher, and mom.

Also,
No. 1278 WHEREAS, during the

month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

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WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS Erica Davis is a 5”
grade high honors student at Overbrook
Elementary School. Erica is actively
involved with Junior Achievement. She is
a Girl Scout and involved in theater. Erica
plays the violin and is active in the
school’s instrumental music program.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Erica Davis for her outstanding academic
and community achievements.

Ms. McDonald:

Kadirra Wallace.
your mom and dad.

You are with

286

Also,

No. 1279 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

WHEREAS, during February we
have saluted some of histories greatest
achievers such as; Phyllis Wheatley, “a
slave who put her own fears aside and
made dozens of trips into the South to
assist other slaves through _ the
Underground Railroad to migrate North to
“Freedom”; Rosa Parks, a seamstress from
Montgomery, Alabama who on December
1, 1955 decided that she was too tired to
get up from the seat she occupied on the
bus to allow a white person the seat, thus
this was the beginning of the Montgomery
Bus Boycott; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
Civil Rights Leader who in December
1964 won a Nobel Peace Prize for his
nonviolent approach for Justice; and Dr.
Mae C. Jemison, a pioneering African-
American astronaut, a mission specialist,
in 1992 she flew on the shuttle
“Endeavor”; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS Kadirra Wallace, is a
x grade High honors student at East Hills
Elementary School. Kadirra has a 4.0
grade point average and she also has
perfect attendance. She plays the violin
and takes ballet lessons. Kadirra is a Girl
Scout and in her spare time she enjoys
reading to younger students.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City

——eseeG_oeawGoaeaaaaa—a—a— ee

of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Kadirra Wallace for her outstanding
academic and community achievements.

Ms. McDonald:
Congratulations.

Carmela Malloy. Her mom and
dad are here too.

Also,

No. 1280 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

287

WHEREAS, Carmela Malloy is an
honor roll student at Phillip Murray
Elementary School. Carmela serves as a
school patrol, sings in the choir, and has
been in the scholars program for the past
three years. She serves on the Usher Board
and the hospitality committee at her
church. When there was a fire in the area
Carmela organized the fifth grade students
to raise money for the family.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Carmela Malloy for her academic and
unselfish community involvement.

Ms. McDonald:

Jessica Thomas. Jessica is here
with her Mom, dad and mentor.
Also,

No. 1281 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

Soe oe

American astronaut, a mission specialist,
in 1992 she flew on the shuttle
“Endeavor”; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS, Jessica A. Thomas is
a 7™ grade, honor roll student at Arsenal
Middle School. She is actively involved in
Student Council. Jessica was one of
several volunteers to plant flowers at the
New Shop N’ Save Market in her
community. Jessica was nominated for the
1999 Prudential Spirit of Community
Award.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Jessica A. Thomas for her academic and
community achievements.

Ms. McDonald:

Rachel Howze. I believe that's
why Councilman Udin is up here. Rachel
is here with her mom and her
grandmother, and aunt and how many are
there? Principal, Ms. Telefarro, and her
social studies teacher. Everyone is down
here for Rachel.

Also,

No. 1282 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

WHEREAS, during February we
have saluted some of histories greatest
achievers such as; Phyllis Wheatley, a
slave who put her own fears aside and

288

made dozens of trips into the South to
assist other slaves through the
Underground Railroad to migrate North to
“Freedom”; Rosa Parks, a seamstress from
Montgomery, Alabama who on December
1, 1955 decided that she was too tired to
get up from the seat she occupied on the
bus to allow a white person the seat, thus
this was the beginning of the Montgomery
Bus Boycott; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
Civil Rights Leader who in December
1964 won a Nobel Peace Prize for his
nonviolent approach for Justice; and Dr.
Mae C. Jemison, a pioneering African-
American astronaut, a mission specialist,
in 1992 she flew on the shuttle
“Endeavor”; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS, Jerome White, Jr. is a
member of the National Honor Society and
the Senior Class President at Perry
Traditional Academy. Jerome is also a
member of P.S.C.C., Parent Student
Community Council. He has received
numerous awards, most recently he was
the National winner of the 1997 Japanese
Speech Award, in New York. Jerome has
had the honor of being the recipient of 2
Distinguished Achievements Awards from
the Pittsburgh Board of Education.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Rachel Howze for her “heroic” measures
and assuring the safety of others.

Ms. McDonald:

Jamelle Tyler.

ee
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Also,

No. 1283 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS, Jamelle Tyler is a 5"
grade honor roll student at Chartier
Elementary School. Jamelle is also a
Citizenship honor student. He is actively
involved in the Youth Crime Watch
Program and a School Safety Patrol
member.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends

289

Jamelle Tyler for his academic and
unselfish community achievements.

Ms. McDonald:

Janai Williams. Janai is not here.
Jam going to read Janai's.

Also,

No. 1284 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS, Janai-Michelle
Williams,is an honor roll student at Perry
Traditional Academy. Janai is 2™ in her
class (Salutatorian). She is the Vice-

SSS OOOO

President of the Senior Class and she is
actively involved with Junior
Achievement. Janai is a volunteer in the
Children’s Hospital Surgical Unit and she
is also involved with the UPMC Medical
Explorers program. Janai has been listed
in Who’s Who Among American High
School Students

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Janai Michelle Williams for her academic
and community leadership.

Ms. McDonald:

Dominique Johnson. She is here
with her Principals and your mom.

Also,

No. 1285 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

290

in 1992 she
“Endeavor”; and

flew on the shuttle

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS, Dominique Johnson
is an 11-year-old Carmalt student who
participates in a weekly mentoring
program with first graders entitled “Book
Buddies”. She is also a participant in the
Stash the Trash campaign. Dominique is
actively involved with her church and
community.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Dominique Johnson for her outstanding
community involvement.

Ms. McDonald:

Melvin Brentley. Ms. Fullson the
principal, mom, dad and sister are here.
Also,

No. 1286 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

this was the beginning of the Montgomery
Bus Boycott; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
Civil Rights Leader who in December
1964 won a Nobel Peace Prize for his
nonviolent approach for Justice; and Dr.
Mae C. Jemison, a pioneering African-
American astronaut, a mission specialist,
in 1992 she flew on the shuttle
“Endeavor”; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and :

WHEREAS, Melvin Brentley, is an
8" grade student at Columbus Traditional
Academy where he is an honor roll student
in the gifted program. Melvin is a member
of the National Junior Honor Society and
he enjoys football. Melvin assists other
students with school work and is apart of
the Peer Mediation Group

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Melvin Brentley for his outstanding
academic and community involvement.

Ms. McDonald:

Tariq Walker. Tariq is here with
her mom, principal, and assistant
principal.

Also,

No. 1287 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

WHEREAS, during February we
have saluted some of histories greatest
achievers such as; Phyllis Wheatley, a
slave who put her own fears aside and

291

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS, Tariq Walker, is an
11 year of student at Carmalt School.
Tariq has been actively involved in the
Boy Scouts for several years. He has
served with other students from school on
the Stash for Trash campaign and is
committed to Operation Clean-up in his
neighborhood.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Tariq Walker for his unselfish
commitment to the community is which he
lives.

Ms. McDonald:

William Scaine, he is here with his
teacher.

Also,

Sasa eee

No. 1288 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

WHEREAS, during February we
have saluted some of histories greatest
achievers such as; Phyllis Wheatley, a
slave who put her own fears aside and
made dozens of trips into the South to
assist. other slaves through the
Underground Railroad to migrate North to
“Freedom”; Rosa Parks, a seamstress from
Montgomery, Alabama who on December
1, 1955 decided that she was too tired to
get up from the seat she occupied on the
bus to allow a white person the seat, thus
this was the beginning of the Montgomery
Bus Boycott; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
Civil Rights Leader who in December
1964 won a Nobel Peace Prize for his
nonviolent approach for Justice; and Dr.
Mae C. Jemison, a pioneering African-
American astronaut, a mission specialist,
in 1992 she flew on the shuttle
“Endeavor”; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS, William Scaine is a
13 year old 8" grade high honor student at
Knoxville Middle School. William has a
4.0 grade average. He is actively involved
in the Boys to Men Organization and
works with other youth in the community.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
William Scaine for his high academic
achievements.

Ms. McDonald:

Amber Peterson and she is here
with her teacher.

Also,

No. 1289 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS, Amber Peterson, is a
7” grade, honor roll student at Prospect
Middle School. Amber is actively
involved in Student Council. As a
member of the Student Council she visits a
nursing home several times throughout the
school year.

See

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Amber Peterson for her academic and
unselfish community achievements.

Ms. McDonald:

Anthony Minniefield. His Mom
and grandmother are here.

Also,

No. 1290. WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

293

WHEREAS, Anthony Minniefield,
an 8" grade student at Gladstone Middle
School has achieved honor roll status
twice this school year. He has been
actively involved in community service
work through YouthPlaces Programs at
Burgwin Elementary School. Anthony
plays basketball, board games and does
arts and crafts with young children in the
after school and evening YouthPlace
Programs.

WHEREAS, NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council in
the City of Pittsburgh recognizes and
commends

Ms. McDonald:

Mandella Schumaker-Hodge.
Leroy is no stranger to me.

Also,

No. 1291 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

——oo—ollleeeeeeeeeee

Mae C. Jemison, a pioneering African-
American astronaut, a mission specialist,
in 1992 she flew on the shuttle
“Endeavor”; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS, Mandela
Schumacher-Hodge, is a 8" grade high
honors student at Sterrett Classical
Academy. Mandela is the President of the
National Junior Honor Society and is
active in basketball, softball and soccer.
She volunteers after school by tutoring
other students and she assisted her school
in raising $1,000.00 for the KDKA Turkey
Fund.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends

Mandela Schumacher-Hodge for her
academic and unselfish community
achievements.
Ms, McDonald:

Brian Grigsby. Brian is here with
his mom and dad, Reverend Grigsby from
Central Baptist church.

Also,

No. 1292 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

Underground Railroad to migrate North to
“Freedom”; Rosa Parks, a seamstress from
Montgomery, Alabama who on December
1, 1955 decided that she was too tired to
get up from the seat she occupied on the
bus to allow a white person the seat, thus
this was the beginning of the Montgomery
Bus Boycott; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
Civil Rights Leader who in December
1964 won a Nobel Peace Prize for his
nonviolent approach for Justice; and Dr.
Mae C. Jemison, a pioneering African-
American astronaut, a mission specialist,
in 1992 she flew on the shuttle
“Endeavor”; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS, Brian Grigsby is an 8
year old, 3” grade student at Madison
Elementary School. Brian has a 3.69 grade
point average. Brian is a member of his
church youth choir and he enjoys Bible
Studies, Black History and youth Ministry
activities.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Brian Grigsby for his academic and
community achievements.

Ms. McDonald:

Marlana Meyers. Marlana has her
grandma, teacher, Ms. Telefarro. I was
just told by grandma, she worked on my
campaign. I am being reprimanded.

Also,

No. 1293 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

WHEREAS, during February we
have saluted some of histories greatest
achievers such as; Phyllis Wheatley, a
slave who put her own fears aside and
made dozens of trips into the South to
assist other slaves through the
Underground Railroad to migrate North to
“Freedom”; Rosa Parks, a seamstress from
Montgomery, Alabama who on December
1, 1955 decided that she was too tired to
get up from the seat she occupied on the
bus to allow a white person the seat, thus
this was the beginning of the Montgomery
Bus Boycott; Dr, Martin Luther King Jr.,
Civil Rights Leader who in December
1964 won a Nobel Peace Prize for his
nonviolent approach for Justice; and Dr.
Mae C. Jemison, a pioneering A frican-
American astronaut, a mission specialist,
in 1992 she flew on the shuttle
“Endeavor”; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS, Marlana Meyers, an
8" grade, 13 year old student at Rogers
Middle School for the Creative and
Performing Arts. Marlana is a member of
the National Junior Honor Society holding
a 4.0 grade average throughout the year.
Marlana has performed countless hours of
community service at the Oakland Center
for Women. Marlana has been involved in
the Stash the Trash program, canned food
drive and Red Ribbon Week.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City

of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Marlana Meyers for her outstanding
academic and community achievements

Ms. McDonald:

Fatimah Madyun. She's here with
her mom and counselor, Ms. Ann Haley.

Also,

No. 1294 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS, Fatimah Madyun, is a

10" grade honor roll student at Schenley
High School. Fatimah has been an honor

roll student since the 9" grade She was the
second place winner in the Pennsylvania
Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) in
Zoology. Fatimah is currently active with
SMART (Strong Minded Active
Responsible Teens), she also is a member
of Camegie Mellon’s High School Student
Society of Women Engineers, and she is a
volunteer tutor at Margaret Milliones
Middle School.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Fatimah Madyun for her outstanding
academic and community involvement.

Ms. McDonald:
Brittany Hartwell.
Also,

No. 1295 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

296

American astronaut, a mission specialist,
in 1992 she flew on the shuttle
“Endeavor”; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS, Brittany Hartwell is a
5" grade honor roll student at Chartier
Elementary School. Brittany is also a
Citizenship honor student. She is actively
involved in the Youth Crime Watch

Program and a School Safety Patrol
member.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Brittany Hartwell for her academic and
unselfish community achievements.

Ms. McDonald:

Rebekah Herbert.
brother are with her.

Mom and

Also,

No. 1296 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

bus to allow a white person the seat, thus
this was the beginning of the Montgomery
Bus Boycott; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
Civil Rights Leader who in December
1964 won a Nobel Peace Prize for his
nonviolent approach for Justice; and Dr.
Mae C. Jemison, a pioneering African-
American astronaut, a mission specialist,
in 1992 she flew on the shuttle
“Endeavor”; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and :

WHEREAS, Rebekah Herbert, a
student at Reizenstein Middle School is an
active member of the National Junior
Honor Society. Rebekah has been student
of the month and maintains a 3.0 average.
She is a member of the All-City Chorus
and manages the girls basketball team.
Rebekah helps the elderly in her
neighborhood by doing chores and
shopping for them. She is a volunteer at
the food pantry at the East Liberty
Presbyterian Church

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Rebekah Herbert for the positive image
she portrays to others and for her
outstanding community involvement.

Ms. McDonald:

Jerome White, Jr., is with his mom.
Also,

No. 1297 WHEREAS, during the

month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends

_——
8 8 SSS

Jerome White, Jr.
achievements.

for his academic

Ms. McDonald:
Aaron Johns is with her mother.
Also,

No. 12984 WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS, Aaron Johns a 12”
grade student at Schenley High School
who attends Robert Morris College as part
of the City of Pittsburgh Public Schools
High School and College Initiative. Aaron

298

is a three-year volunteer for the United
Way’s Youth Day of Caring. He is also
involved in Junior Achievement, where he
received the first ever Junior Achievement
Outstanding Student Award.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Aaron Johns for his outstanding
community involvement.

Ms. McDonald:

Angela Bonner. Angela is with her
Mom, aunt and principal and the parent
activity coordinator.

Also,

No. 1298B WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

SSSES=—=_—_—— ee,

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Black”;
and

WHEREAS, Angela Bonner is a 10
year old 5” grade student at Lemington
Elementary School. She has a 3.7 grade
average. Angela is actively involved in the
Library Club, Computer Club and the
Careers Club. Angela loves to read and is
actively involved in her church Angela
volunteers her time at the local Camegie
Library where she enjoys reading to
smaller children.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Angela Bonner for her outstanding
academic and community achievements

Ms. McDonald:
Ashley Bird.
Also,

No. 1298C WHEREAS, during the
month of February we celebrate Black
History Month; and

299

Bus Boycott; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr,
Civil Rights Leader who in December
1964 won a Nobel Peace Prize for his
nonviolent approach for Justice; and Dr.
Mae C. Jemison, a pioneering African-
American astronaut, a mission specialist,
in 1992 she flew on the shuttle
“Endeavor”; and

WHEREAS, today we salute some
of Pittsburgh’s young achievers, present
and future. “Young, Gifted, and Blac! <9
and

WHEREAS, Ashley Birt, an 8”
grade student, honor roll student at Frick
International Academy. She is an honor
student and actively involved in the
community.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Ashley Birt for her outstanding academic
and community achievements.

MR. ONORATO moved to adopt the
resolutions.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to second the
motion.

Which motion prevailed.
Ms. McDonald:

Again, these students were
Tecommended. They were actually
nominated. Thank you all. Thank you
very much for your patience. Again, this
was sponsored by all of us and
congratulations to all of our students.

The Chair:

I want to thank all of you for
coming down. You really set a great
example for all of us. I thank the families
coming down and especially the school
teachers and principals and counselors.
You really show a tremendous attitude for
your kids and we certainly congratulate all
of you and thank you very much for
coming down.

MR. O'CONNOR
MEMBERS PRESENT:

AND ALL

No. 1298 WHEREAS, in 1970, the
Honorable K. Leroy Irvis, Minority Leader
of Representatives, Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania convened a conference of
Black college presidents, vice presidents,
deans, department chairs, directors,
teachers, and other political leaders and
professionals; and,

WHEREAS, this conference was
designed to provide needed input in the
formation of a master plan for Higher
Education in Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the
Black Conference on Higher Education is
to provide programs and services which
help ensure that the post-secondary
educational needs and aspirations of Black
African Americans in particular are met,
and to work in concert with members of
other under-represented groups in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and,

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania
Black Conference on Higher Education's
mission is accomplished by fully utilizing
their individual and collective talents and
resources; and,

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania
Black Conference on Higher Education

300

its mission
research, _ training

further achieves
education,
publication.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend the
Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher
Education, Inc., on its continued
dedication towards equality in education;
and,

through
and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare the week of March 1,
1999, as "Pennsylvania Black Conference
On Higher Education Week" in the City of
Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Now move to presentation of
papers.

MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:

No. 1299 Resolution providing for
a Contract or Agreement or the use of
existing Contracts or Agreements to
purchase LifePak 12 Heart
Monitor/Defibrillator/Pacers for _ the
Bureau of Emergency Medical Services at
acost not to exceed $156,000.00.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Public Safety Services.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

No. 1300 Resolution authorizing
and directing the Chief of Police and the
City Solicitor to prepare and submit to City
Council a written assessment and
evaluation report regarding the City of
Pittsburgh’s purchase and installation of
video cameras on or in police vehicles
operating in the City of Pittsburgh. —
(SPONSORED BY MR. FERLO)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Public Safety Services.

No. 1301. Resolution _further
amending Resolution No. 1018, effective
January 1, 1997, entitled “Adopting and
approving the 1997 Capital Budget and the
1997 Community Development Block Grant
Program; and approving the 1997 through
2002 Capital Improvement Program, “ by
increasing a line item (Lower Allegheny
Riverfront) by $28,000.00 from $550,000.00
to $578,000.00.

No. 1302 Resolution further
amending Resolution No. 781, effective
January 1, 1999, entitled “Adopting and
approving the 1999 Capital Budget and the
1999 Community Development Block
Grant Program; and approving the 1999
through 2004 Capital Improvement
Program,” by amending the funding source
of the Route 51/Liberty Bridge line item.

No. 1303 Resolution further
amending Resolution No. 781, effective
January 1, 1999, entitled “Adopting and
approving the 1999 Capital Budget and the
1999 Community Development Block
Grant Program; and approving the 1999
through 2004 Capital Improvements
Program,” by reducing the Transportation
Improvements Program by $250,000.00
and creating a new line item titled “West
End Improvements.”

No. 1304 Resolution Amending
Resolution No. 136, effective March 31,
1997, entitled “Providing for an
Agreement of Cooperation with the
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in connection
with the Construction of the Lower
Allegheny Riverfront Park, bounded by the
Allegheny River on the North and the
Tenth Street By-Pass on the South; and
providing for the payment of the costs
thereof,” by increasing the total project
allocation by $28,000.00 from
$550,000.00 to $578,000.00.

No. 1305 Resolution providing for
a three (3) party Cooperation Agreement
between the County of Allegheny, the Port
Authority of Allegheny County and the
City of Pittsburgh, in connection with the
initial engineering services associated with
the West End Improvements; at a cost not
to exceed $250,000.00.

No. 1306 Resolution providing for
a Cooperation Agreement with the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
Department of Transportation for
reimbursement to the state for the City’s
share of improvements to the Liberty
Tunnel South Portal Interchange; at a cost
not to exceed $235,000.00.

No. 1307 Resolution providing for
an Agreement or Agreements, or use of
existing Agreements and/or a Contract or
Contracts, or use of existing Contracts for
the Reconstruction of Various Park
Facilities; providing for the purchase of
equipment, materials and supplies in
connection with such projects; at a cost not
to exceed 642,000.00.

No. 1308 Resolution providing for
a Contract or Contracts, or use of existing

ee
eee eee

Contracts for the installation and
maintenance of traffic signal equipment
throughout the City; at a cost not to exceed
$80,000.00.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Engineering and
Construction.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

No. 1309 Resolution providing for
an Agreement or Agreements, or the use of
existing Agreements for the furnishing of
professional services for the benefit of the
residents of the City of Pittsburgh effective
January 1, 1999 and providing for the
payment of the cost thereof which is not to
exceed Two Hundred Thousand
($200,000.00) Dollars, chargeable to and
payable from Account 527900, Fund 1000,
Org. 430000, Sub-Class 150, Project N/A,
Budget Year 1999, Vacant Lot Cleanup,
Department of Public Works.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Public Works, Water &
Environmental Services

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

No. 1310 Resolution transferring
the amount of $15,000.00 from fund no.
1000, org. code 999200, sub class 150,
budget year 1999, Non-Departmental
Citywide tot he Public Safety Police
Miscellaneous Services account fund
1000, org. code 230000, sub class 150,
budget year 1999 in order to provide
services to the Police and Communities
Together annual program. _
(SPONSORED BY MR. ONORATO,
MR. DIVEN, MR. O’CONNOR, MR,
COHEN, MR. FERLO, MR.

HERTZBERG, MS. MCDONALD, MR.
RICCIARDI, AND MR. UDIN).

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

No. 1311] An Ordinance Amending
the Pittsburgh Code, Title Nine, Zoning,
Article III, Chapter 921, Section 921.02,
Zoning District Map No. 6 by changing
from “RP” Residential Planned Unit
Development District to “CP” Commercial
Planned Unit Development District: ---
(COUNCIL DISTRICT 1)

No. 1312 Resolution providing for
the designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007 of the
Code of Ordinances that certain structure
located at 141 Mayflower Street, and all of
the property designated as Block and Lot
Number 124-N-095, in the Twelfth Ward,
City of Pittsburgh. --(COUNCIL
DISTRICT NO. 9)

No. 1313 Resolution authorizing
the submission of an application to the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Community and Economic
Development for the Emergency Shelter
Grant Program for fiscal year 1999.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Planning, Zoning & Land
Use.

No. 1314 Resolution providing for
a contract or contracts or use of existing
contracts for the annual program of the
Police and Communities Together
Program, at a cost not to exceed
$15,000.00 from the Public Safety Police
Miscellaneous Services account fund
1000, org. code 230000, sub class 150,

=e——eeeeeeeeeeee

budget year 1999. —(SPONSORED BY
MR. ONORATO, MR. DIVEN, MR.
O’CONNOR, MR, COHEN, MR.
FERLO, MR. HERTZBERG, MS.
MCDONALD, MR. RICCIARDI, AND
MR. UDIN.)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Public Safety Services.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

No. 1315 Resolution Directing the
Public Safety Director/Deputy Mayor of
Operations, Pittsburgh Police Chief,
Pittsburgh Housing Authority Police Chief,
Housing Authority Director, Executive
Secretary, Youth Policy Coordinator to
forward to Pittsburgh City Council, within
10 working days, a report of actions taken to
date addressing the recent shootings and
violence between youth in the Hilltop
Communities of Council District 3. The
report shall include any future community
preventative measures such as Community
Outreach and Awareness Programming. —~
(SPONSORED BY MR. RICCIARDI)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Public Safety Services.

MR. RICCIARDI moved to suspend
Rule 8 by providing for consideration of
the bills only until or after the 8th calendar
day following the meeting in which the
bills were introduced so the bills will be
on the agenda this Wednesday.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

303

No. 1316 Resolution providing for
the filing of a petition or petitions for the
sale of certain property or properties,
known as Lien Excluded Properties
acquired at tax sales, in accordance with
Act No. 171 of 1984, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

No. 1317 Resolution providing for
the filing of a petition or petitions for the
sale of certain property or properties,
known as Lien Excluded Properties
acquired at tax sales, in accordance with
Act No. 171 of 1984, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

The Chair:

Any unfinished business to come
in front of Council?

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

I have two appointments one for
the Planning Commission and one for the
Personnel Appeals Board.

MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1243 A resolution
authorizing the appointment of Claudette
Lewis as a member of the City Planning
Commission, term to expire January 31,
2005.

And,

Bill No. 1244 A _ resolution
authorizing the appointment of Nancy
Schaefer as a member of the Personnel
Appeals Board, term to expire January 31,

re
a OOS

2001.

MR. FERLO moved to approve both
appointments.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Anything else under unfinished
business?

Move to reports of committee.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MR. UDIN PRESENTED:
Bill No, 1318:

Report of the Committee on Finance and
Budget for February 17, 1999, transmitting
sundry of resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No, 993:

Resolution authorizing and
directing the Mayor and the Director of
Finance and the Budget to sell and transfer
all that real property and landslide building
known as the City of Pittsburgh River
Rescue Center to the Stadium Authority
for a sale price of $2,500,000 representing
the approximate cost to the city taxpayers
for the construction and related expenses
of this recently built municipal facility.
(SPONSORED BY MR. FERLO)

Which was read.

304

Also,
Bill No. 1237:

Resolution Providing for the
issuance of a warrant in favor of
Newcomer's Electric Contractor in the
amount of $2,800 in payment of
installation of holiday lighting in
Hazelwood, and providing for the payment
of the cost thereof chargeable to Account
542900, Fund 2460, Organization 102000,
Sub-Class 600, Budget Year 1999.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1238:

Resolution Providing for the filing
of a petition or petitions for the sale of
certain property or properties, acquired at
tax sales in accordance with Act No. I71 of
1984, “Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act”, effective December
11, 1984.

(a) Remington Drive, 13" Ward,
Block 232d, Lot 94 (part), vacant lot
containing an area of 16,048 sq. ft., being
sold to Derrick Hemby & Carla Hemby,
his wife for $1,500.00. Intended Use:
Build a personal residence. (Council
District 9.

(b) 577 Brushton Avenue, 13"
Ward, Block 175C, Lot 53, two story
brick house and store situated on a lot
containing 2,953 sq. ft., being sold to
Geter Sloan for $2,000.00. Intended
Use: Rental (Council District 9)

(c) 29 and 31 Festina Street, 15
Ward, Block 558, Lot 259 and 261, two
vacant lots containing a combined area of
3,691 sq. ft., being sold to Carl Petho, Jr.
and Barbara C. Petho, his wife, for
$1,000.00. Intended Use: Street access
and additional yard space. (Council
District 5)

() 640 and 644 Arlington
Avenue, 18" Ward, Block 3-K, Lots 52
and 54, two vacant lots containing a
combined area of 12,697 sq. ft., being
sold to Mario R. Moce for $4,000.00.
Intended Use: Build townhouses.
(Council District 3)

(e) 22 Buffington Avenue, 18"
Ward, Block 34C, Lot 173, vacant lot
containing an area of 3,024 sq. ft., being
sold to Pittsburgh SMSA, LP, C/O
Joseph Cortese for $1,000.00. Intended
use; Access to adjacent property.
(Council District 3)

(f) 82 Industry Street, 18 Ward,
Block 15G, Lot 164, 2.5 sty. Fra. Hse.
situated on a lot containing an area of
4,709 sq. ft., being sold to Mary Angelo
for $3,000.00. Intended Use: Personal
residence. (Council District 3)

(g) 1438 Columbus Avenue, 21
Ward, Block 22J, Lot 305, 2.5 sty. brk.
hse. situated on a lot containing 1,388 sq.
ft., being sold to Geter Sloan for
$1,000.00. Intended Use: Rental unit.
(Council District 6)

(h) 1440 Columbus Avenue, 21
Ward, Block 22J, Lot 304, 2 sty. fra.
inselbrk. hse. situated on a lot containing
1,563 sq. ft. being soid to Geter Sloan for
$2,500.00. Intended Use: Rental unit.
(Council District 6)

@) 1221 W. North Avenue, 21°
Ward, Block 7C, Lot 18A, two sty. brk.
hse. situated on a lot containing an area
of 2,425 sq. ft. being sold to Everett R.
Allen and Lisa N. Allen, his wife, for
$1,500.00. Intended Use: Personal
tesidence. (Council District 6)

G) 3901-3912 Mairdale Avenue,
26" Ward, Block 115C, Lot 341 (part),
vacant lot containing an area of 7,890 sq.
ft. being sold to Mark Stueber and
Cynthia Stueber, his wife, for $750.00.
Intended Use: Driveway access to rear of
adjoining property. (Council District 1)

The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. On Bill Number 993
and that is the bill that was offered by
Councilman Ferlo to sell the River Rescue
Center and the adjoining land for two half
million dollars. We had discussions and
the issue that I set forth was that we are
getting more than a return of $2.5 million
from the Auditorium Authority in the form
of the public improvements that they're
going to be making not only around PNC
Park but also on Fort Duquesne
Boulevard. But the problem as I saw it
was it wasn't set forth in writing anywhere
in the public record.

The amendment that should have
been circulated I believe takes care of that
problem. It actually incorporates the draft
agreement between the city and the Public
Auditorium Authority and particularly

ee
leo eee

paragraph number ten actually sets forth a
description of the work to be done by the
Auditorium Authority, which streetscape
improvements on the Westerly side of
Federal Street, reconstruction of the
portion of existing stadium circle,
reconstruction of relocated West General
Robinson Street, redevelopment of the
river parcel and contribution towards the
reconstruction of Fort Duquesne
Boulevard and the relocation of existing
green space between Stanwix Street and
the Fort Wayne Bridge.

So I make an amendment to Bill
993 also taking out of course the $2.5
million and putting in there $1.

MR. FERLO seconded for discussion.
Mr. Ferlo:

I obviously support _—the
amendment. | think it fulfills the original
intent and purpose when this resolution
was submitted late last year. It was prior
to what the final financial figures would be
in relation to the funding of Plan B. The
administration has come forward or made
it clear that while they are not specifically
reimbursing us for fair market value of the
River Rescue Center and its demolition
removal, in fact they are contributing
capital dollars from Plan B financing to
capital infrastructure projects. And
improvements not only in and around PNC
Park but also extending across the river to
badly needed improvements along Fort
Duquesne Boulevard. Those are dollars
that other wise would have been provided
by this Council and the administration
during capital project.

I want to thank Councilman
Hertzberg for rather than seeing this bill

tabled, re-stipulating by way of his

amendment what really should be
stipulated and law. So, I support the
resolution.
Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. I want
to thank Councilman Hertzberg for doing
the due diligence, which is necessary to
incorporate this agreement into this
legislation. There is no question in my
mind that the City of Pittsburgh will be
receiving much more than two half million
dollars in terms of public improvements,
in terms increased taxes, increased
Property taxes, parking taxes, even
indirectly through the sales tax to the
regional asset district for all the economic
activity that is going to be happening
because of the two new ball parks.

So I whole-heartedly support
Councilman Hertzberg's amendment and
look forward to continuation of the
construction over there on the North
Shore.

The Chair:

All
amendment?

those in favor of the

Which amendment prevailed. (Mr.
Ricciardi voted no.)

The Chair:

Any more discussion on the bills?
Bills are now ready for final action. All in
favor of the passage of the bills vote aye
when your names are called; all those

opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

SS 8 8 OOO

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ricciardi voted no on bill 993)

Bills have received the legally
required number of-votes and have passed
finally.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1319:

Report of the Committee on Public Works,
Water and Environmental Services for
February 17, 1999, transmitting one
Tesolution to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1232:

Resolution Vacating an irregular
portion of Weitz Way, between Brighton
Woods Road and its Dead End in the 27th
Ward, Ist Council District of the City of
Pittsburgh.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the

307

bills? Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
tequired number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1320:

Report of the Committee on Planning,
Zoning and Land Use for February 17,
1999, transmitting one resolution to
Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1235:

Resolution Amending Resolution
No. 445, approved May 14, 1991 entitled
“Providing for implementation of a
Residential Parking Permit Program
(RPPP) in the Mt. Washington community

pursuant to Pittsburgh Code Chapter 549
so as to expand the streets included in the
existing Mt. Washington RPPP Area “N”
so as to change the parking management
plan which provides for the hours of
enforcement to be from 7 A.M. - 7 P.M.
Monday through Saturday for the north
side of Grandview Avenue to be from 6
P.M. to 2 A.M. Monday through Sunday.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. I would like to have
my comments brought forward from the
Standing Committee last week on this bill
that will positively impact on Grandview
Avenue. And I hope everyone has had an
opportunity to review the map that was
distributed. It does show you that the area
in question does not include the block in
front of St. Mary's of the Mount Church.
You can see there is a little cross-placed
on the building here. That area is not

included in the area where we are
changing the residential program
restrictions.

(See Addendum for comments on
Bill 1235)

The Chair:

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

308

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ferlo abstaining on bill 1235)

Bills have received the legally required
number of votes and have passed finally.
MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1321:

Report of the Committee on Housing,
Economic Development and Promotion
for February 17, 1999, transmitting one
resolution to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1205:

Resolution Approving Execution
of a Contract For Disposition of Land By
and Between the Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh and Rycon
Construction, Inc. for the sale of Part of
Block 25N Lot 305 in the Second Ward of
the City of Pittsburgh in Redevelopment
Area No. 47, Liberty Avenue between
Twenty Fifth and Twenty Sixth Streets,
Council District No. 6 {renovation of
building for office and warehouse use).

Which was read.

oe ee

The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion bills? Bills
are now ready for final action. All in favor
of the passage of the bills vote aye when
your names are called; all those opposed
vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

Mr. Ferlo:

Can we get a copy of Council's
tules out here, Mr. President?

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1322:

Report of the Committee on Parks,
Recreation and Youth Policy for
February 17, 1999, transmitting one

resolution to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.

309

Also, with a negative recommendation.
Bill No. 1236:

Resolution establishing a schedule
of fees for the Department of Parks and
Recreation Swimming Pool Program,
effective January 1, 1999 for the calendar
year 1999,

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills. Is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you, Mr. President,
discussion on 1236. After reviewing the
transcript of last week's Committee
Session, I find that all Council members
had very legitimate and valid arguments.
In the light of those arguments, I would
like to propose an amendment that you
have before you. I think it would be a
good pilot study of free admission to the
pools and the pilot study would deal with
youth 15 years old and younger.

The amendment before us,
Mr. President, would have one change to
the legislation that has been proposed and
submitted by the administration. That
change would be youth 15 years old and
younger would have free admission to the
swimming pools.

I think this will do a number of
things. | Number one, it would still
guarantee the City of Pittsburgh revenues,
Tevenues that are badly needed. Number

two, it would still allow the administration
to have control over the swimming pools
but at the same time it would still offer
free admission to our young people.

The argument was that the
admission would prevent the young people
from entering the pools, this would take
care of that. And there was an argument
put forward that maybe parents, some
parents unfortunately either because of
irresponsibility or derelict in their
responsibilities as parenting, do not
properly fill out the paperwork. I think an
adult 16 years old and older really do not
need parents to fill out their paperwork. I
am sure they could find where to get their
leaming permit for their cars they could
also find where to gather the necessary
paperwork for admission. Also at 16 years
and older even if their parents do not feel
that they want to spend the money, if you
are age 16 years and older you can go out
and work for a few dollars and bring it in.

So once again we have an
amendment before us that will have one
change and 15 years old and younger
would be free admission. Motion for the
amendment before us.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
The Chair:

Any discussion?
Mr. Ferio:

This drive by amendment doesn't
make any sense at all, and that's what it is.
Council members should decide if they
want the pool fees either because of

income or because of the policy and they
should stick to their guns or they should be

in the category of not supporting it for the
reasons that we debated at length.

This differential that we are going
to create to me doesn't make any sense
financially. It doesn't even make any sense
in terms of achieving the purposes that the
majority expressed in terms of wanting to
have the pools be opportunities for young
people and others to be attracted to our
community recreation and pool centers so
that other kinds of activities could go on.
It totally negates all the intended purpose
of why the majority did not want the pool
fees. We wanted to sit down
systematically with not only the staff of
the department but community groups,
users of the pools and the rec centers and
begin a collaboration to talk about ways in
which we can make the pools and our
neighborhood base rec centers more
meaningful. Not only financially, because
in the end many of us argued that if we
dealt with vendors and concessionaire and
other income generating ideas with a large
number of individuals at the pools we
would actually generate more money.

It's costing the administration any
where from a low of 60,000 to a high of
105 thousand depending on how you
calculate to collect in the end $260,000.
So at best you might end up with 180 to
$200,000 of actual revenue.

This amendment to me is totally
disruptive to either camp. It disrupts either
philosophy as to why people said they
were either for or against the pool fees. If
the majority wants to go with this I would
rather just have uniform consistent pool
fees across the board than this crazy policy
that we have here.

So I would strenuously argue that

this amendment doesn't make any sense.
It's counter productive, it is going to be
more confusing for the park staff. You're
still going to have to pay for the overhead
of the collection of revenue but you're only
going to be collecting roughly 20% of the
pot of money. It's a completely ridiculous
amendment and I would ask that it be
defeated, that we stick to our guns and not
have the collection of fees this year. We
look at the Players tax; we look at using
CDBG allotment this year. We have got
extra federal funds that we have not
expected when we.allocated 1999 budget.
I would ask that we. look at that.

I would ask that Council through
the President and: through Mr. Ricciardi,
Chair of Parks, that we sit in on this
request for proposal that is going out by
Acting Director Duane Ashley, looking at
the whole aquatics that went from pool to
now being aquatics. J think that is great,
hopefully it is actually going to mean
something exciting.

The other thing I would suggest
and this is something I asked the Mayor
when he first got elected because the first
thing out of the gate from some of the
budget officers was the following
comment, that we have to start closing and
make some hard decisions about
neighborhood pools. I am willing to do
that but I am not willing to do it in a
vacuum.

If we engage the community in a
discussion and if the community thought
they would get a better pool, better
managed, better run, open longer with
more activities, they might be willing to
engage in discussion with Council and the
administration about some of the pools
that are smaller and lesser utilized. But we

should not be fearful of the community
concer out there. Let's engage the
community in this hard decision that we
have to make at some point about what the
pools are going to look like in the next
millenium in the City of Pittsburgh? Is
there an issue now that we should be
confronted with about possibly closing
lesser participating pools and beef up more
regional based pools?

I mean why should we be afraid of
our residents, let's engage them in a
collaboration and discussion. But I am
opposed to closing any neighborhood
pools if the means test has been to use the
existing figures because they are distorted
figures. The figures are just those that
were willing or able or got it together to
come down here and buy their pool tag.
That's not an accurate reflection of what
the actual participation would be at the
neighborhood level.

So, can't we just lighten up for
once? It is 200,000; it is going to be less if
we allocate some of the extra Federal
Block Grant money. Let's go with this
program, let's work with the
administration, the community on a
collaboration regarding the future of our
pools and our community based rec
centers but please defeat this asinine
amendment.

Mr. Cohen:

We do not have in our budget the
luxury to waive pool fees or any other fee
for that matter. Our deficit is getting
worse not better. And for those who say
that we have extra money out there, they
haven't looked at our full budget, because
we don't have extra money out there. We
have a $20 million structural deficit. We

8 gz_S SS

just lost $4 million that had normally been
funded by the state for our Magistrate's
Court. At the same time city services
continue to erode, streets that were paved
in my district just three months ago are
now breaking up. Take a look at some of
the streets in the East End right now.

The city is dirty, there is graffiti
every where more so than I have seen in
many years. We do not have extra money
and we aren’t able to meet the service
needs that currently exist right now. None
of the sponsors who have -- the sponsors
of waving pool fees have not come up with
an actual replacement for the revenue that
we're losing. A collaboration that
Councilman Ferlo talks about sounds
great, but frankly the collaboration should
have occurred and a real concrete proposal
should have come up prior to any
resolution to waive pool fees. You can't
take away revenue on the one hand
without replacing it with something else.

So in that sense I think it is
irresponsible. That having been said, I
leared a long time ago in this body that
half a loaf is better than no loaf at all. If
Councilman Ricciardi is submitting
something that will give us some pool fees
to be able to keep our pools open and at
the same time have enough-- some
revenue at least rather than no revenue,
then that's something that I will go with.
Maybe I should say half a gallon is better
than no gallon at all. If we are going to get
about 50% revenue from Councilman
Ricciardi's proposal, as opposed to zero
revenue that happened last Wednesday,
then I will go with that proposal.

Mr. Diven:

When we talked about the debate

over pool prices and the deficit that the
city faces, I think it is more of an issue of
policy as opposed to not having the
money. I think the city has over $3 million
that it spends annually on its operating
budget. We can afford to provide pools
for the communities that we represent.
When you balance priorities of where
we're going as a city between $3.7 million
take increment financing deals for hotels
and $15 million for PNC, 15 million for
Mellon Bank, 750,000 annually over
Player’s tax for stadiums we're giving a lot
away. I think to give back $260,000 to
residents who pay the bulk of taxes in the
City of Pittsburgh is not a lot to ask for.

I think that if we set the priority as
being one where the residents of the City
of Pittsburgh, the people that have lived
here their lives, fourth or fifth generation
who grew up here, who chose to stay here,
if we look at them as valued customers and
in a customer friendly business we have to
cater to them. We can't continue to go
back and charge them garbage fees. We
can't charge them increasing in
occupational taxes. We can't charge them
increase in income tax. We can't raise
their property taxes. We can't charge them
a fee for services for swimming pools.

These people are being nickel and
dimed to death while at the same time we
are giving hundreds of millions of dollars
away to corporations in hopes that they
will stay here. And when they do move
here, they won't start paying into our
coffers anywhere from 12 to 18 years. So
if we're making a policy decision, I think
we need to give something back to the
people that we represent, and the people
that pay the lion's share of the taxes that
keep this city running. And by making
this statement with the pool fees, it shows

that we're willing to put our constituents
first and the people that do most of the
work in the city first and that's why I am
against even this amendment.

I think with this amendment I think
the effort is good but what is happening
with it is it's going to be a wash. It costs
us between 60 and hundred thousand
dollars to collect the tax and at the same
time we are going to lose 60% of the
revenue that was projected out of the -- I
believe from the conversation that we had
with the parks people that 60% of the
revenues comes from people 15 and under
and families that have kids that are 15 and
under. So there won't be a net gain. It
costs us just as much to collect the tax.

So why not eliminate the whole
pool fee and save the sixty-two hundred
thousand dollars that we spend each year
collecting it? So I am going to vote
against the amendment. I am going to stay
strong for supporting free pools for the
people of the City of Pittsburgh because I
think it is an issue where we have to be
able to draw the line and provide things for
people in the neighborhoods who do the
bulk of living in the City of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Hertzberg:

I am opposed to this also strangely
enough but for very different reasons. I
am going to vote no to this amendment. I
would concur with Councilman Cohen on
our budgetary problems. It is the wrong
thing to do whether we are waiving all fees
or waving them for 60% of the fees. I
think it is the wrong thing to do based on
our budget. I also think it's the wrong
thing to do based on how you teach people
respect for a facility, swimming pools, and
also you know when we talk about a

garbage fee and we compare it to a pool
fee you have apples and oranges. You
cannot compare these fees.

Everyone has garbage, everyone
does not swim in the pools. In fact right
now our pool fees are unfair because right
now our pools do not mn solely based on
our fees. We don't even have enough
money to make the users pay for these
pools. As a result, all the taxpayers are
paying for them. And in fact when we
eliminate these pools whether you use a
pool or not I got news for you, you're
going to pay for them in the form of your
taxes. This isn't like the garbage fee. It
will make things more unfair to the basic
taxpayer than it is now. They're going to
have to foot more of the bill whether they
use these pools or not. But worst of all is
the management end of this thing.

And [have a little background in it.
I worked at least three swimming pools as
a child. One particular pool I started out
as the maintenance man, became a
lifeguard, became head lifeguard, became
the swimming pool manager. Having no
fees or having waived fees for kids is
going to be a managerial nightmare. If you
don't believe me, ask Mr. Ashley our
Acting Director of Parks. Mr. Ashley has
been a career Citiparks person. I think we
all know him. [ think we all respect him.
Ask him if he thinks either of these ideas
are good ideas. He's going to tell you
they're not. I have heard a lot of people
that wanted someone of Mr. Ashley's
caliber in that position, he's in there now,
he's telling you something listen to what
he is saying.

Finally, when it comes to kids, I

think a lot of us have experience with kids.
When you try to instill in a young person a

ere
a 8 SS

sense of value, a sense of respect for
something, I think you don't do it by
opening the doors and giving them
something for free. It's not a big fee what
is out there now. Five bucks for the whole
year for a kid. For some kids ten at most, I
think, We're not asking a lot, it is just a
little amount to show them that this is a
facility that you don't abuse. And believe
me pools can be abused. They are abused
and I think you're going to just be giving a
license for even more abuse with either of
these pieces of legislation including the
current one.

There is of course a third
possibility here. I mean I am voting no on
this amendment. I am voting no, I mean I
am voting yes on the bill. The bill before
us actually imposes the same fees that
were in effect last year. The third
alternative is a recommitment try to work
this thing out again. At some point here if
this amendment does not go through I will
be making a motion to recommit.

Mr. Udin:

I just want to clarify for the record
that there are several concrete proposals
that have been put forward as alternatives
to pool fees. Some people have suggested
that the $200,000 pool fee is resulting in a
structural imbalance and the walls are
going to come caving in. Nothing could
be further from the truth. We have been
informed that there is a seven hundred
thousand dollar unexpected CDBG
allocation that could be used for the pool
fees. We have also agreed that the Players
tax there is a sufficient amount of the
Players tax that will be collected in 1999
that could be used to offset the pool fees.

There are any number of ways that
if this Council had the desire, the will to

provide free swimming especially for as
Councilman Diven pointed out eloquently
last week just to give the common people a
break once in awhile, especially in the
midst of giving big projects like the
stadiums and the Convention Center and
the downtown development. Every once
in awhile it would help to give the
common people a break as well. But
instead of that we're trying to find ways to
nickel and dime fees when there are clear
alternatives available.

It is not true that no altematives
have been put forward. The alternatives
have been put forward and rejected by the
people who prefer to impose fees.
Somehow believing that these fees are
going to control behavior and teach
respect. That's not going to happen. There
are alternatives and I would just encourage
us to be smart about preventing crime and
preventing other kinds of deplorable
activities that youth can get into if we don't
encourage them to use the free access to
the swimming pools there are altematives
available.

Mr. Onorato:

Just briefly, Mr. President, it seems
like every time I feel like this issue has
been resolved one way or the other, a new
idea comes up. I got the impression that
we have hundreds of thousands of kids
putting on their swim trunks and taking
them off every five minutes while we
debate and deciding if they should go or
not.

We have another proposal in front
of us and obviously I am going to support
this because I have been supporting fees
from the beginning. My philosophy on
this whole thing is what I have been

stating for years is that city government
should be doing three things, public safety,
public works and being able to pick up the

. garbage. Until we can do those and
balance our budget, we shouldn't be doing
anything else.

I think it is a luxury the number of
pools that we have, 32, if you compare to
any other city our size no one is even close
with that many facilities. I believe the fees
are very reasonable, I believe there are
ways to allow every child to swim and
some of our colleagues came up with some
creative ways last summer. I also believe
it's a way to keep the pools open all 32 of
them. And to put.a user fee on them as
some of my colleagues have pointed out,
the people using them will pick up an
additional cost of using them because they
are the ones participating in this particular
event, even though-the entire citizenry is
paying for the infrastructure of these pools
and will continue to pay for them, I don't
see anything wrong with the fee. I don't
see anything in contradiction to our policy
of a fee. I would argue that when we do
find extra money be it CDBG or be it from
the Players tax or whatever source we find
more money, we have to start diverting
this money back to the infrastructure of
this city.

I have streets, steps, guardrails
falling apart and I know every other
colleague does too throughout this city.
We are going to have a major discussion
tomorrow on a significant amendment to
move money into paving the streets, which
goes exactly to what I started with. We
should be doing public works, public
safety and being able to pick up the
garbage before we do anything else.

On top of that, we talk we have this

extra money, every one of us here knows
that we're still in about a $20 million
structural deficit if you look at the one
time hits how we balanced the budget
again. I am not so sure the city isn't going
to avoid bankruptcy if we don't decide to
make some tough decisions soon. So I
believe that we don't have the luxury at
this point just to start getting rid of fees on
pools or on the ice rink or on any other of
these activities that we have. | think they
are very reasonable fees. It does generate
money and no one to date has explained to
me where this 60 to 70 or $100,000 cost of
collecting fees.

I was told that we are not laying
any one off if we don't have fees and we're
not hiring anybody additionally if we have
fees. So we're paying that salary
regardless if we have fees. Now I know
there are some incidental costs because of
the person that will be doing this function.
But I can't believe it's 100,000 or even
$60,000 and no one has put anything in
writing to me yet. I have been asking for it
where the so-called cost of collection is so
high. I believe it's the right way to go and
I will take the compromise over nothing at
this point. I hope we have enough votes to
do it.

Ms. McDonald:

Ditto. I will take the compromise
over nothing at all just to move forward. I
am tired of talking about fees. I think we
talked about fees longer than we talked
many issues. I just want to say though I
agree with what Councilman Hertzberg
had talked about as far as there being some
implications in terms of how to administer
this bureaucratically. We're going find
that out. I also have taken into
consideration his comments from his

experience being a lifeguard and involved
in recreation that there may be a higher
maintenance cost involved in the tong run
after all is said and done. After summer
time is over we're going to have an
assessment on how have our pools been
treated.

Because most of the kids will be
going in there for free, will they have the
same level of respect or will they just, you
know, will there by more wear and tear
because of a greater lack of responsibility
because it is free? I don't know this. One
thing I can say about this compromise bill
and one of the elements is something that
you recommended last week, Council
President O'Connor, was to let the kids
swim free. After all is said and done
consider this a trial basis we can do an
assessment, we will see if indeed those
pools have been treated with the same
level of respect. Yes or no. And it's going
hit us if they haven't.

For everyone who wants to let kids
swim free, I think that it's time for those of
you to try to find some extra moneys
because I guarantee we are going to have
to spend more. That's okay but just find
the money. Just find the money. If the
money is there please get it. Please get it.

Another thing is overall
administratively, is this going to make a
major impact on the overall cost find the
money? I am willing to go along with a
trial basis. Let the kids swim free. Let's
see this more bifurcated structure of fee
structure in place, let's see how it works.
If parks, if people that actually administer
these pool fees collect the moneys etc, if
they're pulling their hair out fine. We can
always go back to the way it was. We can
always go back, back into restructuring the

316

fees. But the one thing is once you give
somebody something, I know politically
this to be absolutely correct, never give
away something that you plan on taking
back later because you won't get it back.

Once you give someone free then
you try instituting a fee and see how much
it hurts. See how difficult politically it
would be. That's the problem with taxes
and fees and anything. If you give it away,
don't try to take it back other wise or plan
on taking the heat for taking it back.
That's the only reality I have, but I am
willing to go along with a compromise
simply because I would just like to move
on. J want the kids to swim.

The Chair:
Actually I proposed this
amendment last week, I think as a

compromise that's why Mr. Ricciardi so
politically his experience that came in and
said do you want to support your own
amendment. I am very disappointed and J
think I will speak for all of my colleagues.
The last couple years at budget time we all
discussed pools. I haven't seen too much
of an improvement. We can blame it on
the personnel, the director, for whatever
Teasons but our pools have certainly not
increased. I understand there are a few
that they have put some things into
whether it be sliding boards, we have all
encouraged food, concessions, I don't care
if it is a pop machine in Schenley Park the
pop machine never works. These are
things, the pools have been neglected.

Highland Park needed at least I
don't know about last year, the year before
‘was never painted and two, three years ago
was one of the nicest pools we had. I do
see that the increase of attendance there is

better.

I think it is a great asset we have 32
swimming pools. I know one of my pools
in Hazelwood the attendance is down, the
community would like to run it, more or
less what you are doing in Lawrenceville.
I think we need some better management
of our pools and more concern.

One of the reasons I am very
concemed about either bill is the lack of
acceptance on the administration's part or
our new director. And I am afraid and you
can always dictate to a manager but if he
doesn't have his heart and soul into it we
are going to have problems. So, I think
this is at least a compromise if he will
accept this time new director and move on.
Tam afraid if we don't at least work with
him he is going or his team will blame
everything that goes wrong in the pools on
us.

So I know as my 20 years of
management experience if the people don't
buy into it where in trouble. We're not
going to be running these pools any of us.
iknow Mr. Udin that we had problems at
Ammon Pool. When he went up there, all
of a sudden they got straightened out. We
want discipline at all our pools. I have
seen in Schenley we put a tough guard in
there he changed the attitude right away
and it became a much better place. So
there is a lot here to debate and discuss.

I will leave Mr. Ferlo the final
word. I am supporting the kids to go free
for no other reason for a test. One of the
reasons I supported it up front I have been
to Schenley, I have seen kids on the other
side of the fence who can't come in. And I
don't know it's always a money issue,
maybe the parents don't fill out the forms.

317

We have talked about all these issues how
come I can't pay.

The pools really need a
rejuvenation here. A lot of management
looking at redoing it and I would like the
new director to get on top of it. I think he
has the experience to do it, but if we sent
him something he doesn't want or can't
work with, then I think we are all going to
lose. So that is why I am supporting the
amendment to at least let the kids go free.
If it works and we can better our pools, I
will certainly look for making the pools
free the following year. I do believe we
have a lot of amendments how to get the
money, but we haven't come forward with
it. Whether it be the Players tax, our
Finance Director can certainly find the
money. I think ifhe rolls up his sleeves he
will, but we haven't done that yet. And
until we do, I think we ought to at least
compromise here.

Mr. Ferlo:

Just to be clear in response to
Councilman Cohen if the record reflects
right after the first of the year with the new
budget taking hold I made a commentary
asking yourself as Council President to
appoint a committee with the Parks
Director. We all knew at the time that we
did not have a Parks Director who has
since left the payroll. But we actually did
ask and I asked that we meet quickly to
deal with the pool issue because it was an
unresolved issue from the December
budget process. And I clearly,
Councilman Mr. Udin and others have
stated, we have specific money that we
have yet to allocate, a half million dollars,
in new federal funds that we other wise did
not know we were getting in December of
°98. That's a specific pot of money

independent of the Players tax or
concessionaire or vending or advertising or
other kinds of things we even have yet to
explore. So, I just want to close with that.

And secondly I am not asking for a
tuling but J think this amendment and the
bill itself is out of order. I think it violates
Council rules, Council Rule number 11
historically has always meant to be the
following. That when a bill and a
resolution is voted on by Council in a
given session of Council, and a session is
every two years, when that bill is defeated
it cannot be brought back up again during
the life of the said Council.

So I just want my point of order to
be reflected in the minutes in case I have
to go to court. I think this bill and the
resolution that the administration has
offered is out of order. Because Council
disposed of this issue by majority vote of
last year December of ‘98 and according to
Council Rule 11, this should not be even
brought back up as a subject matter in this
term of this City Council which is a two
year term. I would like my point of order
to be reflected in the minutes.

Mr. Udin;

Just as a point of order. I would
like to have the City Solicitor to clarify the
point made by Councilman Ferlo. I
thought about that when I was watching
the discussion of Council earlier this week
as to under what circumstances can a
decision that is decided on by Council be
te-raised in Council. Regardless of how
this vote goes, I think it's important that
we're clear on the parliamentary ruling in a
case like this.

The Chair:

One more suggestion, Mr. Ferlo, I
think we all have the same intentions here
to better our pools with or without fees.
Would you want to and I think within one
week if we sit down with Mr. Ashley and
see if he can operate these pools with or
without a fee, with a half a fee? My
suggestion is to maybe recommit and show
him show us the money as Mr. Ricciardi
said --

Mr. Ferlo:
Will that rid me of these fees?
The Chair:

If we show him the money and he
commits to making the pools operate with
either no kids or no fee at all, I think
unless he is going to take the management
initiative we're spinning our wheels. And
we are going to be fighting to keep pools
open, etc. etc.

Mr. Ferlo:

I propose we amend this bill by
fees by district. I think we should have
district fees. Those colleagues that want
fees like Mr. Ricciardi we should have a
Ricciardi fee in that district and not in
Council District Seven.

The Chair:

I make a motion to recommit.
Mr. Ferlo:

I think that is a fair democratic way
to do it.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

S—olllaaS=SSSS eee

Mr. Ferlo:

It is about as logical as this
ridiculous event. Double the fees in the
district members that want fees, I think
that will help pay for everything.

Mr. Hertzberg:

I want to recommit. I think I gave
my reasons, for that, but I just want to
point out Mr.President, if you're
Tecommitting because you want to see
what Mr. Ashley thinks. I talked to him on
the phone already. He says this isn't how
you manage pools.

Mr. Udin:
Ashley works for the Mayor.
Mr. Hertzberg:

He works for the Mayor. Ifhe gets
orders he will do what he is ordered to do,
but do you want to know what he tmly
thinks. I talked to him this moming. If
you care,

Mr. Ferlo:

I don't think director, Acting
Director Duane Ashley would be
sympathetic to this bifurcated system, that
is going to drive his staff nuts in my
opinion.

The Chair:

Let's show him the money. I mean
we do have Players tax if the Players tax
can go there and Mr. Udin had some CD
money available.

Mr. Ferlo:

This is not an issue that we should
dump on Director Ashley. This is not fair
to dump this on him. We should decide
this matter. His responsibility is to come
to the table and say he wants money, he
wants fees. I mean what is the point?

The Chair:

My point is let's show him the
money. If we show him the three hundred
thousand maybe he can increase his
staffing and do better. I would like that
attitude when he leaves here whether he
wins or looses. Right now I don't feel that
attitude with our director. Maybe it is
coming from the Mayor's Office or where
ever it is coming from.

Mr. Cohen:

Mr. President, I certainly respect
the idea of recommitting this and I agree
with Mr. Ferlo on one point and that is that
we should have a revenue replacement
source in hand. Just like we do with every
other budget matter before we move to
waive pool fees. For budget matters, every
other budget matter at budget time we say
at least for responsible amendments we
say if we're going to increase a cost item
for one line item then we are going to
decrease it for another item. Every single
mom and pop in the City of Pittsburgh
does the same thing. You don't write a
check for a new garage or expansion of
your house unless you can pay for it.

It is simple and what I would like
to see is just a pinch of common sense in
this Council and that is keep the fees
unless we find an actual replacement, not
an idea but an actual replacement, that is

2a!

the responsible thing to do.
The Chair:

I think that is a very fair challenge.
Mr. Udin:

If the bill is recommitted I will
have a motion on the table for Council to
consider by tomorrow morning at ten a.m.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Mr. Diven:

I would just like to point out to
colleagues that this fee before this
legislation was introduced two weeks ago
we had no fee. We went through the
budget process and we voted this down so
it is not like we are replacing a fee.
Technically we are introducing a new fee
that didn't exist when we passed the
budget in December.

Mr. Cohen:
Last summer there was a fee.
Mr. Diven:

We voted it down in December in
the budget process.

Mr. Onorato:

Point of procedure, there is an
amendment with a second on the table.
We have to get rid of that first before we
do the recommittal. I just wanted to point
of procedure for asking the Solicitor to
respond. While I agree with Councilman
Ferlo to a point, I also think that this is
going to fall under the clause in the Home
Rule Charter under the budget section

320

where the Mayor and Council can open the
budget, I don't know. But I would like to
resolve the amendment first and then to go
to the issue of recommittal.

Mr. Udin:

The issue of the recommittal I
believe overrides the amendment and
brings all of the amendments proposed
back to the table for discussion.

Mr. Onorato:

Only a motion to table overrides.
Mr. Udin:

Can we have a_ parliamentary
interpretation please? I will be the
parliamentary.

The Chair:

You want to remove the motion,
Mr. Ricciardi?

Mr. Ricciardi:
No.
Mr. Udin:

I think we have to vote down the
motion then recommit.

The Chair:
Let's vote on the amendment.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Ms. McDonald

ee ee
a 8 8 ee,

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi
NOES:
Mr. Diven Mr. Ferlo
Mr. Hertzberg Mr. Udin
Mr. O’Connor
(Pres’t)
Amendment was defeated.

MR. UDIN moved to recommit.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ricciardi:

Discussion on the recommittal.
The amendment failed is that correct?

The Chair:

For now.
Mr. Ricciardi:

Fine, thank you.
The Chair:

Roll call vote on the recommittal.
But, Mr. Udin promised us to show us the
money by tomorrow.
Mr. Udin:

Ten am. I will have a shopping
bag.
The Chair:

We will discuss -- both fees are
still open.

321

Mr. Ricciardi:

Mr. President, what was your vote
on the amendment.

The Chair:

No. Because | want to bring it
back for discussion.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were.

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Ms. McDonald, Mr. Onorato, Mr.
Ricciardi voted no)

Which motion prevailed.
MR. FERLO PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1323:

Report of the Committee on Engineering
and Construction for February 17, 1999,
transmitting sundry of resolutions to
Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1224:

Resolution Further amending
Resolution No. 781, effective January 1,

1999 entitled “Adopting and approving the
1999 Capital Budget and the 1999

SEES

Community Development Block Grant
Program; and approving the 1999 through
2004 Capital Improvement Program,” by
reducing the Personnel-Engineering line
item by $108,540.00 and creating a new
line item entitled “Non-Salary E & C.”

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1225:

Resolution Further amending
Resolution No. 781, effective January 1,
1999, entitled “Adopting and approving
the 1999 Capital Budget and the 1999
Community Development Block Grant
Program; and approving the 1999 through
2004 Capital Improvement Program,” by
reducing the Transportation Improvement
Program by $240,000.00 and creating a
new line item titled “Glenwood Bridge

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1226:

Resolution Amending Resolution
No. 781, effective January 1, 1999,
entitled “Adopting and approving the 1999
Capital Budget and the 1999 Community
Development Block Grant Program; and
approving the 1999 through 2004 Capital
Improvements Program,” by reducing the
Transportation Improvement Program by
$125,000.00 and creating a new line item
titled “Fancourt Street Bridge”.
Which was read.

Also,

Bill No. 1227:

322

Resolution Amending Resolution
No. 546, effective October 1, 1998,
entitled “Authorizing the Director of the
Department of Parks and Recreation to
enter into an Agreement with the
Brightwood Athletic Association to
facilitate the receipt and disbursement of
grant monies received by the City of
Pittsburgh from the Pennsylvania
Department of Community and Economic
Development, amending the title to allow
the City to initiate the work, and to require
the Brightwood Athletic Association.
Funds for this contract ($30,000.00) are
available in the Special Parks Program
Trust Fund, Account 526100, Fund 7314,
Sub-Class 600, Org. 523000, Budget Year
1998.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1228:

Resolution Providing for an
Agreement or Agreements, or use of
existing Agreements with a Consultant or
Consultants in connection with the design
of the Fancourt Street Bridge located at the
westem end of Fort Duquesne Boulevard
and spanning the 10th Street By-Pass;
providing for a Reimbursement Agreement
or Agreements with the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, Department of
Transportation; at a cost not to exceed
$125,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1229:

er ————
=Se=-——eeeeeee

Resolution providing for a
Reimbursement Agreement with
Allegheny County for improvements to
City-owned facilities in conjunction with
the Rehabilitation of the Glenwood Bridge
by the County; at a cost not to exceed
$240,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No, 1230:

Resolution = providing for a
Contract or Contracts, or the use of
existing Contracts in connection with the
renovation of Camegie Library Branches
for handicap accessibility and for the
purchase of equipment, materials and
supplies for said projects; at a cost not to
exceed $225,000.00.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Hertzberg:

On Bill Number 1230 regarding
the Carnegie Library Branches and they're
making them more accessible. First I
would like to ask that the rules of Council
be waived. The use of the word
handicapped here is inappropriate and this
is a minor amendment, but I would make a
motion that we waive the rules of Council
and I will motion to amend it by
substituting the word disability where
handicapped appears.

323

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Hertzberg:

Motion to amend as set forth
MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Hertzberg:

I would also ask that my comments
on this bill from Wednesday's meeting be
brought forward. I would like to say that
the Carnegie Library has been working on
this problem with the city for probably
four or five years now to try to do
something about some of the major
barriers to accessibility to its libraries. I
know two of the branches in Council
District Two located one on Mount
Washington and one on the West End are
just terrible, they are totally inaccessible.
There are large staircases that have to be
encountered before you can get into the
main places in the library where all the
books are located. Carnegie Library has
been working with us and now finally
there is an arrangement to at least get some
of these problems resolved.

Carnegie Library has agreed to bare
the expense of all the architectural and
design specifications and we in tum have
agreed to spend 225 thousand dollars and
you can see this is actually 1998 dollars
that are being spent now. This could have
been done more quickly, but none the less
Jam thankful that it is happening.

(See addendum for Comments on Bill
1230)

ee
eS—— eee

Mr. Cohen:

Mr. President, on the same bill, I
would hope that some of this money will
be used for another library and that is the
library for the blind and physically
disabled on Baum Boulevard in Oakland.
I have been working with the Leonard
Stacey Library staff to make sure that
they're able to get a parking lot right next
to the library that is convenient for them.
The Engineering and Construction
Department has been working on it.

1 spoke to the Mayor about it last
week, and I hope that some of the money
from this bill will go to ensure that a
library that is dedicated to blind and
physically disabled persons will actually
be accessible.

The Chair:

Thank you. Thank you for your
work on that, Mr. Hertzberg.

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(res't)

AYES Eight NOES None

324

‘Bills ‘have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

The Chair:
Under motions and resolutions.
MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

We have 20 appointments to the
Shade Tree Commission. And at the
request of Mr. Ferlo he would like to bring
them in as a group just to discuss policies
more than appointments.” Is that okay if
we hold that for them to come in?

MR. RICCIARDI moved to adopt.
Mr. Udin:

Bring them in as group.
The Chair:

They will all come in as a group
when Mr. Udin can put it into his
schedule.

MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:

No. 1325 Resolution Authorizing
the appointment of Vanessa Pressley
Larson, 401 Pin Oak Court, Moon
Township, PA 15108, as a member of the
Shade Tree Commission, term to expire
January 31, 2000.

No. 1326 Resolution Authorizing
the appointment of Mary Savage, 7010
Bennett Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15208, as a
member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2000.

No. 1327 Resolution Authorizing

SS SECO

the appointment of Peggy Smymes-
Williams, 122 South 17" Street,
Pittsburgh, PA 15203, as a member of the
Shade Tree Commission, term to expire
January 31, 2000.

No. 1328 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Patricia Car, 305
Raymond Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218, as
a member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2000.

No. 1329 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Eddie Shaw, 6351
Phillips Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, as
a member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2001.

No. 1330 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Kenny Steinberg, 210
Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, as a
member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2001.

No. 1331 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Ellie Padole, 3309
Beechwood Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA
15217, as a member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January 31,
2001.

No.1332 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Lisa Kunst Vavro,
Department of Engineering and
Construction, as a member of the Shade
Tree Commission, term to expire January
31, 2001.

No, 1333 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Mark Remcheck, 2162
The Circle, Washington, PA 15301, as a
member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2001.

No. 1334 Resolution authorizing

the appointment of Eliza Smith Brown,
5367 Fair Oaks Street, Pittsburgh, PA
15217, as a member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire Janaury 31,
2001.

No. 1335 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Nancy Noszka, 1405
Jancey Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, as a
member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2001.

No. 1336 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Nita Fandray Modaro,
128 East Agnew Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
15210, as a member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January 31,
2001.

No. 1337 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Lindsay Bond Totten,
RD#3, 359 Locust Hill Road, Cheswick,
PA 15024, as a member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January 31,
2001.

No. 1338 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Myra Antonio-Hall,
Department of Parks and Recreation, as a
member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2002.

No, 1339 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Ann Jones Gerage, 64
S Fourteenth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206,
as a member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January 31,
2002.

No. 1340 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Josie Gaskey, Westem
Pennsylvania Conservancy, 209 Fourth
Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, as a
member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2002.

No. 1341 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Bill Torbet, Western
Pennsylvania Conservancy, 209 Fourth
Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, as a
member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2002.

No. 1342 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of John Hook, 214 Fourth
Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15215, as a member
of the Shade Tree Commission, term to
expire January 31, 2002.

No. 1343 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Judith Donaldson, 650
Smithfield Street, Suite 210, Pittsburgh,
PA 15222, as a member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January 31,
2002.

No. 1344 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Dale Vezzettei,
Forestry Division, 6520 Stanton Avenue,
Pittsburgh, PA 15206, as a member of the
Shade Tree Commission, term to expire
January 31, 2002.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt.
MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTS:

No. 1324 Now therefor be it
resolved that the Mayor and the Council of
the City of Pittsburgh hereby recognizes
and declares the Pittsburgh Action Against
Rape Inc. to be the civic and or service
organization within the context of the
Pennsylvania Small Games of Chance Act
as amended.

326

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt.
MR. O'CONNOR seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

The Chair:

TI would like to announce two
public hearings, one today at 2:00 on Bill
1186 and 87. Also tomorrow evening,
Thursday, Pittsburgh Works at 6:00 p.m.
in Peabody High School and Friday
moming we will have an 8:00 meeting
with the City Council, School Board and
Legislators to discuss our issues in
Harrisburg with them, Friday moming.

Mr. Diven:

I would like to ask the Controller’s
Office to perform a performance audit of
the firefighters clothing allowance. I know
Council President you have seen the
correspondence sent to us by the Fire
Bureau Union asking for the protective
clothing to be evaluated. I think the best
way to proceed with this is to have an
independent source evaluate _ those
complaints and give us some
recommendation on which way to proceed.
So, I will make that motion.

MR. COHEN seconded for discussion.
Mr. Cohen:

Councilman Diven’s motion
certainly has the best of intentions.
Obviously we want our firefighters to have
the safest equipment as possible. My only
question is and I would support a
performance audit if it tums out that this
question answers a negative and that is has
the administration — 1 don’t know what the

Ss. r

current state of affairs is. Has the
administration actually been negotiating
with the firefighters over this issue? If
they have not agreed to provide to certain
things — I guess my thought is before we
actually get to a performance audit let’s
make sure that all other remedies have
been exhausted and J am not sure that that
has happened yet.

Mr. Diven:

I think that you know in response
to that there is a line item in the budget,
which covers protective clothing. I think
just for Council’s: own knowledge we
should at least be aware of how that is
spent? And what are the criteria for the
protective clothing? And how we are
making sure that the equipment that we are
purchasing for firefighters is the kind of
equipment that is going to provide them
with the best protection?

Mr. Cohen:

Fine, I read that letter from Joey
King. It just wasn’t clear to me at least in
that letter whether there has been a
proposal and a counter proposal and the
two sides are actually sitting down to
discuss what is actually necessary for
protective clothing and equipment for the
firefighters.

The Chair:

I believe they were up to date
living up to the agreements that Council
okays the money. There is a snag and I
have sent a request to the Mayor’s Office.
Mr. Sirabella got back to me verbally and I
believe Mr. King has a meeting with the
Chief. Is it tomorrow? :

327

Mr. Diven:
I believe so.
The Chair:

I don’t know if it is an arbitration
complaint or not.

Mr. Diven:
Tam not sure.

Mr. Cohen:

In terms of the timing and again I
am agreeing with everything Councilman
Diven is saying, it is just I don’t know if
the process is the right thing right now.

In terms of the timing, does that
mean we wait until a performance audit is
completed, before they can actually sit
down at the table and negotiate this? If it
is something that is easily negotiated or
relatively easily negotiated then it seems to
me that we should allow the parties to
negotiate before doing a performance
audit. That is my only thought on it.

Mr. Diven:

I guess my response to that would
be I think Council regardless of whether
the Mayor’s Office and the Union and the
administration work this out, I think it
would be a good way for us to get first
hand knowledge as to what background
and putting together the protective
clothing uniform purchases for the
firefighters takes place and what kind of
protection we are offering them.

Hopefully the Controller can kind
of benchmark them with other departments
nationally. I think when we talk about

safety of our employees especially those
who are going into the Fire Bureau, their
job requirements, I think having more
information or too much information is
better than not at least taking a cursory
look from the Controller’s perspective to
see if we are fulfilling our obligations.

Mr. Cohen:

Mr. President, I think Councilman
Diven makes a very good point. I will
support it.

The Chair:

I think Mr. Diven is clear he wants
to get the ball rolling too. Get them to
come to the table and make sure our
firefighters and ali of our safety people
have the best equipment available
especially when the money is there. There
can be an honest reason for a delay, but I
don’t think we want that delay to be as
short as possible.

Do we have a second on the
motion?

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Any other discussions? While we
are on audits, I would also like the
Controller to not just audit but to review
and tighten the controls and guidelines on
some of our whether it be B contracts or
how the Public Works went out and spent
$25,000 on these 14 year old dump trucks.
T understand although maybe no rules were
broken but the guidelines have to be
tightened up.

328

So, talking to Mr. Costa I know he
has some things in place and he would like
to work closer with Public Works. But
right now I would like to audit that and
make sure we are doing the right thing.
Going out and spending $400,000 on old
trucks may have not been in the right way
to spend our money. So there have been a
lot of concems about that, I have gotten a
lot of phone calls.

I would like to request the
Controller to at least review the guidelines
and make sure everyone is on the same
page. If I can have a second on that.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Motion for minutes.

MR. ONORATO moved to approve the
minutes.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adjourn
the meeting.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.

And on the motion made by Mr.
Hertzberg, the meeting adjourned.

ADDENDUM

=SS=ac_eaCce——w—n0towaoasow09swaoO—“—_“x»w@=samseaSOeeeeeeeeaSS EEE
Mr. Hertzberg’s comments on Bills

1235 and 1230 can be found in the

Standing Committees Meeting minutes of

February 17, 1999.

329

MUNICIPAL RECORD

Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh

VOL. CXXXII March 2, 1999 No. 9
Ms. McDonald:
Municipal Record Would all representatives and
participants and awardees of the

ONE-HUNDRED
THIRTIETH COUNCIL

BOB O'CONNOR ow

— President
LINDA M. JOHNSON-WASLE,

‘ity Clerk
JOHN R. MASCIO acsccseccccore Deputy City Clerk
Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday, March 2, 1999
PRESENT:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato
Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin
Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor
Ms. McDonald (Pres't)

The Chair:

Will we all please rise for the
pledge of allegiance and remain standing
for a moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the world.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.

PRESENTATIONS

Renaissance Publications Annual Black
Trailblazers please come forward to
Teceive a resolution. Councilman Udin,
we're co-sponsoring this. We are al] here?
Jam going to read the proclamation.

MS. MCDONALD AND MR. UDIN
PRESENT:

No. 1345 WHEREAS, on March
20, 1999, Renaissance Publications will
sponsor the 14" Annual Black
Extravaganza and Trailblazer Awards
Ceremony; and :

WHEREAS, honorary
Chairpersons for the event are Mr. Charles
Powell and Mrs. Cecile M. Springer; and

WHEREAS, since 1986,
Renaissance Publications has recognized
Affrican-Americans who have worked
tirelessly in their professions-openings
doors for younger generations to follow.
Those selected have made a positive
impact in our community by enabling
others to continue to achieve; and

WHEREAS, this year’s 1999
Black Trailblazers, are recognized for their
exemplary contributions within their
fields. The Honorees this year include:
Louis Kendrick, Community Advocate;
Lawrence Howard, PhD. Higher
Education, Alberta Thompson, Public

—EE=y=y_=_—yxmmm——_——— SS

Service; Reverend Thomas E. Smith,
Religion; Mulugetta Birra, Economic
Development; Lavera Brown, Community
Service; Doris M. Handy, Community
Service; Julius —_ Jones, Leadership
Achievement; Joseph L. Hines, Leadership
Achievement; and Edna McKenzie, Ph.D.;
and

WHEREAS, the recipients of 1999
KDKA Lift Up Awardees are Ronald
Lawrence, AdTranz; Donald P. Watson,
Worksmith Institute; Shelley —_D.
Hammond, National City; and the

Minority Purchasing Council, Small
Business Association; and
WHEREAS, corporate sponsors

include: Equitable Resource, Inc., The
Worksmith Institute, Adtranz, Giant Eagle
Market, Mellon Bank, Port Authority,
National City Bank, and KDKA; and

WHEREAS, over 100 volunteers
have worked to produce Black
Extravaganza. Their efforts are a
testimony to the accomplishments of the
awardees.

NOW, THEREFORE BE _ IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh commends the honorees for
1999 Black Trailblazers and KDKA Lift
Up Awards, they have made tremendous
contributions to the City of Pittsburgh.
We extend our appreciation to
Renaissance Publications for its efforts to
highlight the achievements of African-
Americans with the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.

Ms. McDonald:

Thank you very much. It is with
honor that there has been 14 years of
recognition of African Americans in the
greater Pittsburgh area, in the region, for
their accomplishments and it's all due to
Connie Portus. She keeps such a low
profile. Connie has been giving at a boys
to so many individuals who other wise
would not get recognized, would not get
an at a boy but needs one and deserves
one.

So again, Connie, I thank you just
personally on my behalf and I think the
City of Pittsburgh thanks you for at least
allowing the public to know who our
achievers are. Again, many of them work
in corporate America, you don't see them
but they need to know. The public needs
to know that they are there. :

So congratulations to all the
awardees every single one of you all. Iam
going to turn it over to Councilman Udin
and then, Connie, if you would please say
some words, announce the day, you know
all that good stuff and who is who here.

Mr. Udin:

Thank you. I will be brief. I want
to congratulate Connie Portus and all of
the trailblazers. The resolution speaks for
itself in terms of how we feel about all the
trailblazers and your work over the years
speaks for itself.

The characteristic of a trailblazer is
someone who goes ahead of the pact,
someone who goes first and then those
who come later, weeks later, months later,
years later, generations later, kind of walk

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down the path sometimes as though they
created the path. The people who actually
created the path are frequently not
remembered. But trailblazers are the ones
who initially blaze the paths that people
like Valerie McDonald and myself can
walk down and represent you on. So we
acknowledge you and thank you today.
Thanks for coming down.

Ms. Portus:

I want to thank you so much for
this recognition. It is so important to us
that we extend Black History Month
throughout the year and that we pay tribute
to people who have paved the way for all
of us, not just African Americans but for
all of us to be where we are today.

We're celebrating our 14th year
recognizing the contributions of African
Americans to our community. Our theme
this year is pride, progress and promise for
the future. And it is exemplified through
the work of our trailblazers. The fruits of
their labor and their triumphs are realized
in the positions held by our KDKA Lift Up

honorees. And the way in which they
impact the workplace and their
communities.

The presence of the trailblazers is
felt but maybe not recognized by the
young people that we will honor this year,
our 1999 equitable resources and advance
young achievers. They're all high school
students, seniors and college students who
are the next generation to walk through the
doors our trailblazers have forged open.
And who is first we hope are first and who
is first will be in terms of the 1999 young
achievers we hope that their firsts will be
first for Americans and not just African
Americans.

332

The tme spirit of the black
extravaganza and trailblazer award is to
celebrate with the entire community how
much we appreciate the work of those we
will honor this year. I invite you ail to
come March 20th in the splendor of our
own Camegie Museum, seven o'clock.
We have lots of exciting things planned.
We have 20 African American chefs and
caterers who prepare our soul and spice
food buffet, over 100 volunteers who
come from the community, spend their
time and work with the trailblazers and the
other honorees to make this event really a
wonderful elegant occasion. And we
invite you all to join us.

I have asked a couple of our
honorees to say something today. Mr. Joe
Heinz followed by Reverend Thomas
Smith.

Mr. Heinz:

Thank you, Connie. Good
morning all and I am pleased and honored
to be here and I have been asked to say a
couple things on behalf of the honored
trailblazers that the event will take place
on March 20th. I would be remiss if I
didn't first acknowledge the creator of the
trail that we are supposedly blazing and
that's my Lord and creator and I want to
put that up front. And that none of this
would be possible without him.

But in speaking on behalf of the
trailblazers I would like to thank you for
the opportunity to present ourselves here.
We didn't get to where we are by ourselves
and I think that's a common tune that you
will hear sung, it is a common threat
throughout anyone's accomplishments. No
man or woman gets any place in life or

V_—6==lhe—NaeoNNaoaaeaeeeee

station whatever it may be without help
and without someone who has gone before
them.

So on behalf of the trailblazers and
I know that we are all honored and
humbled to be here, and I want to thank
you very, very much and thank you,
Connie and Renaissance Publications.

Mr. Smith:

To the President and members of
City Council to my fellow trailblazers, I
would just echo the sentiments of Brother
Heinz. Truly all of us stand on the
shoulders of those who have gone before
us. And there are great challenges yet
before us. And I would certainly think that
all of us would say how appreciative we
are of Connie Portus who has taken the
time to recognize and to pay tribute to
those who are trying to make a positive
contribution to our city. It is not just the
things that black folk do for black folk but
it is a thing that human beings do to help
make the city in which they live a better
place for all.

So on behalf of all the trailblazers
again, we would thank Connie Portus for
the fine work that she does and for all of
you for allowing us to serve you. Thank
you.

The Chair:

We have two to be read into the
record.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTS:
No. 1346 WHEREAS, Pittsburgh

Cable News Channel (PCNC) came on-
line in the City of Pittsburgh and several

surrounding suburbs on January 1, 1994
and is Pittsburgh’s first and only 24-
hour/day, local-regional news, talk and
information channel; and

WHEREAS, on Wednesday,
March 3, 1999 PCNC celebrates its 5
Anniversary; and

WHEREAS, PCNC’s “10 O’Clock
News” was the first live 10:00 p.m.
newscast available in the Pittsburgh
market. Additionally, with today’s hectic
schedules, retelecasts of the latest Channel
11 news programs enables viewers to see
the news when it’s convenient for them;
and

WHEREAS, PCNC gives
individuals in nearly 700,000 homes the
opportunity to speak directly to many of
their local, state and federal legislators by
way of “NightTalk with John Mcintire”
and “Cullen on Cable”; and

WHEREAS, PCNC varies its
informative programming to reach people
with many interests having offered shows
like “A Time for Living” for people over
55 years of age, “The Doctor Is In” for
anyone interested in a wide range of
medical topics, “Pittsburgh’s Cooking” for
those who enjoy the culinary arts,
“Aesthetic Medicine” for people interested
in the breakthrough techniques of cosmetic
surgery; and

WHEREAS, PCNC viewers get
extended coverage of breaking news
stories and community events unavailable
any where else; and

WHEREAS, as a 24-hour local
regional news channel the Pittsburgh
Cable News Channel serves a six county

area and the City of Pittsburgh. PCNC is
part of the community it serves and takes
its responsibility seriously.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh hereby congratulates PCNC
on its fifth anniversary and wishes them
many more.

MR. RICCIARDI AND MR. DIVEN
PRESENT:

No. 1347 Whereas, Daniel A.
Goetz devoted his adult life to the service
of others, including to his wife Lois Ann
and their four children, to the business he
founded, its employees, stockholders and
the public it serves, and to the numerous
nonprofit healthcare and human service
agencies he has supported with his tome
and talents; and,

Whereas, Daniel A. Goetz founded
Stylette, Inc., a plastics company, on the
South Side of Pittsburgh, providing
employment for community residents and

support for local community
organizations; and,
Whereas, Mr. Goetz served

faithfully at various times as director, past
chairman and vice chairman of the South
Side Hospital helping to insure quality
health care for the citizens of Pittsburgh's
southern neighborhoods - until the
hospital's acquisition by UPMC
Healthcare System in 1996; and,

Whereas, Daniel A. Goetz has been
a member of the Birmingham Foundation
since its inception in 1996, served as its
president for the past two years and helped
to assure the profits from the sale of the
South Side Hospital will always benefit

334

health and human services for the people
of South Pittsburgh; and,

Whereas, Daniel A. Goetz serves
as chairman of the Board of Iron and Glass
Bancorp and its subsidiary, Iron & Glass
Bank and has served as a member of the
board of the DePaul Institute, a nonprofit
agency in Brookline that provides services
to hearing and speech impaired children;
and,

Whereas, Daniel A. Goetz
personifies dedication, service and
devotion beyond that required of any
volunteer. In recognition of his
community service, the Board of Directors
of the DePaul Institute is naming the new
language development center The Daniel
A. Goetz Center. The center will be
dedicated March 3, 1999, and will provide
assistance to infants and toddlers of the tri-
state area in early language development
free of charge; and, ‘

Now, therefore, be it resolved that
the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
recognizes Daniel A. Goetz for his
volunteer work and dedication to the
people of the City of Pittsburgh and
declares Wednesday, March 3, 1999
Daniel A. Goetz Day in the City of
Pittsburgh.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt the
resolutions.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ferlo:

I want to thank Dr. McKenzie, for
autographing her book for me that my

SS EOE

good friend Mr. Shupalla (phonetic), her
brother, was nice enough to bring me this
moming. So we're going to be helping to
promote the book. The book has selected
essays on contemporary African-American
issues by Dr. McKenzie who just recently
retired from the community college, very
distinguished author. J want to thank her
for the book.

The Chair:

Congratulations,
How do we get a copy?

Dr. McKenzie.

Mr. Ferlo:.

They are available for sale. You
can call my office and we will hook you
up with Mr. Shupalla, her brother, who is
the booking agent I guess you call it.

The Chair:

Jerry Cozwith and members of the
Red Cross please come up. Jerry Cozwith,
the Executive Director of the South
Westem Pennsylvania Chapter of the Red
Cross, David Angle, Mike Stack and Anne
Marie Weeks. Thank you very much for
coming. I would like to read the
proclamation.

MR. O'CONNOR AND ALL
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT:

No. 1348 WHEREAS, the
American Red Cross was founded in 1881
by Clara Barton who sought to improve
the quality of life and to enhance
individual self-reliance and concem for
others, and to help people avoid, prepare
for and cope with emergencies; and,

335

WHEREAS, the American Red
Cross provides volunteer blood services,
community services, and communication
between the American people and their
Armed Forces; and,

WHEREAS, the Southwestem
Pennsylvania Chapter of the American
Red Cross was established on February 23,
1917, to assist members of our Armed
Forces and their dependents, and to
provide relief in time of natural disasters;
and,

WHEREAS, the Southwestem
Pennsylvania Chapter of the American
Red Cross has provided the above
mentioned and more humanitarian services
to meet the needs of the citizens of the
City of Pittsburgh; and,

WHEREAS, last year, the
Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the
American Red Cross provided over 500
Allegheny County families with disaster
assistance; trained over 35,000 Allegheny
County residents in CPR and first-aid,
including Pittsburgh Police Academy
cadets, Housing Authority personnel and
Department of Parks and Recreation
lifeguards; transmitted over 1,500
emergency messages to Allegheny County
armed forces personnel and their families;
logged 89 intemational tracing cases;
worked with hundreds of disadvantaged
children through the Foster Grandparent
Program; provided meaningful volunteer
opportunities to over 1,000 senior
volunteers through the Senior and Retired
Volunteer Program.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize the
important and necessary role that the

American Red Cross has contributed
towards the well-being of all our citizens;
and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby commend the Southwestern
Pennsylvania Chapter of the American
Red Cross for their humanitarian
endeavors and encourages its citizens to
contribute in any way possible towards
their efforts and declares Tuesday, March
2, 1999, "Red Cross Month” in the City of
Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO
resolution.

moved to adopt the

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

I guess this year we kept you busy
with Mount Washington and a lot of other
unfortunate tragedies but we are always so
glad and hopefully we don't need you but
we do. It shows how many people you
have been involved with. I didn’t realize
you were involved with the foster
grandparents program. I know in Glasgow
School I attended their program it's a
tremendous program and helps so many
children. Thank you.

Mr. Cozwith:

On behalf of thousands of people
whose lives are indeed touched by the Red
Cross program serving Greater Pittsburgh
and Allegheny County, I thank you
Council members for your recognition and
the encouragement. It has often been said
if there wasn't an American Red Cross you

336

would have to sort of create it because
when crises occur you need something
already in place to respond. We're glad to
work in partnership with the law
enforcement, emergency management,
your fire department and others to make
sure that when people are in a crises there
is a caring and helping neighbor there to
step up and offer assistance.

On behalf of the volunteers and all
the people whose lives are touched and all
the people who donate the funds and time,
thank you for your honor.

Mr. Angie:

I want to thank Council for running
and doing the proclamation. I think that
on behalf of the volunteers of the chapter,
we appreciate your support and all the help
that you have given us over the years.

The Chair:

Mike Wine and Bary Wolen please
come up. Mr. Cohen, would you like to
come up and help me read this resolution?
We're here to read the resolution and the
tesolution explains a lot but also we have a
big event in Pittsburgh coming Monday
night at 7:30 to Soldiers and Sailors Hall,
and I will let Michael explain. But I want
to read the resolution first.

MR. O'CONNOR AND ALL
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT:

No. 1349 WHEREAS, 28-year-old
Christoph Meili was a watchman for the
Union Bank of Switzerland; and,

WHEREAS, while on duty at
Union Bank in January of 1997, Christoph

ooo

discovered Holocaust-era documents
which were about to be shredded; and,

WHEREAS, Christoph faced the
biggest decision of his life - whether to
tum his back or turn the papers over to
authorities and the Jewish community;
and,

WHEREAS, Christoph chose the
latter, ultimately putting his life and job in
danger; and,

WHEREAS, upon the loss of his
job and amid death threats and hate mail,
Christoph Meili, his wife and two small
children, were forced to flee their home;
and,

WHEREAS, the Meili's became
the first and only Swiss Nationals to be
granted political asylum in the United
States and an international figure, having
been featured in Time Magazine and the
Oprah show; and,

WHEREAS, the role Swiss banks
played in World War II has become the
subject of much debate and legal action;
and,

WHEREAS, since his arrival in the
United States, Christoph has earned a full,
four-year scholarship to attend Chapman
University in California and will begin his
studies this fall; and,

WHEREAS, on March 8, 1999,
Pittsburghers will have the opportunity to
hear Meili's story for themselves,
sponsored by Pathways of the Kollel
Jewish Learning Center, Meili will appear
at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall in
Oakland.

337

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend
Christoph Meili on his courageous efforts
in the name of justice; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby wish the Christoph Meili and
his family the very best and declares
Monday, March 8, 1999, "Christoph Meili
Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

He certainly has an exciting story
to tell. I will let you explain all the details.
We have quite an event coming up next
week.

Mr. Wine:

First, I would like to thank City
Council President, Bob O'Connor, who has
been a very good friend to the Kollel and
my Councilman Dan who is a neighbor of
mine as well.

I had an opportunity to meet
Christoph Meili at a National Conference,
the United Jewish Appeal Young
Leadership Conference and I was really
struck by what he and his family
undertook. He was really one of the
linchpins in gaining public knowledge that
there was complicity between the Swiss
Banking Industry and the Nazi’s during
World War II. They have literally made

————————
a SQ

billions of dollars off of plundered money
and art objects and jewelry. I am sure you
have all seen in the national media that
this is a very, very big issue.

Well, Christoph when you have an
opportunity to meet him it is almost
surprising because he is a very humbled
soft-spoken individual. I began to think
what possibly could have tumed an
ordinary night watchman into an
extraordinary international hero. It was
that he is indeed a righteous gentile and he
believed with every fiber in his being that
he was doing the right thing. Even though
he knew it was going to put his wife, and
his two very small children in jeopardy he
took the challenge.

Rabbi Hillel has said if I am not for
myself who will be? If I am only for
myself, what am I? If not now, when?
Christoph took that challenge and for that
reason I am very proud of that City
Council is honoring him. I hope to see all
of you out on Monday, March 8 at 7:30 at
Soldiers and Sailors. Thank you again.

The Chair:

T have never known you to be lost
for words, Bary.

Mr. Cohen:

There is not much you can add to
what Michael Wine just said and I
certainly look forward to that event on
Monday evening. The ramifications of the
evil that took place in the Holocaust
continued to have impact on us. But at the
same time there are stories of courage,
people who courageously stood up to the
holocaust and to hear the ramifications of
the holocaust and this gentleman who will

338

be coming here Monday night certainly
has a story of courage.

If you haven't seen the movie Life
is Beautiful, you will see another story of
courage which is one of the most powerful
movies that I have ever seen and I just saw
it this past weekend. So we need to
continue to think about the holocaust,
about the effect that it's had on the world
and how we somehow can become better
human beings because of the evil that took
place.

So thank you very much for putting
on this program Monday evening and J
look forward to observing it and to hearing
this man come to Pittsburgh. Thanks so
much.

The Chair:

Now move to presentation of
papers.

MR. COHEN PRESENTED:

No. 1350 Resolution authorizing
the transfer of Sixteen Thousand Dollars
($16,000.00) from the Cable
Communications Trust Fund to the
Equipment Leasing Authority for the
purchase of vehicles and related
accessories. .

No. 1351 Resolution authorizing
the transfer of Nineteen Thousand One
Hundred Dollars ($19,100.00) from the
Building of Bureau Inspection Trust Fund
to the Equipment Leasing Authority Fund
for the purchase of vehicles and related
accessories.

No. 1352 Resolution authorizing
the transfer of Three Hundred Sixty

a SS OTS

Thousand Dollars ($360,000.00) from the
Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund
to the Equipment Leasing Authority Fund
for the purchase of vehicles and related
accessories.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:

No. 1353 Resolution transferring
$5,500.00 from Emergency Medical
Services Salaries Account to Emergency
Medical Services Tuition Reimbursement
Account for EMS Personnel.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

No. 1354 Resolution providing for
a contract or contracts from time to time in
connection with demolition and removal
of condemned buildings and providing for
the payment of the costs thereof, Capital
Project Funds, Peoplesoft Fund 5100, cost
not to exceed $600,000.00.

No. 1355 Resolution providing for
a contract or contracts from time to time in
connection with demolition and removal
of condemned buildings and providing for

the payment of the cost thereof;
Community Development, Peoplesoft
Fund 2610, cost not to exceed
$450,000.00.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Public Safety Services.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:
No. 1356 Resolution amending

Resolution No. 626 of 1998, effective
November 5, 1998, entitled "Resolution

339

authorizing and directing the Mayor,
Solicitor and the Director of Parks and
Recreation to enter into a Lease and
Agreement with the Boys and Girls Club
of Westen Pennsylvania, in connection
with the construction, maintenance and
operation of a community recreation and
park facility in Leslie Park, 9" Ward, City
of Pittsburgh" by changing the terms of the
Lease and signatures to the Lease.—--
(SPONSORED BY MR. FERLO)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Parks, Recreation & Youth
Policy.

MR. FERLO moved to suspend Rule 8 by
providing for consideration of the bill only
until or after the 8th calendar day
following the meeting in which the bill
was introduced so the bill will be on the

agenda this Wednesday.
MR. HERTZBERG seconded the
motion.
Which motion prevailed.
MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

No. 1357 Resolution further
amending Res. 781/1998 entitled

“Adopting & Approving the 1999 Capital
Budget and the 1999 Community
Development Block Grant Program; and
approving the 1999 through 2004 Capital
Improvement Program, by transferring

“$4,000,000.00 from various accounts to

Citywide Resurfacing Code Account. —
(SPONSORED BY MR. ONORATO)

Which was read and referred to the

Committee on Public Works, Water &
Environmental Services.

MR. ONORATO moved to suspend Rule
8 by providing for consideration of the bill
only until or after the 8th calendar day
following the meeting in which the bill
was introduced so the bill will be on the
agenda this Wednesday.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

No. 1358 Resolution transferring
$107,708.00 from various 1997 accounts
Citywide to the Fire Bureau’s 1997 Salary
Account in order to resolve deficits in the
1997 Fire Payroll Accounts.

No. 1359 Resolution transferring
$128,274.00 from various 1997 accounts
Citywide to the Fire Bureau’s 1997
Premium Pay Account in order the resolve
deficits in 1997 Fire Payroll Accounts.

No. 1360 Resolution extending the
term of existence of the Public Auditorium
Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny
County, term to expire 50 years from the
date of approval.

No. 1361 Resolution authorization
for the Controller to release 1996 Pre-
Encumbrances outstanding in the Mayor’s
Office that are longer needed. Releasing
these old pre-encumbrances that are
currently in the Peoplesoft System for the
Mayor’s Office.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

The Chair:

Thank you. Any unfinished

340

business to come in front of Council this
morning?

Hearing none, move to Committee
Chair Reports, District 9, Ms. McDonald,
Housing, Economic Development.

CHAIR REPORTS
Ms. McDonald:

Thank you, Mr. President.
going to be very brief. Of course
legislation that involves economic
development is discussed at Standing
Committee and next that will be coming
forward is the PNC Ist side center
development. That's been held for a
number of weeks and it should be on the
agenda for this Wednesday.

Also, for ACBO funding since that
is a process that is initiated early on in the
year, letters were sent out requesting
concept papers at the beginning of
January. The concept papers were due
January 29th and the review process is
underway for ACBO funding. They are
doing it a little differently this year where
there will be kind of bifurcated. There are
two ways they can have it. One is, I will
get it later. I can't read it. But there are
two ways they can apply for funding. One
is I think like mortar and brick and the
other is more programmatic.

Tam

Lastly as far as Post Agendas or
informational items. Alan Hertzberg and
myself, Alan Hertzberg is taking the lead
on this to convene a Post Agenda to
discuss the Federal Economic Zones
Empowerment Zones. It was originally
scheduled for March 2nd it has been
rescheduled for what day, Ms. Johnson-
Wasler? I believe it is March 5. Tuesday,
March 30th, I assume at two o'clock.

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There will be a Post Agenda to discuss the
Federal Empowerment Zones and that is in
response to questions by Council
members.

But also there were questions
raised about the Keystone Opportunity
Zone and why we were so late in
scrambling for support for whatever. I am
still gathering information on the process.
I believe February25th is when the
decisions will be finally made or papers
will be submitted to the Govermor. Let me
read this.

The South Westem Pennsylvania
Regional Development Council is
applying on behalf of Allegheny County,
Armstrong, Beaver, Fayette, Green,
Washington and West Moreland counties.
A decision was expected by February 28th.
I am in touch with Chuck Kolling to find
out any more information on that and to
make sure that we stay abreast of that
application process so we're not
scrambling at the last minute. But the
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
which is a successor to the South Western
Pennsylvania Regional Planning
Commission they are the ones that decided
the KO sites everyone wondered well who
made the decision, it was the South
Western Planning Commission. That's
who you have to party with on that one.

And lastly for the TIF, I am still in
the process of developing the TIF
committee in response to the legislation
that we passed. The reason it’s been long
coming is because the TIF legislation and
committees are in response to TIF’s that
are coming down the pike. The ones that
we have discussed at the table including
the PNC First Side, Home Depot, South
Side those have already -- those are more

341

or less grandfathered because they have
already been developed. So the TIF
committee will be forthcoming particularly
when there is some type of indication that
anew TIF is coming down the pike.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thanks. I received also something
regarding the TIF's and also the legislation
that called for an analysis of them that Mr.
O'Connor authored. I was wondering if
we could get a status report on that since it
is a related topic? I know it seems like
we're moving ahead and I don't know if a
selection has been made yet, but I now
there were responses that looked like
excellent responses to our questions. And
I was wondering if we can get an update
on that?

The Chair:

Yes. We received as of
February 19th, I think that was the due
date three responses to our RFP and I will
get all of you copies of that to have your
input. I think Director Birru should be
one of the key persons to help us evaluate
and then we would go out again and hire
one of these organizations to -- I think it
Just complements what you're doing work
together to really set the future. We're not
criticizing the pass as much as what we
have done and where do we go from here.
I will be sharing those if you stop in my
office I will give all of you copies of what
we have received back.

The Chair:

On the ACBO money, Mr. Ferlo,
you are the expert on that. Is that going to
be the same? I mean you were just saying
the hearing is coming up. Is that money

that will be put out this year? In other
words --

Mr. Ferlo:

Council in the '99 budget allocated
a pot of money, a greater sum -- I believe
Councilman Onorato may look at that
issue right now in terms of the money. I
believe the pot of money went up from
$500,000 to $900,000.

The Chair:

Have the groups been finalized? I
guess that was my main question.

Mr. Ferlo:

I believe that the request for
proposals have gone out and proposals are
now into the Planning Department and to
the committee and I presume there are
more groups seeking money than available
funds. They're a number of organizations
that are continually getting you know basic
core funding of support.

I am sure there are opportunities
for new groups as well but that process
continues unless Council either changes
the amount or changes the allocation
process. But there is no more allocation of
the so-called Pittsburgh partnership pot of
money, basically everything has been
folded into the ACBO funding stream.

The Chair:

The Public Hearing on March 30th
would your concerns address the federal
job, remember the job centers whether
they were going to be downtown or in the
neighborhoods all that combination.

342

Mr. Ferlo:

This Council continued to allocate
a little over $300,000 in the ‘99 budget for
the continued operational support for the
community employment centers. I don't
know where the administration is at right
now and whether or not they are going to
continue funding all of these centers
passed. I believe there were contracts that
went out June 1 and we might want to ask
Director Parees to give us an update. I
think there was an effort to either
consolidate some of the community
employment offices or maybe make more
clear what their activities and
responsibilities would be, but maybe we
need to get an update report from Director
Parees since her last Post Agenda meeting
of several months ago.

The Chair:
I will ask her for an update.
Ms. McDonald:

Moneys will be distributed for
ACBO through two funds, the
Development Fund and Facilitation of
Development Fund. And they must self-
select which stream they're going to apply
for. This is the first year that this is the
way we're doing this that the operating
support funding is being structured in this
way. So again there is more money and
we will be in touch with Director Hirsh
and in terms of when we would be able to
review that.

The Chair:
Thank you. Any other questions.

Hearing none. Move to reports of

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committees.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MR. UDIN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1362:

Report of the committee on Finance and
Budget for February 24, 1999, transmitting
two resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with.an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1262:

Resolution providing for the
issuance of a $2,858.62 warrant in favor of
Jan Sipula, 107 Dunbar Drive, Pittsburgh,
PA 15235 in settlement of a claim in
which a City Public Works truck hit and
damaged claimant’s vehicle.

Which was read.

Also,
Bill No. 1263:

Resolution authorizing the
purchase of a $15,000.00 group life
insurance for each part-time, non-union
employee. The cost of these life insurance
policies will be paid out of Account
571100, of the City’s Employee Benefits
Account.

Which was read.
The Chair:
You have heard the reading and

title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills? Bills are now ready for final action.

343

All those in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your name are called;
al] those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1363:

Report of the Committee on Public Works,
Water and Environmental Services for
February 24, 1999, transmitting one
ordinance and two resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1195:

asphalt milling, truck rental, brick and
blockstone repairs, handicap ramps,
concrete slab replacement and parks
telated asphalt work at various locations
throughout the City of Pittsburgh, at a cost
not to exceed $2,815,000.00 Dollars.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1196:

Resolution providing for a
Contract or Contracts, or the use of
existing Contracts for street resurfacing
programs to include but not limited to ultra
thin hot mix asphalt, hot mix asphalt,
crack sealing, micro surfacing, sawing and
sealing, nova chip, flexible pavement,
asphalt milling, truck rental, brick and
blockstone repairs, handicap ramps,
concrete slab replacement and parks
telated asphalt work in CD areas
throughout the City of Pittsburgh at a cost
not to exceed $2,161,603.00 Dollars.
Which was read.

Also,
Bill No. 1260:

An Ordinance Supplementing the
Pittsburgh Code, Title Seven, Business
Licensing, Article VII, Service Businesses,
Chapter 765, Commercial Hauling of
Municipal Waste, by adding requirements
to keep dumpster lids closed at all times. --
-(SPONSORED BY MR. RICCIARDI)

The Chair:
You have heard the reading and

title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Mr. Onorato:

Ihave an amendment that everyone
has in front of them for bills 1195 and
1196 that I will put up together because
they are really the same type of
amendment. Bill i195 I have an
amendment -- 1 make a motion to amend
the authorization amount so that we
increase the amount by an additional
$3 million of city bond money. And if I
could just explain the details, the
$3 million was introduced today on a
different bill that actually amends the
capital budget, so today’s amendment is
only increasing the authorization by an
additional $3 million city bond money.

MR. HERTZBERG seconded for
discussion.
Mr. Hertzberg:

I certainly support __ these

amendments and I think it just sets forth
our strong policy concems here that we
increase the amount of funding for our
streets. That this Council thinks this is
one of the primary things we should be
doing and we realize the current level is
just insufficient to be doing the job that we
need to be doing just to maintain our
streets properly. And we will have to
work with the numbers and the sources
that Mr. Onorato has given us to see if
they're the most appropriate sources. But
by voting for this amendment today, we at
least take the first step and commit
ourselves to finding the money some
where in the capital budget to make this
happen.

Mr. Onorato:

88SSSS0w_—Ssos>swsS———— Sm

Mr. President, if I could also with
the additional motion because we will put
them on the table together, amending Bill
1196 by increasing the authorization by a
million dollars of CDBG that's another
motion if we have a second.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Mr. Onorato:

Both bills would increase the total
authorization, for street paving by a total of
$4 million. It would take our street-paving
amount from roughly $5 million to
$9 million, we're almost doubling it.
Tomorrow we will have the debate of
where to take it from on the capital budget,
but the authorization would be to increase
by an additional $4 million overall for
street paving..

Ms. McDonald:

I just wanted to ask Councilman
Onorato, I have no problem supporting an
increase in funding. I guess the meat and
potatoes of the discussion will be
tomorrow when we discuss where the
money comes from, that is going to be the
painful part.

What I wanted to ask Councilman
Onorato though is that if after deliberation
tomorrow that there is not a consensus on
where the money comes from, such that it
decreases the amount or changes the
amount in anyway, would you be willing
to provide an amendment to this
amendment that you're presenting today
for the $4 million? Would you modify it?

Mr. Onorato:

345

Luckily the way the bill is reading,
the one that we are amending today, it puts
in the words as a cost not to exceed. So
even though we are authorizing up to nine
million, you don't have to spend nine
million. If we don't put the money in to
spend nine, we will only spend what we
actually appropriate. So it's up to nine,
can't go above it if we only put $5 million
they can only spend $5 million. So it sort
of works on its own. We don't have to re-
amend this bill.

Ms. McDonald:

That's my only concem. I don't
mind again increasing the pot. I just want
to make sure though that if after discussion
tomorrow, and I am sure it will be a
wonderful debate here as to where the
money comes from, that if we don't come
up with four million as a pot of money,
that if it is reduced it won't impact upon
the other programs. :

Mr. Onorato:

It won't. If I could just comment,
the bill that will be up tomorrow that I
introduced today and we waived rule eight
on, I have detailed the amount of the $4
million and I selected certain categories
out of the capital budget that I am
recommending that we decrease.

So my proposal is in front of us
and I am very receptive to any friendly
amendment, if there is a line item in here
that someone feels adamant about if they
want to come back with corresponding
adjustment from somewhere else, that's
fine with me. I thought this was a good
way to get the debate started. I presented
it last week and, colleagues, you have had
this for seven days. I look forward to the

debate tomorrow for any adjustments or
friendly amendments to it but this is one
Council person’s suggestion of where to
take the $4 million from.

The Chair:

So you are saying this is a blue
print for tomorrow's discussion.

Mr. Onorato:

I am actually prepared to vote on
this tomorrow if I can get four other votes,
but I am receptive to friendly amendments
to it.

Mr. Ferlo:

There are two issues I have
concerns about. First the bill itself as it
was amended. J am still concemed about
regardless of what the final figure is as to
what we're appropriating $5 million versus
nine million? I am _ still basically
concerned about the manor in which
dollars are expended either by outside
contract or by the in-house personnel. I
know there have been some changes. I
don't exactly know why parks related
asphalt work was all omitted out of the
bill. Does that mean we are not going to
be utilizing city asphalt in our parks,
streets in our patks? Some one could
clarify that.

The Chair:

I will let you answer that, but really
tomorrow's discussion I think that's what it
should be about.

Mr. Ferlo:

It is being admitted today, I was

346

wondering what was the rationale?
Mr. Hertzberg:

All right. I want to do one
amendment at a time but there are going to
be amendments made to the body of this.
But by taking it out we are not authorizing
the contracting out of that. By taking it
out, what we are saying is it has to be done
by city employees.

Mr. Onorato:

Point and procedure, can we take
them separately? I am sorry, only because
it's going to get too confusing. My bill is
strictly in financing.

Mr. Ferlo:

Financial and then maybe before
we finally vote, we can address just the
mechanics of what will or won't be done
in-house or out-house.

In principle I am not necessarily
opposed to raising the amount from five
million to a higher figure. {I have a
problem with the process in casting my
vote now to increase this resolution until I
understand fully what is the agreed upon
figure and where the four million dollars
will necessarily come from? I don't have a
full appreciation for each one of these
items in terms of what will not be done
that was other wise going to be done and
maybe has already been designed or
planned out.

I will pick an example, like on the
traffic signal maintenance program. A
number of colleagues we have some
situations at street corners that are really
badly in need of street traffic maintenance.

ooo

I don't know if on the presumption that we
had originally budgeted it, the department
is already off and running and acquiring
that equipment. I don't know what will not
be done as a result of that. We have a
situation where we are under notification
from the State Department of
Environmental Protection on the issue of
the condition of our fuel tanks around the
city. Some of which are leaking. I don't
know what reducing that item amount does
in general services to what was intended to
be done this program year.

I can go through each one of these.
1 am not necessarily saying we couldn't or
shouldn't do that, but I feel that like the
process is still a little bit-- I am still
concemed about the process here today.
So I am going to have to abstain because I
want to understand that if we do change
the line items and reorder priorities, I want
to know what the impact of that will be on
a practical level on things that will no
longer be done. I don't know if many
community based groups were on the
presumption that they were more likely
going to be given some consideration this
year from the ACBO funding since the pot
of money was increased. That's another
program here that's going to be effected.
So I have a hard time --
Mr. Onorato:

That's not on there. No community
based --

Mr. Ferlo:

I thought it said CBO reducing by
400,000 --

Mr. Onorato:

I was referring to our big

347

amendment, never mind. The one we
agreed to at the end of the year, that's not
affected.

Mr. Ferlo:

Or even like radio systems
equipment. I don't know where that's at.
Either we are in or out of the EOC and the
Lexington Building. You know my view
on that, but in any event, I assume if we
don't go there we are going to have to
modemize and develop our own Cad
system operation, I don't know if that's this
pot of money.

Mr. Onorato:

That point of procedure, that will
be debated tomorrow. Today's amendment
is only to increase authorization.

Mr. Ferlo:

I understand, but it's hard for me to
agree to do that absent--

Mr. Onorato:

It is not going to be easy.
Mr. Ferlo:

No, I understand. But I am just
saying I would like to do that parallel to
agreeing on what is going to be cut and
why and what's the best way.

The Chair:

We could do it --

Mr. Ferlo:

It seems like we are presupposing
and once.

_—————— ee
a SS

The Chair:

We could do it either way. We
could either actually recommit and do it all
tomorrow or vote for the one and allow the
money. But if the money-- maybe
tomorrow you will agree on half the
money then that would have to be
amended, because it --

Mr. Onorato:

J originally wanted to hold the bills
last week but we were I think hoodwinked
saying that we won't pave anything unless
we move them forward. I wanted to do
them both tomorrow but this body decided
to go forward at the recommendation of
the Deputy Mayor. I wanted to do that.
But however I said, if they move I am
bringing these amendments on Tuesday
and that is what I am doing.

The Chair:

I have been told there is plenty of
money to last over a month, but that is up
to the body.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes. Thank you, Mr. President.
Let me say that I think its great and I
commend the initiative by Councilman
Dan Onorato to bring this forward
increasing resurfacing here in the City of
Pittsburgh I believe by $4 million and I
think to do it the right way as Councilman
Dan Cohen stated last week. That is a
proper milling of the roads with a proper
two to 3-inch base with another inch
cover. I am very pleased to see that the
Chair of Public Works, Mr. Hertzberg,
also agrees that we should increase to a

348

certain extent.

I understand where Mr. Ferlo is
coming from regarding scarce resources.
We can't run away from that, we do have
scarce resources. We also have the
obligation to prioritize the activities that
we believe that are important to the city
taxpayers. For years ] have been saying
regarding PeopleSoft and I voted against
many expenditures for PeopleSoft. I have
always stated at the Committee Sessions
that those $20 million that we spent on
PeopleSoft that all departments aren't even
utilizing should have been used to repave
the city streets here in the City of
Pittsburgh. I am looking forward to
addressing Mr. Onorato's amendment.

Matter of fact, I have spoken to
Mr. Onorato and I am going to make other
amendments to his possible amendment if
his goes first. I believe in highway paving
and not highway technology. What I mean
by that we have spent upwards to 20,
$30 million on computerizing PeopleSoft
which so far has been a big bust. We're
spending millions of dollars on increasing
tax information systems here in the City of
Pittsburgh, more efficiency in collecting
taxes. I think we are doing a great job in
collecting taxes. I wish we would stop
beating up the taxpayer for such efficiency
that we have brought forward.

Once again, let's do highway
paving and not highway technology.
Thank you.

Mr. Udin:

Before we all slide down the slippy
slope of agreeing with the idea that we
should increase the availability of funding
for street repaving, I am one voice in
opposition. I oppose increasing the

SS OO OETTTOEOTONNOES

allocation for street repaving. I think it's
irresponsible and premature. There are too
many unanswered questions.

There are unanswered questions
relative to how the determination is made
between what kind of streets would
receive a thin coat, what kind of streets
will receive a thicker coat? It's still not
clear to me even though we have removed
the option of outsourcing the funding, it is
still not clear to me that the Public Works
Department does not have the option to
continue to do .some thinner layers of
streets repaving on certain streets. It is not
yet clear to me that although certain
activities that the outside contractors have
been removed, from the bill by
Mr. Hertzberg's amendment. It is still not
clear to me that Public Works could not
‘continue to subcontract work out for the
thicker street repaving. That is not yet
clear to me. .

Why the streets are failing that
have failed? How many of them are there
and why they have failed is not clear to
me? And it is -- I am not certain that the
reason for the street failures has to do with
either the weather or the thin application.
So until all those questions are answered, I
think that it is inappropriate to reward
failing streets with more money.

In addition to that the specific
items that have been selected for reduction
in the capital budget in order to capture the
$4 million necessary for this reward of
failing streets, defunds important capital
priorities. There is a pot of money, a
surplus in the city’s finances that can be
accessed that does not damage the capital
plan for 1999, It would seem to me that
that might be one source of funding. If we
insist on rewarding failing streets anyway

349

with $4 million additional dollars, it would
seem that a more responsible place to take
it since it is a one time capital hit might be
from the fund balance rather than from
reducing these important capital projects
such as slope failure remediation, traffic
signal programming, building maintenance
program within the building here. We just
kind of almost blindly went straight down
the list of certain items and just reduced
them 40 to 50% when we haven't touched
the city’s surplus.

So I think we need to really think
through why and how we will apply this
additional funding and whether or not it
will go down the black hole as millions of
dollar already have.

Mr. Diven:

Just following up on what
Councilman Udin said, I think that's a
fantastic idea talking about the fund
balance. I also commend Councilman
Onorato for bringing this forward and
starting the debate on this. I think we need
to have more of an attention paid to the
infrastructure of our streets. The only
concem that I have conceming this
particular amendment is when the interest
was to get more condemned buildings torn
down, we allocated additional funding to
that and one of the problems was they kept
coming back to the table from that
department and saying we can't spend it.
You can allocate as much money as you
want, that doesn’t mean we're going to
spend it.

If we are talking about making a
policy change, we have to have a
commitment from the administration that
they're going to go out and actually put the
bodies on to run the additional crews and

cover that work. They're going to have to
give us a commitment they're going to be
willing to spend the money that we
appropriate. Otherwise we're not going to
accomplish our goal by just putting the
money out there and giving them the
option of not spending it. I think we
should be looking at some way to make
sure that the administration is committed
to making sure that the streets become a
priority. And that if we're going to go
through the hard task of debating where
we want to prioritize our resources that
we're in a position that once we get
through that tough debate that will be that
we unified from Council comes up has to
be instituted by the department.

I think one of the concems that I
have with this amendment is it gives them
too much of an easy out to come back in
front of Council at a later date and say well
there is no way we can do it. So that
money is going to just sit there and reside
in our fund balance.

Mr. Cohen:

T want to thank Councilman
Onorato for putting this on the table.
Because we often get lost in small issues
and it is about time we start talking about
some of the big issues and this is a big
issue. Street paving is a core critical
function of city government. I am
convinced after what has happened in my
district in the last month and from our
discussion with the Director Kraszewski of
Public Works last week, that street
repaving is not being done on a quality
basis and in an efficient basis in the City
of Pittsburgh. I won't go through the
streets in my district that are falling apart.

Now the question is how do we

solve it? I think one piece of the puzzle is
additional money. I was convinced by
Director Kraszewski that he does need
more money to be able to do this right. At
the same time I think it should be
something of a negotiation. Look at, we
will give you more money if you can
demonstrate to us that you're going to
provide a quality street paving process and
you are going to do it in a more efficient
manner. I think Director Kraszewski
would even engage in that kind of dialogue
with us. I think it has to, no pun intended,
it has to be a two way street. We are going
to give you the money and in return you
give us the quality that the people of
Pittsburgh certainly deserve.

As far as where the money is going
to come from, I am open-minded. I think
Councilman Onorato has put a reasonable
plan on the table. I would like to look at
each of these items in depth especially
those that pertain to Public Works and
Engineering and Construction so that we
know exactly what will be lost, that we are
Not going to get something for nothing
here. If we gain more street paving, we're
going to lose something and we need to
know up front what that's going to be.

My only reservation is in any
discussion of the fund balance, we
certainly talked about taking money from
the fund balance before and I certainly am
open to a discussion about it, but we need
to maintain a high fund balance to
maintain a high bond rating. If we need to
bring some of the financial people in to
talk to us about how low we can go then
that's something we need to do.

But that having been said, I am
certainly open-minded to increasing the
amount of funds for street paving for ‘99

ee eee

but at the same time we need something in
return from Public Works and that is a
quality process.

Mr. Ferlo:

Two-way streets would be great as
long as it is not done with nova chip at
least not in the cold spring or fall.

I really think we need to recommit
this bill unfortunately because we're not
going to make the kind of progress we
want to make. Even if we have a split vote
in technically raise this resolution and then
agree later tomorrow what the items will
be, if the administration doesn't really
concur or agree with it is not going to be
done any ways.

I would strongly suggest that we
tecommit the bill but tomorrow resolve the
issue. I would like to suggest that we
maybe recess this. meeting today so we can
actually vote in final forum tomorrow as
we have done in the past when we have
gotten into a jam and trying to expedite the
bill. If we don't come to a consensus as
Mr. Cohen spoke about with the
administration, and Mr. Diven made this
point, it doesn't matter what we budget
because in the end they're driving the
asphalt truck so to speak. If we don't come
to an agreement, I have a real problem
with cutting some of these other items. I
think Mr. Onorato's point is well taken that
he has pushed this whole issue ahead and I
appreciate that. I am not opposed
necessarily of spending more money, but I
also like Mr. Udin's idea of maybe going
into the fund balance.

But in any event, I think it would
be wrong for us to go decide this issue
today. What if we agreed to do this and
the administration veto's the bill. We will

351

have wasted another couple of weeks.
Why not recommit the bill, come up to
some consensus bill, maybe the President
can appoint a committee of Mr. Onorato
and our Chair Of Public works and
Councilman Udin our Finance Chair to
meet with the administration prior to the
ten o'clock meeting tomorrow. And see if
we can come up with a higher figure in
whatever combination, bond funds. We
already cut into the bond fund, I mean we
already cut into the fund balance because
we're not clear we are getting the courts
money and that's four million right there.

So we are already off and running
and that is why we really should untable
the detransfer of money so we at least have
a half million dollars in our kick. And
hopefully it will come back at some point.
But I would like to suggest as a procedure
that we not vote on these amendments,
although I sympathize with and agree with
what Mr. Onorato is doing, I just have a
problem about where we take the money.
I would like to suggest that as a procedure.

The Chair:
Final word on it.
Mr. Onorato:

If it gets recommitted that is fine,
but I want to point out a few things. First
of all, I will be totally opposed and I will
fight any movement on the fund balance
for two reasons. I don't think it is
financially sound to do that, And two, I
think it is a cop out we don't want to do
our job.

1 want to point out some numbers
and make it very clear here. We have $55
million dollars allocated in the 1999

capital budget, $30 million of bond,
$22 million of CDBG. The administration
and this Council we only allocated $4.9
million for streets. That's less than 10% of
the $55 million. So the listening public
understands, the reason we have a failed
street policy is because Council and the
Mayor have failed. We have failed to fund
the street paving.

We heard over and over again the
last three years that the minimum amount
we need to do real paving, that is when
you grade and go down to the base and do
it, is at least $12 million a year. We're
putting $5 million, the reason you have
nova chip and the crack seal and all that
cheap stuff is because they are trying to
show on paper how many streets they have
repaved without actually repaving it. They
are just putting a black coating on top that
doesn't work.

If we're going to be serious about
improving the infrastructure of this city,
we have to put more than 10% of the
borrowed money into streets. Where the
heck is the other 92% of the money going?
Does anyone even care? And while I am
willing to put my suggestion to the public
and to the media and to the residents it's
very easy for my colleagues, or for anyone
out there to pick and chose a few line
items and attack it.

1 will repeat my offer, I will take
any friendly amendment on any particular
issue to keep the $4 million. However, I
will not budge one penny on the $4 million
total. I will call a vote and we will get a
vote tomorrow one way or the other even
if l loose. I want the residents of this city
to know that at least Councilman Dan
Onorato voted yes for transferring
$4 million of capital, knowing dam well

352

that I was decreasing $4 million from other
so-called good projects. They're all good
projects, but the bottom line was we have
been subsidizing every other project at the
expense of street paving for too long. It is
time to get this number up. Nine million
after my amendment is still 3 million short
of what the director is telling us we need
as a minimal amount of money to do a
good street paving per year.

So a fill street policy, you bet, but I
can tell you what, if your house falls apart
because you never repaired it and you say
well what a sloppy repair policy, you can't
repair anything if you don't put the money
up front. Less than 10% of our capital
budget goes to street paving, less than
10%. Get it up to $9 million you will still
be well below 20% of the capital, that
means over 82% of the capital dollars are
still going somewhere else. This is not an
outrageous amendment, this is very
Teasonable, we're only asking for
approximately 18% of the capital budget
to go to street paving.

I don't know how anyone of us
cannot support that and then we could get
rid of nova chipping and micro sealing
because now we are putting money in
there to do it right. Go down to the base, I
want real street paving done and I am
willing to take the hit and stand up to my
constituents and say yes, I took $4 million
out of that line item. I know it's not easy.
No one said it would be easy. But sooner
or later, we have to vote and this red
hearing about what if the Mayor doesn't
spend it, we deal with that every year.
Since when did we ever stop about
allocating money because we were afraid
the Mayor might not spend it? We can
shut this city down tomorrow which we
practically did because our streets fell

SSS SSS

apart and no one could go anywhere, but
we could shut the city down tomorrow
with allocation of any amount of money.

If we allocate $9 million and the
Mayor refuses to spend it, we all know
what happens. That money sits there in
limbo until we decide to reprogram it. It
doesn't go anywhere. If that's the kind of
stalemate we need, I am willing to do that.
This is about public policy, public policy
of where you put your dollars. I am not
going to be a part of any sub committee to
divert this. If we want to recommit for
tomorrow and then recess this meeting, I
can support that because we're calling the
vote tomorrow. But sooner or later we
have to up or down. IfI lose, fine. But at
least call the policy question. That is all I
am asking,

The Chair:
Final word.
Mr. Ferlo:

Can I clarify something? The issue
is not arguing about the amount so much
as just agreeing and trying to build a
consensus on what it is that we are going
to reprioritize. That was my only point. It
would be nice to know what the direct
impact is of what Mr. Onorato is
proposing and whether or not there might
some other appropriate items to look at.

I think we should engage with the
administration on that discussion. If it is
clear the overall majority want to increase
the pot of money for street paving, which I
will vote for, I am only asking that we at
least make some common sense of what it
is that we are cutting or reprioritizing.

353

Mr. Onorato:

I have no problem doing that, Mr.
President. But I do want to point out, I
handed this list out seven days ago. I am
still going to ask again tomorow. It
wasn't like it was a surprise attack. I gave
this as a good faith effort last week to
show everybody and I am still willing to
take friendly amendments tomorrow. I do
want to point out one other thing. Let's
take a reasonable approach to what the
effect is of the defunding. I think we
know what the effect of the defunding
asphalt, we know what that is, we see it
every day coming to work.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. Part of the problem
here is he kind of went backwards on these
amendments. The one that should have
come first I still have not introduced and a
lot of questions are being asked and they
would have been answered. So I will kind
of go out of order and discuss what these
amendments will be without formally
introducing them since different
amendments are on the floor.

But part of the amendments that I
will introduce call for the reinsertion of the
term hot mix asphalt, back into this
resolution. For two reasons, number one
that deals with our actual acquisition for
the asphalt plant of what is called hot mix
asphalt. Which is primarily what they
make at the asphalt plant. So we need it
back in there for that reason. But also
what I am proposing here is that instead of
what I said before not contracting out any
of this, I am proposing that one third of the
hot mix asphalting be contracted out.

I have had a discussion with the
Department of Public Works. It is as a

_——————
a eye

result of that discussion and some of the
comments made and some of the concerns
that were raised that we wouldn't be able
to do this much asphalt work totally
in-house that I am proposing these
amendments. These amendments assume
that the amount goes up to $9 million as
proposed by Councilman Onorato. Our
Public Works Department believes we can
do that, that one third contracting out will
allow them the flexibility to be able to
make this happen, to be able to do what we
are asking them to do.

So I have had a discussion with the
department about this. They fully intend
to follow our directives or at least they are
telling me that.

Mr. Udin:

Question for Mr. Hertzberg or
perhaps Mr. Onorato who ever knows.
There were representations made last week
that the contractor failed to do street
sweepings prior to certain asphalt work
and that lead to some of the street failures.
1 would like to know what the status of the
resolution is that the Controller intends to
make. Right now the Controller is holding
two payments of the contractor. I would
be interested in knowing what the
Controller intends to do?

Secondly, the same contractor in
those streets that failed indicated that they
were willing to repair the streets. Now the
decision to put the thin microchip or the
flex base asphalt on some of the major
streets Council has expressed the desire
that that process not be used on major
streets. Now how will we get the
compensation from the contractor when
the contractor would have -- I guess the
contractor would have put another thin

354

micro surface layer on the failed streets. It
was not clear to me how the contractor
was actually going to repair?

Was the contractor’s commitment
to repair the streets, did it mean that they
would go down to the base and put in the
full asphalt repaving or would they just do
over it again the thin layer? And if that
can be calculated as to a certain value if
we decided to do a full reconstruction and
a full repaving of the street will the
contract be reduced by the amount of the
value of the repair work that now would
not be done? I hope I am being clear.

Mr. Hertzberg:

I think I understand your question.
I know for one thing the Controller is still
going to hold the funds until the repair
work is done. I don't --

Mr. Udin:

What does he mean by repair
work?

Mr. Hertzberg:

That's what they were contracted to
do. I don't think it's fair to anyone that
contracts to provide a service that costs
$5,000 for them to provide now to be
asked to provide a service that costs
$25,000. They didn't agree to do that
unless we are going to agree to pay them
to do a service that is more difficult and
more expensive to do. I don't know the
answer to that question as to whether they
would be asked to provide a different kind
of surface in that repair work or not, but I
know they are not going to be paid until
they do something.

eau SSS rr

Mr. Udin:

I hope the Controller and the
engineer will be available for this
discussion tomorrow so we can get some
clarity.

The Chair:

I believe if I may, Mr. Hertzberg,
there is certainly a lot of questions and we
spent over an hour last Wednesday on this.
I have gotten dozens of phone calls from
employees mainly telling us this is right,
this is wrong, what's going on. I have also
heard from across the hall that the Mayor's
Office is I think semi starting to agree with
us maybe they made a mistake, why didn't
they do it right the first time? It's easy
again to second-guess what Mr. Udin is
bringing up. Do we get full credit? If we
are asking the person to do a halfway job
then that's all we're getting. As Walnut
Street or whatever else was not
appropriate. I think we all agree with Mr.
Onorato's bills.

Mr. Udin:
No we don't.
The Chair:

At least finding more money, I
don't want to put words in --

Mr. Udin:
No we don't.
The Chair:
] think it will pass, put it that way.

Mr. Onorato:

Tam not sure.
The Chair:

Is that a better way to put it? I
think it will pass but I believe to just make
everyone feel more positive, where the
money is coming from or maybe only half
of it will be allocated. Do you, and I don't
want to hold it up because I was afraid
what the Deputy Mayor said last week
was, if you don't do this then we are going
to blame Council for the potholes. I don't
see a problem one more day if you want to
recommit it and I will recess this meeting

Mr. Hertzberg:

The only problem is Ms.
McDonald, you have to excuse her during
the discussion. She can't --

Ms. McDonaid:

I am not going to stay for two
hours worth of asphalt discussion. Look
you guys want to be the Public Works.
You all love talking about this asphalt
stuff. I have no problem, I have no
problem. I will stay as long as it seems
Teasonable. You start talking nova chip
and no one understands what you're
talking let's face it but it sounds good.

The Chair:

You're the chemist; we need you
here to explain what it means.

Ms. McDonald:

I will stay.

355

Mr. Ferlo:

I don't understand what is wrong
procedurally, recommitting and voting
tomorrow. But if we send a delegation
over and let them know we want to
increase the pot, and can we come up with
a consensus on where it should be cut.
What is wrong with that?

Mr. Onorato:
As long as we vote tomorrow I
have no problem.

The Chair:

I just said that. And also
Mr. Hertzberg, I think there has been a few
things you have done last night, this
moming to make this a much better bill
when they want to double the in-house
paving and still be able to do one third
outsourcing. So I believe the whole bill is
much better. But I think we deserve, all of
us, a better explanation.

I would also ask Mr. Tortorete to
be here. I know whether it is politically
Tight or not he's the asphalt person who
could explain it right or wrong what we're
getting. Does that sound reasonable to
recommit for one day and we will have
final vote tomorrow?

Mr. Onorato:

I have no _ problem. As a
procedural move as the maker of the
amendment, I will withdraw my
amendment with the condition that we
recommit these bills to present the
amendments tomorrow. :

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

356

Mr. Hertzberg:

Also, if everyone will guarantee
me no further discussion, I will not offer
my amendments until tomorrow either.

The Chair:

All in favor?
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ferlo:

Administration has to come to the
table tomorrow and resolve this issue.

The Chair:

I think we need, again I don't want
to put Mr. Tortorete on the spot, but he's
the asphalt expert and I think he has to be
here along with Ms. McDonald to explain
astro clip--

Mr. Ferlo:

lam talking about robbing Peter to
pay Paul,

The Chair:

That's a very good point, where are
we getting the money from? Who agrees
and disagrees with Mr. Onorato? I think
Mr. Onorato to his credit at least has a
blueprint here. Let's evaluate tomorrow
and come up with the money. I am tired of
my streets. They're not too good. You
want to ride around I will show you. This
was a mild winter outside of two weeks. I
don't think we can blame it on the winter.
Off of this, we are onto the other bill.

—— eee

Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you, Mr. President. There is
one other bill, colleagues, in the
Department of Public Works, which I was
pleased to sponsor. It is just one sentence
if I could read it. The owner, leasee,
and/or user whether an individual or
corporation partnership or association who
leases, rents or owns garbage
receptacles/dumpsters must keep dumpster
lids closed at all times.

Colleagues, J am sure you are all
experiencing _ this. I am_ especially
experiencing it in the neighborhoods of
Oakland, the Southside, Arlington, and
Knocksville where individuals are not
taking responsibility of their dumpsters.
Those lids should be closed at all times for
a number of reasons not just the safety
issue, but esthetically also they should be
closed,

The one concern that was brought
up was a legitimate concern and that was
well if they're over filling what does the
owner need to do? The owner needs to
contract out to have one more haul. If
they're only taking their garbage away
once a week and their garbage dumpsters
are over filling, they need to contract out
to have it removed one other day. It is as
simple as that.

I will also ask if this bill passes, if
our City Clerk can work with our Cable
Bureau and make sure that the constituents
have the two telephone numbers who to
report this to, if the lids are not closed?
There is a very stiff penalty and I think it's
$1,000 per day. It just looks terrible and
it's an issue that needs to be addressed.
Thank you for your support.

The Chair:

I think it is very important. I know
it came up in discussion last week in
Oakland especially in downtown Oakland
some of the business districts there are
simple answers, either have your
employees break up boxes, buy a
compactor, buy another dumpster, or get
another pick up. So there are easy
solutions to it. It is a management
problem and those businesses have to take
care to be proper neighbors.

Mr. Ferlo:

We can pass this bill, like five
other bills we passed and I am going to
vote for it, but it is an enforcement issue,
The container that was shown in the
picture at the Public Hearing in relation to
the bid is not a legal container that is
supposed to be on the public right of way.
Where is the inspector, where is the
inspector that is supposedly working in
Oakland? How many citations have been
issued? I mean this is -- we can write all
the laws we want, it's an enforcement
issue.

Right now the city code says that
Lamar Barnes can go out and site folks for
having inappropriate receptacles or ones
that are over filled or ones are open or
ones that aren't emptied. He can order the
Property owner to pick up the dumpster
and have the dumpster picked up more
regularly than once a week or once a
month. So we can pass all the laws we
want, it is not going to mean anything.

The Chair:

We can only appropriate the
money. Again, there is never a problem

writing traffic tickets, or parking tickets,
but there seems to be a problem with these
types of tickets.

Mr. Ferlo:
We should let Council members

write citations, extend our prerogatives
and will

we start seeing some
enforcement.
The Chair:

Any other discussion?

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye; all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1364:

Report of the Committee on Planning,
Zoning and Land Use for February 24,

358

1999, transmitting two resolutions to
Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 1208:

Resolution providing for the
creation of an Oakland Business
Improvement District. (SPONSORED
BY MR. RICCIARDI, MR. UDIN AND

MR. COHEN). (HEARING HELD
FEBRUARY 17, 1999).
Which was read.
Also,
No. 1234:
Resolution providing for an

Agreement or Agreements with Agencies
that operate Emergency Shelters for the
homeless in the City of Pittsburgh, so as to
provide for the payment of rehabilitation,
maintenance, operation, insurance,
utilities, furnishings, homeless prevention,
and essential services of said Agencies, at
a total cost not to exceed $756,000.00.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Mr. Cohen:

I just wanted to again congratulate
and thank the leadership in Oakland for
putting together this Business
Improvement District. I have great hopes
for it. I think it really will help to clean up

—EEESESEeEyEyEyqyqyuyxymyymAmAAo

particularly the commercial corridor in
Oakland as well as have the business and
higher education institutions there. Of
course the University of Pittsburgh,
Camegie Mellon University Carlow, etc
work together in a really unified way.

So I know that a lot of work has
gone into this. I want to thank the people
who put this together, Oakland Planning
and Development, certainly the University
of Pittsburgh and the other Chairs of this
group. I hope that upon passing this it
won't be out of our hands completely. I do
think we should have an opportunity to
review the Oakland Business Improvement
District, perhaps in a year from now and
see how its going. So maybe we can talk
about either having a Post Agenda or some
means of reviewing its progress.

But right now I think it's something
that will be very positive for Oakland and
look forward to seeing it go into effect.

Mr. Udin:

Yes, I want to associate myself
with the comments of Councilman Cohen
and also have my comments brought
forward from last Wednesday's Standing
Committee meeting, discussion on Dill
1208.

(See Addendum for Mr. Udin's
comments on Bill 1208)

Mr. Ricciardi:

I also would like to commend the
institutions, the community groups, the
residents, and all the business and property
owners who brought this forward and
allowing Mr. Udin and Mr. Cohen and
myself to sponsor this legislation.

359

As Mr. Cohen eloquently stated, I
think it's going to be just a big success and
a plus for the Oakland neighborhood
allowing additional resources in terms of
dollars to improve those blocks. But also
let me state that even with this in place we
have to be very diligent to make sure that
the city, especially the department of
Public Works and BBI continue to carry
out city services. There has to be a strong
foundation of city services. This needs to
be just on top of that.

So we have to police that I believe
very carefully especially when you look at
this particular bid. That is this particular,
the boundaries because out of I believe we
collect in the City of Pittsburgh $110, 115
million in property taxes, this particular
district itself contributes up to 2,
$3 million. So we're getting our fair share
of taxes from this district and I really
questioned in the past if they have received
their fair share of services. So with the
additional dollars that business owners are
willing to pay especially with the
commitment from the University of
Pittsburgh, I believe that with the strong
foundation of city services that we can
begin to see an improvement in terms of
esthetically, beautifying, in terms of less
graffiti, in terms of less litter on the streets.

Mr. O'Connor, as I commended
you and complemented you during this
Public Hearing you really touched upon
some of the concerns from the business
community. I think you had first hand
experience not just as a businessperson but
as a businessperson who had a
commitment and business there in the
community itself. So I agree with
everything you stated.

With that said, I would hope that
we work with the Department of Public
Works to make sure that our city services
continue to be delivered. Because I am
very fearful that if they're cut back all we
have done is people have paid additional
taxes to see no marked improvements in
their neighborhood. Thank you.

Mr. Ferlo:

Given the University of Pittsburgh
frontal attack on the citizens of the City of
Pittsburgh and this Council and the laws of
the Human Relations Commission, I don't
know that I would refer to them as an
institution of higher education. But setting
that issue aside, I am pleased that after
having helped create a student ghetto in
the Oakland community, that they are
finally anteing up and agreeing to
participate in the business improvement
district. So J guess I will throw them that
complement off handed or otherwise.

I am concemed though about the
appropniation, I am still concerned that not
enough of the money that is being
generated by the creation of the business
improvement district is going specifically
for a concentrated clean up initiative. I
believe it is a significant amount of
money. I don't have the figure in front of
me, $190,000. But relative to what is
being raised and relative to the critical
needs of making a concerted effort a
splash, an impact, making people that are
going to be paying the increased
assessment feel that it is productive, I am
concemed that there be a consideration by
that board that more up front be spent on
the clean up initiative. 1 am extremely
concerned that the clean up be done in
coordination with the Mayor’s Office and
the Public Works department.

360

It doesn't make any sense to me not
to clean up the major graffiti, vandalism
that has occurred for instance on the Bates
Street corridor leading into the Oakland
business district. It would seem to me if
we were going to do it, we should do it
right. I would hope that by whatever
means necessary, Deputy Mayor Sirabella
or Deputy Mayor Cox, or Public Works
Director somehow they need to hit the
ground running with the leadership of the
Oakland Planning Development group and
the business leadership to make sure that
this is going to be done and in a right way
and a coordinate way and something that
people are going to visibly see that is
going to have an impact. I am still
concerned that that is not necessarily going
to be the case.

And secondly, when we funded the
first bid, both the East Ohio Street we had
committed a significant amount of capital
dollars, Which I don't think we are doing
this time. I believe there is a $50,000 pot
of money that we're anteing up. When we
did the downtown business improvement
district for three years in a row we
allocated a hundred thousand dollars of
city resources. I feel that we're some what
short changing and not making a full
commitment which I am not sure if we can
resolve now but maybe come budget time I
think we need to make either through the
CDBG or through the capital budget or
whatever,

I think we need to ante up and
show more city support given the bid
initiative that we are now voting on today.
I don't think we are being fair for the other
bids that we already agreed to in the past.
I just would ask that there be a clearer
stipulated commitment from the city as to

Eom

what we are doing is to be part of the
solution here and not continued to be part
of the problem. Whether it is enforcement
or whether it is the graffiti or lot clean up
in and around the business improvement
perimeters.

Whatever it be, I would ask that it
be spelled out more clearly and
communicated to the bid board. All of the
business improvement district boards must
prepare an annual budget and come to
Council as part of our annual Council
budget deliberations. So, in addition to
Downtown Partnership this year, I would
hope that we would also see the Oakland
representatives here in Council Chamber.

I would still reiterate my concem
that the board be expanded to include
residents from Terrace Village and from
the South Oakland community. The board
is too heavily dominated by institutional
representatives. I think there are other
stakeholders in the Oakland community
and young people that don't have a formal
constituency in terms of representing the
group. But somehow I would ask that they
be included on this new board or important
comuittees of the board or what have you.
1 am voting in favor notwithstanding the
arrogance of the University of Pittsburgh.

The Chair:

I believe they have committed to
putting more people on the board such as
you suggested last week. I also agree with
what you said. I think this is the start.
Hopefully it really does something to the
business corridor that gets 90% of the
traffic, but we certainly want to worry
about Bates Street and all the surrounding
areas.

361

I believe Oakland will be a hot bed
for the next couple of months, maybe next
year with the idea maybe the Pitt stadium
is no longer going to be there. I am sure
that will be a hot topic of discussion.

I also agree with Mr. Cohen, I
believe there are three Council members
that share Oakland and I probably border it
the closest. I know Mr. Ferlo we all spend
a lot of time there. So I would suggest by
Labor Day or right after Labor Day we
have a review of how it is going. I think
the main concem is the great partnership
with the Oakland Business District, the
University of Pittsburgh. But I believe as
Mr. Ricciardi said we have to make sure
the city upholds its part of the bargain.
We don't cut back and if the bid is doing
so well and the university is working well,
maybe we, not only maybe, we should pay
more attention to the neighborhoods there.

Don't forget there are a lot of
families that have lived there for 50, 70,
80, 100 years and they are still there. They
are raising their families there and they are
the hard core of Oakland and the they are
the backbone of that community. But I
think with Chancellor Nordenburg has
really made a difference in what has
happened the last three years at Pitt. I
think Oakland is the key to possibly our
whole city. It is not only the education,
health center and culture center, it is also
one of the biggest job centers. And the
biggest traffic, it is the third biggest traffic
center, you have Philadelphia Pittsburgh
and Oakland. Between jobs and traffic so
there is certainly are a lot of issues.

I talked to Director Hirsh to
address one of your issues, Mr. Ferlo,
about and we have had grand plans for the
last two, three years when you pick up the

Post Gazette or the Trib every six months
or something is going to happen in
Oakland but yet it hasn't happened.
Hopefully all of this will come together.
This may be the starting point to get us
past second base.

Again, I want to thank all the
Oakland business people, the universities,
the hospitals. Again looking at Oakland,
what is going on with that residential
neighborhoods, the new housing for the
Pitt students and Carlow College at the
other end and all the things that are
starting to happen, I can really feel the
excitement going on there. If the
neighborhood pitches in and continues
doing what they are doing and the ones
who haven't we really work with them to
upgrade them, again I will say it for the
umpteenth time I think Oakland can be
another Georgetown.

Oakland has gone down hill,
Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, Friendship has
benefited by that, graduate students are
moving into my neighborhood. I am
certainly glad to see them. But I don't
believe and I don't like the cost because
Oakland isn't an attractive place to live for
graduate students and people who work in
those hospitals. So, if you go to
Southside, Lawrenceville the people who
work in the hospitals walk to work. I don't
believe that is so in Oakland. So, I think
this is a start of possibly bringing people
back to Oakland. It has a rich history and
we all have to salute the hard work of the
bid and believe this is the start of a lot of
good things to happen. With that, I will
call the --

The bills are now ready for final
action. All in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;

362

all those opposed vote no.
Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were.

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)
AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1365:

Report of the Committee on Housing,
Economic Development and Promotion
for February 24, 1999 transmitting two
resolutions to Council,

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1115:

Resolution authorizing a
Cooperation Agreement or Agreements
with the Urban Redevelopment Authority
of Pittsburgh, the County of Allegheny and
the Pittsburgh City School District
providing for the financing, monitoring,
implementing and terminating of the East
Liberty-Home Depot, USA Tax

—yrmU

Incremental Financing District. (Council
District No. 9)
Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1116:
Resolution adopting a Tax

Increment Financing Plan presented by the
Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh creating the East Liberty -
Home Depot, USA Tax Increment
Financing District, and making certain
findings. (Council District No. 9)

Which was read.
The Chair:

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed

363

finally.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1366:

Report of the Committee on Parks,
Recreation and Youth Policy for
February 24, 1999, transmitting one
resolution to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1236:

Resolution establishing a schedule
of fees for the Department of Parks and
Recreation Swimming Pool Program,
effective January 1, 1999 for the calendar
year 1999,
Which was read.
MR. UDIN moved to table the bill.
MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Mr. Onorato:

Roll call vote, please.
Mr. Ricciardi:

Point of procedure I want to make
sure that the motion was on the correct bill
and not the bill regarding the shooting and
violence in the Hill Top communities, the
two bills were read, right? I just want to
make sure that both aren't mixed up.

Mr. Onorato:

There is only one bill.

Mr. Ricciardi:

No there are two.
Mr. Udin:

He read one.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Diven Mr. Ferlo

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

NOES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Ricciardi

AYES Four NOES Five

Due to the lack of majority of votes by
Council, the table was defeated.

The Chair:
Discussion on the bills.

Mr. Diven:

Mr. President, I would like to
introduce an amendment to Bill 1236.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Mr. Diven:

I have circulated among the
colleagues here. What it does is it

exempts children 14 and under from
paying pool fees.

364

One of the arguments I know that
we're facing an up hill battle with this
argument and we might have lost our
opportunity on this issue but I am not
willing to concede on it. I think in all the
discussion that we talked about, I have
been strong about advocating no pool fees
for anyone but as a compromise I would
like to offer this amendment to exempt
children 14 and under.

I think the reason why I do this
what I have got in front of you I think we
have been debating in a vacuum on this
one particular issue. But I think if you
look at the bigger picture what is going to
happen during the summer months and it
has happened in past summer months, is
that we need to provide opportunities for
kids. There is nothing better during the
summer months when they are out of
school then providing them access to
pools. We invested a substantial amount
of money, in all of our communities for
athletic programs, academic programs, and
opportunities for kids. This should be a
further extension of that by giving them
some place to go, that is going to be
constructive and that is going to give them
an opportunity to use their time in a
positive manner.

I think that the other side of the
coin, if we don't support giving free access
to the pools for the children 14 and under
we are going to spend the money some
where else. We're not going to spend it on
giving them free access to have
opportunities to do things positive. We
are going to spend money on things like
the curfew center or the truancy center or
the juvenile court system because if the
kids aren't in the pools doing something
that is constructive, they're left with no

—oweaooaaSS>SsSq

opportunities. They're left with standing
on the street comer or getting in with the
wrong crowd and possibly using drugs or
getting involved in any kind of vandalism
or graffiti. These are things that although
we can't put an actual tangible number on
them, they do happen. One of the reasons
why they happen is because our youth do
not have the opportunities to use their time
in a positive constructive manner.

So that is why I am introducing this
amendment to the legislation to hopefully
provide one more avenue. That if a kid is
looking for something to do, he doesn't
have to worry whether or not his family
has paid $20 or $40 or whatever the price
is so that he can have access and the
opportunity to conduct his summer months
in something positive and something
constructive.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you, Mr. President. I don't
understand this amendment. It is not
substantially different from anything we
haven't discussed, haven't debated, haven't
vote on, I don't know how many we
changed it by one year. I don’t know. I
don't know what has changed. We have
been bouncing this thing around for weeks
now. Nothing has changed out there.
Nothing at all, there is nothing new that's
happened to keep doing this and going
over and over this.

] think unfortunately I guess I will
just repeat the same things I have been
saying at least twice a week because it
comes up every Tuesday and Wednesday,
but I guess there is no choice here because
things just keep coming up over and again.
Again our Acting Director of the
Department of Parks and Recreation,

365

Duane Ashley, knew as the Acting
Director, one whom I think all of us
respect for his experience and for his
abilities has asked Councilman not to do
this. He's asked us as a manager not to do
this. He does not think this is going to
help him manage the operation of the
swimming pools. He has asked us to give
him a chance with the swimming pools.
Let him get a handle on things and try to
make some improvements.

He acknowledges there are
problems there. This kind of amendment
is not going to help him. It is going to hurt
him. It's going to give him one more thing
to have to grapple with in trying to make
some improvements to our pools. Also, if
you look around whether you are looking
at more affluent communities or some of
the poorest communities in the region,
you’re going to find they all have some
pool fees of some level. And these are the
lowest of any in the region that are being
proposed here today.

Again, I will repeat, the theory that
we're trying to promote here of city
services that are non-essential services
being user based. That is more of the cost
be passed on to the user. Right now, the
cost of operating our pools even with these
fees are not in any way born completely by
the user. They're only bom partly by the
users. But to the degree that we get rid of
the fees, we are just charging more for the
operation of the pools to all taxpayers
whether they use the pools or not, that's
the result of getting rid of pool fees.

And finally, I won't elaborate on
our budget, we talk about it our scarcity of
Tevenues, the difficulty we have had
cutting, this will certainly cut in although
it won't cut but every cut is a severe one

when we are struggling like we are.
Ms. McDonald:

I want to commend Councilman
Ricciardi last week for at least putting
things into perspective. As Councilman
Hertzberg has said this is user based. This
is a fee assessed to any user of the pool.
So why do we keep arguing? I am just
curious the people who really, really just
want free pools do they even use the city
pools? Have you been to the city pools
lately? And maybe you need to go the city
pools to see what it is like.

Just a management issue. These
are kids in the summer time nothing to do.
These are kids wanting to have fun.
Therefore, you are going to need more
security, more eyes watching those kids to
make sure that nothing happens and
everything is safe. That takes money. It
takes money.

Now if you want to get rid of the
pool fees, maybe you all should manage
the pools. Maybe go on out there and do
the lifeguard bit and I bet you any money,
you will double those fees, you will slap so
many fees on like it's a management
problem. So again I don't like pool fees
either. I will go with the spirit of things no
one wants to see fees. No one wants to see
taxes either, but that's a reality of life,
death and taxes. Well in this case, it is
fees too.

So again, I really wish we would
quit the weekly thing, it has become now
silly. Its become a really silly thing and
humorous. I don't want Council to tum
back into that. Can we just move on with
this year? We have adequate time
throughout the year to debate the pool fee.

366

But let's get through this year. It is no
increase in charges, none. It maintains the
same level and J am not willing to — I
think that we need to quit bantering this
about week after week after week. I think
there are more important issues to
deliberate on and we need to move on.

Mr. Udin:

Mr. President, I think it is truly
amazing that the people who want to
impose pool fees are the people who are
tired of discussing this bill. When it is
they who brought the bill back up. This
bill was defeated in December and it was
brought back up by the people who wanted
to re-impose pool fees and now they are
getting tired of discussing it. Well, you
should have thought of that before you
brought it back up. I think it's illegal to
have brought this bill forward. I asked for
an opinion of Council as to whether or not
a bill over tuming a decision of Council
can be brought back in the same term of
Council. We have not received that
opinion.

So if this bill passes I hope that the
President will still insist on an
interpretation from the Solicitor as to how
she reads the Charter and the miles of
Council and the legality of bringing back
up a bill that was already decided in
Council.

Mr. Ferlo:
The administration has a
completely counter productive and

backward view about the swimming pools.
The issue to me is not just the issue of
fees, which I am obviously opposed to and
have been since their reintroduction six or
seven years ago. And in fact the only

TE ESNWNDTOOEOOO

reason why we ever got fees in the first
place was a specific objective on part of a
previous Budget Director and a previous
Mayor to create what I would characterize
as forced obsolescence.

They consciously introduced fees
hoping that two things would happen, that
there would be division among people and
families based upon income _ lines.
Because if you are lower income enough
and you have the wherewithal to show up,
with an AFDC card or some other means
test document, you will get some kind of a
waiver or reduction. So they wanted to
create dissention and confusion and
disharmony on that level. They also were
hoping that basically as a result of the
introduction of fees, and because just the
way that the kids used to swim in the past
that you would see a marked reduction in
the participation during the two months or
so of the summer in the actual volume of
numbers of young people at the pools.

Both actually happened, that is
basically what the status is right now. For
a lousy $200,000 it costs 60 or 70,000 for
the administration to expend operating
dollars to collect what in the end might be
on a good year, $200,000. But the fee
issue to me is not the most important
issue. We are at the point where at some
point in the future we have to make
decisions about what our future capital
investment and programmatic investment
will be not only in the pools but also the
various rec centers. Instead of shoving
everything down people's throat in this
city, which is the usual style of most
administrations, why can't we be a little bit
progressive and proactive? Have a
collaboration with the residents, the users
of the park system, the community groups
that spent countless hours of volunteer
time and are holding up the backbone of

367

the Parks Department in addition to a
beleaguered staff who has not always
gotten credit or recognition by Mayors and
Councils when it comes to budgetary
items. Because Parks and Public Works
continually get cut at the expense of the
Public Safety prioritization of the budget.

So, again I am opposed to the fees
now because what is going to happen is
the administration is supposedly now
saying okay we are going to issue a request
for proposal. We are going to talk about
developing pools as aquatic centers and all
these lofty progressive things, which are
great, to me that is one reason why we
shouldn't re-institute pool fees this year.
Because in order to sit down and develop
this collaboration with the community, we
should use this summer as a way to say to
the community use them or lose them. We
should go out and relieve the fees this
year, get rid of the fees now and see
actually what is the volume of
participation.

If the participation without the fees
this year is such that it would suggest any
reasonable person that maybe a particular
pool should not be considered for
continued operation or reinvestment of
capital dollars, then at least we have a
better way to say to the community, look
this has been the reality, it is not liked, it is
not you know -- kids are not participating.
We are going into the next millenium and
we have to think out can we still maintain
31 plus pools. It maybe that many in the
community will say okay well if the worse
happens and you close my neighborhood
small pool, maybe we can have a little bit
of recommitted money by opening up the
community after school program in one of
our neighborhood school facilities.

You know there are a lot of

neighborhoods that don't have the benefit
of a pool, but may have three public school
facilities in the neighborhood. Maybe
there is a little bit of a trading that can go
on. Maybe we should just work with the
community, work with the kids. The pools
should be magnets for attracting young
people during that two-month period. So
we can work with young people in the
park centers and do something progressive
in terms of their education, not just
swimming for the sake of swimming, but
we have computer labs we are setting up at
these parks facilities. We have other
activities, we have a lot of great park staff
that have delineated and developed
programmatic activities for recreation for
education.

I mean we have a whole back you
know what words view when it comes to
pools and this ridiculous discussion that
we are having about the fees. So, I am
opposed to the fees, I will vote for this
amendment because it is better than
nothing. But if we are going to really sit
down and issue this RFP, develop a
collaboration with the community and all
the volunteers, we couldn't even put a
dollar figure on all the volunteer support
that we have out there at the neighborhood
level. The parents and the young people
who pitch in for baseball little league,
soccer, you name it. The volunteers that
work at the rec centers. I mean the whole
thing is just completely a backward
philosophy of this administration.

So, Iam very much still opposed to
the fees. I would commit to voting for
fees next year or in the future. This is to
Mr. Ricciardi if as a result of this
collaboration and we have a sincere group
of community minded folks who have care
about their community centers and their

368

pools. And if after this collaborative
process next year, they say well we would
like to have fees or we want to have a
photo ID system so that kids can be
registered not only for pools but for other
kinds of activities at the rec centers, then I
will be the first one next year to institute a
fee schedule. But let it come as a result of
a progressive and proactive involvement
of the parents and the community folks
who want to take some sense of ownership
of these pools and rec centers. Don't
shove it down their throat in this way, it is
the wrong thing to do.

The Chair:

Actually I never cease to be
amazed the wisdom of Mr. Ferlo because I
have to admit when I first came on
Council the trend was to close some parks
because they weren't being used. The
pools weren't being used and if we didn't
put a fee in we might have to close them
and I fell for it to be honest with you.

Also, I fell for well maybe we will
have to close a few parks. Well they
closed one in Hazelwood on a weekend
night and I still regret, and I couldn't stop
it. I remember the director telling me I
said let's fix Davis Park and he said well
no one ever uses Davis Park. It is right up
the street from me. Well, we went up and
he showed it, it was in terrible condition.
It wasn't used. But when we did fix it a
couple of years later, it is probably the
busiest park in the city. The same thing
can be said about all of our parks that we
have fixed up.

So, I agree J think if we fixed the
pools, make them attractive the main
answer may be to bring the community
groups such as you are talking about in

SS OOOO

Lawrenceville, the pools will get busy.
And well gee we don't have a problem we
may have to hire more lifeguards that
would be a great problem.

To answer some of your questions,
Luse the pools quite a bit. I take my nieces
and my grandchildren now to the pools.
You know when you take a one or two
year old to a pool you usually have to have
a bottle, pretzels, and snacks. Well guess
what you aren't allowed to take snacks in
our pools. So, I hide them under my towel
and we walk through. If you don't have
your badge on and the lady I see her once
in a while who makes me sew it on even
though one time I had a new bathing suit, I
didn't have it, she actually made me sew it
on. So they are doing good, they are
stopping us.

So imagine a poor kid and that's a
Councilman, imagine a poor kid who
doesn't have his ID or doesn't have his
badge, or his mother didn't fill out the
paperwork, how is he or she ever going to
use the pools? Looking at it, it is ironic
the three pools in my district, Schenley
Park, I think is the busiest in the city,
Greenfield is one of the top five or ten
busiest, Hazelwood is the lowest. It is not
used. So for my three income levels,
Hazelwood is the only CD eligible
neighborhood and that pool isn't being
used. Yet, there are ball fields, there are
housing community right next to it. There
is something wrong if the kids aren't using
it. Whether their parents can't fill out the
forms or unable to, don't want to, or don't
want to use that stigmatism, well I am on
assistance so I don't want to use it.

So, I have changed my mind, I
think it has to be challenged, and we have
to help support our Park Directors too. I

369

think one of the problems is we have cut
so far back in the last five years on Parks,
no wonder why they throw up their hands
and say I can't manage it. I have been
talking to Pepsi, I have talked to the
county, they are going to show me what
they are doing; they are raising almost
$40,000 in pools. There is money out
there for pools if we have people to do it.

Our fees for children is only five
bucks. I agree it is not a big amount of
money, so either way, why don't we try for
the kids going free this year and evaluate it
at the end of the year. If it is a
management disaster we can certainly
change it. But I see, I think we ought to put
some money in it. J agree with the
Ballplayers tax, if there is extra Ballplayer
tax whether it goes into whatever
recreation centers we can do we should use
it.

When I was a kid, Alderdice was
opened for us to swim at. We didn't even
have to walk to Schenley. So the city used
to cooperate a lot more and there was a lot
more things to do. I would rather hire
lifeguards than policemen. I think this is
at least a start in the right direction. If we
couldn't get it all, why don't we at least
give the kids a chance and I believe we can
do it.

We have crossing guards by the
way at most of the pools that are doing the
collecting of the money or checking of the
badges. They know the kids, they know
who, they are mature enough to help the
guards if there is a problem, if a kid has to
be barred for a week or whatever that we
can still hold those hooks over a kid who
misbehaves.

Final word.

re
ee

Mr. Diven:

I would just like to touch upon a
point that yourself and Councilman Ferlo
make regarding the pool fees and what the
future of our pools are going to be. I think
when we -- one of the things that we have
been talking about in Council is instead of
using pool fees as the means of income for
management and maintenance of our pools
we should be more proactive in looking
towards either doing advertising or doing
concessions. Well, if we start to go down
that road and we want to get the best
return on allowing either advertising or
concessions at our pools, we have to be
able to show the numbers of the people
that are going to support these pools.

Right now there is an artificial cap
on the number of people that will attend
the pool which is going to impact how
much money we are able to get out of
sponsorships to either —_ corporate
sponsorships or out of corporations that
would be willing to make an investment in
Tunning concession stands there. So, if we
talk about this we need to be able to in this
year to pad those numbers of people that
use our pools by allowing people to have
access to those pools. So that we come
back and talk about advertising or
concessions we can go out there and show
that there is a high volume of people to
take advantage of our pools. It is worth
the financial investment of a company to
be a good corporate sponsor of city
programs that are going to give kids
positive avenues to pursue in the summer
months.

The Chair:

Any other discussion? We are

370

voting on the amendment to let kids go
free.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Diven Mr. Ferlo

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

NOES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Ricciardi

AYES Four NOES Five

Due to the lack of majority of votes of
Council, the amendment is defeated.

The Chair:

Now on the bills themselves. The
bills are now ready for final action. All
those in favor of the passage of the bills,
vote aye when your names are called; all
those opposed vote no.

The ayes and noes are taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi

(Mr. Diven, Mr. Ferlo, Mr. Udin and
Mr. O'Connor, Pres't, voted no.)

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed

Sao ee

finally.
MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1367:

Report of the Committee on Public Safety
Services for February 24, 1999,
transmitting two resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1315:

Resolution directing the Public
Safety Director/Deputy Mayor of
Operations, Pittsburgh Police Chief,
Pittsburgh Housing Authority Police
Chief, Housing Authority Director,
Executive Secretary, Youth Policy
Coordinator to forward to Pittsburgh City
Council, within 10 working days, a report
of actions taken to date addressing the
recent shootings and violence between
youth in the Hilltop Communities of
Council District 3. The report shall
include any future community preventative
measures such as Community Outreach
and Awareness Programming,
(SPONSORED BY MR. RICCIARDI).
Which was read.

Also,
Bill No. 1172:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements with a
consultant or consultants for professional
training services at a cost not to exceed
$60,000, and providing for the payment of
the cost thereof.

371

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills? Bills are now ready for final
action. All those in favor of the passage of
the bills vote aye when your names are
called; all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Onorato voted no on Bill 1172)

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

The Chair:

Motion and resolutions. I have an
appointment to the Shade Tree
Commission. Some of them will be in
front of us tomorrow at your Wednesday
meeting.

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:
No. 1368 A resolution authorizing

the appointment of Jennifer Arkett to the
Shade Tree Commission, term to expire

rr
SS 8 8 _O_UT_Q

January 31, 2001.
The Chair:

They will appear tomorrow in front
of us,

I would like to announce Public
Hearings, Thursday the fourth, this
Thursday we will have a Public Hearing
on Bed and Breakfasts at ten a.m. Also a
Post Agenda Meeting cablecast, Friday,
March 5, requested by Mr. Ferlo
discussing Allegheny County budget
projects.

Anything else under motions and
resolutions?

Mr. Ricciardi:

Any
President.

other appointments, Mr.

The Chair:
Just the Shade Tree.
Mr. Udin:

I want to get a clarification. What
is the status of the Council's responsibility
regarding the Fire Chief?

The Chair:

Good question. We wrote, I
believe we sent a letter at the time
requesting actually the Mayor and the
administration are out of our compliance
by not appointing one. The last time I
spoke to them, I am going back at least six
weeks that they were going to seriously
interview in-house and make a decision.
That decision hasn't been made yet.

372

But I will strongly encourage them
to start evaluating who they have whether
it be the existing chief or other
commanders that have applied for the job.
At one time, I know there were no
applications, now there are.

Mr. Udin:

Do you know whether or not the
administration is conducting a search for
the Director of Parks and Recreation?

The Chair:

I don't have that. I don't know that,
By our law that we passed, I believe they
have 30 days to fill that position.

Mr. Udin:

If you could get some clarify on
both of those, I would appreciate it.

The Chair:
I will request that today.
Mr. Ricciardi:

President and colleagues, I will
touch upon this for a second or to. I think
that the taxpayers the biggest farce
probably of the decade that has been
pulled on the taxpayers was when the state
legislature but forth the Homestead
Exclusion. At that time if I am not
mistaken the City of Pittsburgh and the
residents of Allegheny — County
overwhelmingly approved the Homestead
Exclusion. It was supported by many
community groups including I believe
probably the editorial board of our local
newspapers.

On February 8th as you recall this
body I believe I made a motion asking for
a detailed report from our Finance Director
in what is the status of the Homestead
Exclusion? Commissioners Dawida and
Cranmer probably spent thousands of
dollars mailing out the Homestead
Exclusion form and to what extent it is just
very pitiful. I think it has put false hope
on property taxpayers in the City of
Pittsburgh that somehow immaculately
that their property tax burden would
decrease. But if.you just look at this by
face value and I believe what Mr.
Hennigan has put forward in one of the
last paragraphs. It says we have spoken
with representatives at the Pittsburgh
School District and at this point and time
they do not intend to adopt any of the
provisions that were put forward by the
legislature. But it goes on and says, Act
50 does not provide offsetting income for
our district. The legislation is directed at
school districts, the levy in earned income
under Act 511 in of 1965.

Now colleagues, listen to this next
sentence, the Pittsburgh School District
levels their eamed income tax under the
authority of Act 5083 of ‘61, their current
earned income tax rate of 1.875 already
exceeds the maximum allowed under Act
50. They cannot absorb the loss of
revenue that would result from the
implementation of this exclusion.

So, here we have tens of thousands
of taxpayers in the City of Pittsburgh that
have voted for the Homestead Exclusion
Referendum put forward by the legislature,
that have received these forms by the
County Commissioners, that probably
have done due diligence by getting their
form in. And the School Board is not only
not even going to consider the Homestead

Exclusion but it appears that they're not
permitted even under Act 50 because they
already exceed the income tax level.

Now this is not to say that Gene
Ricciardi or this body supports a property
tax over an income tax or income tax over
property tax. But if we're going to talk
about true tax reform and talk about what
taxes are fair and what taxes are acceptable
and what taxes the taxpayers are willing to
entertain and then if we're going to go with
the referendum stating up the dialogue and
realizing it's just not going any where, it
hit a brick wall. Because number one the
school district can't even entertain it
because even if they decide to pull a swap
of property tax for an income tax because
we know the seniors now that are having
some difficulty paying their property taxes
and many of the seniors are their kids have
already or now taken advantage of the
school district. But what really upsets me
about all of this is the false hope that we
generated with the taxpayers. I am getting
a lot of calls and questions but according
to what was forwarded to me on
February 8th, just not even going any
where.

So the legislature is going to try to
say that they support tax reform. The
legislature in Harrisburg is going to put
forward a referendum saying that they’re
going to lower the property tax for
individuals in the City of Pittsburgh no
matter what age. If the two
Commissioners, Cranmer and Dawida, I
forgot which one comes first, they're
interchangeable, but if the two
Commissioners decide to mail out a
homestead exclusion form for what
benefit?

It is just very distressful to be

=e
a ee

perfectly honest with you. Now if I take
for granted what Mr. Hennigan is saying
the taxpayers once again have been fooled.
Something has been put out there saying
hey taxpayers, we're in Harrisburg, we're
sitting in the Courthouse, we're
Commissioners, we're State Legislators,
we are State Senators and we plan on
helping you here in the City of Pittsburgh
with your property taxes especially when it
comes to the school taxes, it is a farce.

And, Mr, O'Connor, I am very
pleased that you’re starting some of these
meetings with the School Board and
legislators, and I think that we should
address all of this. Because this is the
reason I believe that the voters and the
taxpayers are so disenfranchised with the
entire system. They realize that people
talk a good game but when it comes to
really good, solid property relief tax,
property relief here in the City of
Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and the
Commissioners have not come forward at
all. Thank you.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. Boy there is so much
confusion you're right, Mr. Ricciardi, and
that this is just added this Homestead
legislation, but you know if it was
workable and it is not. There is not one
school district in the state that's going to
opt into this, But if one did, what you
would see is a transfer of taxation even
more heavily on the working people. If
you were to make a swap of the
Homestead tax for income tax guess what?
The working people that are today paying
both real estate tax and a wage tax when
you take away the part that you're getting
from their homes and you have to make it
up some where, guess who is going to

374

make it up? The people that are paying
income tax. So it is going to fall on the
working people if we make that change.

So that's one of the big reasons that
your not seeing that change made. I guess
there is a raging debate about property
taxes you know with the assessment
system in the mess that it’s in one day it is
frozen, the next day it is unfrozen and
things are happening faster than they have
happened before, there is a big debate.
Should we get rid of property taxes
altogether, are they bad? I think one of the
reasons we got to keep in mind in this
debate is that property tax is probably the
tax we have where there is no ability to
evade it. We know where property is. We
have a big problem in this city, county,
State and federal government with those
that are paid under the table or that receive
their income illegally. They are never
taxed what that amount is we will never
know. One thing is for sure about property
taxes, you can't hide land, you can't hide
buildings there. It is a solid thing that can
be taxed and I don't think that argument
should ever be forgotten in our discussions
on tax reform.

Mr. Cohen:

I would like to put my two cents in.
Political science professors often talk
about the symbol of government and that
government at least something that we
need to aspire to is that government needs
to be fair and needs to inform the people.
When it comes to this Act 50 Homestead
exemption neither is the case. It has
caused tremendous confusion.

Iam glad that Councilman

Ricciardi brought this up and Councilman
Hertzberg made a very good point. That

SSS SSS

frankly I hadn't thought about before on
the evasion issue, but on the basic question
of what is the Homestead Exemption
about? Have the people who have put it
into effect the state legislature and the
county have they informed the populous
about this and have people had an equal
opportunity to take advantage of it? The
answer to all of those questions is no.
There has been tremendous confusion and
over nothing. But the fact is, no school
districts including the City of Pittsburgh
School District and only school districts
are allowed to do.it, no school district has
taken any action to provide a property tax
exemption under Act 50,

So either they have created false
hope to the property owners or false fear
for the wage earners and in both cases it's
false. So in my view at least this has been
a huge failure and one that needs to be
corrected. Imagine, I have never heard
before of any kind.of tax benefit at least
where if you qualify for the tax benefit but
you’re not able to get the benefit unless
you file a written form for it. I don't know
of any other tax that is that way. Not to
mention the fact that the stool districts
haven't even taken any action to give us
this exemption, so it has created
confusion, It's wrong and I hope that it
can be corrected.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes, thank you everyone for those
comments. I would like to put forward,
Mr. O'Connor, that I believe true tax
reform and tax relief here in the City of
Pittsburgh in the State of Pennsylvania is
for our state delegation to work very
diligently and take the billion dollar
surplus. The surplus that has continued to
grow because of strong economic times.

375

Take that surplus and give that in terms of
tax relief to our seniors, for those
individuals that are above the age of 50,
55, 60, 62, that no longer have children in
the schools, that no longer are going to be
taking advantage of the public school
system and lower their property tax bite to
the school district.

They're sitting on a billion dollars
of solid money, of foundation money that
was generated because of strong economic
times. So they want to say I don't want to
increase the property taxes, I don't want to
increase the income tax, I don't want to
increase the sales tax, give the billion
dollars back to the senior citizens so their
tax bite for school taxes will be lower.
Thank you.

The Chair:

You bring up a good point, I am
going to just end on it. I don't know if we
need the Institute of politics or Pitt or
somebody to maybe say here is what one
state does. J don't think it is a city problem
if it be Ohio or California and the states
that are booming and just evaluate where
we are and what tax structures different
people have. The thing I hear from young
people coming into Allegheny County,
how high the property tax is, seniors, what
are their alternatives and who is going to
pay for them if we go another route?

Again, addressing your issue, what
are we going to do with this building of
knowledge? Are we going to wait for
Governor Ridge's last year in office to go
be Santa Claus? All we need is $4 million
for our court system and a couple million
for our pension fund and our school kids
need a couple dollars. They’re only asking
for 14, 15 million and they are almost

home free. Plus all the benefits you can do
for our seniors or fix the senior centers that
we need, Whatever the answers are,
maybe we ought to have a bigger
discussion on it and try to get to the
bottom so we know who to lobby for and
what to do.

With that, can I have a motion to
approve the minutes?

MR. COHEN moved to approve the
minutes.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair;

I would like a motion to recess
today's meeting so we can have our asphalt

discussion tomorrow.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to recess the
meeting.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.

And on the motion made by Mr.
Hertzberg, the meeting recessed.

ADDENDUM
Mr. Udin’s comments on Bill 1208 can be
found in the Standing Committee Meeting
minutes of February 24, 199.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

The Chair:

376

Motion to reconvene meeting of
March 2.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1369:

Report of committees on Public Works,
Water and Environmental Services, for
March 3, 1999, transmitting two
tesolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1195:

Resolution providing for a
Contract or Contracts, or the use of
existing Contracts for street resurfacing
programs to include but not limited to ultra
thin hot mix asphalt, hot mix asphalt,
crack sealing, sawing and sealing, nova
chip, flexible pavement, asphalt milling,
truck rental, brick and blockstone repairs,
handicap ramps, concrete slab replacement
at various locations throughout the City of
Pittsburgh, at a cost not to exceed

$6,015,000.00 Dollars.
Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1196:
Resolution providing for a

Contract or Contracts, or the use of
existing Contracts for street resurfacing
programs to include but not limited to ultra

eee eS

thin hot mix asphalt, hot mix asphalt,
crack sealing, sawing and sealing, nova
chip, flexible pavement, asphalt milling,
truck rental, brick and blockstone repairs,
handicap ramps, concrete slab replacement
in CD areas throughout the City of
Pittsburgh at a cost not to exceed
$2,961,603.00 Dollars.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Ms, McDonald:

Yes for clarity. We have read 1195
and 1196. So the numbers have changed
because we had preliminary voted as
amended to increase the cap. Councilman
Onorato, can you clarify? Just a point of
procedure.

Mr. Onorato:

The bills in front of us now, it will
be a final vote on the annual authorization
which does include the increased amount
but that is only the authorization, There
have been no dollars transferred as of yet.
That will be determined next week.

Ms. McDonald:

Yes.
The Chair:

Any further discussion? Bills are
now ready for final action. Ail in favor of

the passage of the bills vote aye when your
names are called; all those opposed vote

no.
Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were as follows:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Hertzberg
Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ferlo abstained, Ms. McDonald
and Mr. Ricciardi voted no.)

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

The Chair:

I would like motion to adjourn.
MR. UDIN moved to adjourn the meeting.
MR. COHEN seconded the motion.

And on the motion made by Mr.
Udin, the meeting adjoumed.

MUNICIPAL RECORD

ee
Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
ES Of Be Oech OF the City Of Pittsburgh

VOL. CXXXIIT

March 9, 1999

No. 10

Municipal Record

ONE-HUNDRED

THIRTIETH COUNCIL

BOB O'CONNOR... ES . President

LINDA M. JOHNSON-WASLER ....City Clerk

JOHN R. MASCIO sevsesssseue Deputy City Clerk

Pittsburgh, PA

Tuesday, March 9, 1999

PRESENT:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato

Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. O’Connor
(Pres't)

ABSENT:

Mr. Udin

The Chair:

Will you all please rise for the
pledge of allegiance and remain standing
for a moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the world.

I hope in your prayers today we
remember the Yankee Clipper, Joe
DiMaggio, who passed away yesterday and
I think one of the super stars, a real hero of

378

this century. I know he's a special hero to
all baseball fans and especially the Italian
American community. He is a very, very
important person. In fact, last night at
11:30 I made my son come down and
watch Ted Copple, and I said this is what
baseball in America used to be. We just
don't have heroes like that any more. We
hope in the next century we have another
or a couple Joe DiMaggio's.

With us today we have Oona Patil
who is seven half years old in the second
grade at Wittier Elementary School. She
is accompanied by her mother, Sharon
Brady-Patil, and she is from Councilman
Hertzberg's District. Will you lead us in
the pledge?

Oona Patil:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.

The Chair:

Thank you. We have a gift for you,
a flag of our city and country.

PRESENTATIONS

Members of the Saint Patrick
Committee and Irish group please come
up. We have St. Patrick in the audience
this moming. This is sponsored by myself
and Councilman Diven. I think he's still in
Carrick making sure the streets get salted.

88S SSS

But he's on his way and it is co-sponsored
by all members of Council. I want to
thank you all for coming down. It is an
annual event and again let's not have
another day like today on Saturday. It is
one parade we will never forget.

I will read the proclamation and let
you tell us about all the events. This is
Teally a St. Patrick's week.

MR. O'CONNOR, MR. DIVEN, AND
ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS
PRESENT:

No. 1370 WHEREAS, Pittsburgh’s
annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, sponsored
by the Irish Society for Education and
Charity, Inc., will be held on Saturday,
March 13, 1999; and,

WHEREAS, the St. Patrick’s Day
Parade, first held in 1869, has grown in
size and splendor since 1950. The parade
now boasts of thousands of enthusiastic
Irish marchers and draws tens of thousands
of spectators to downtown Pittsburgh
becoming the oldest and the largest parade
in the City of Pittsburgh, and the second
largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the
country; and,

WHEREAS, the magnificent St.
Patrick’s Day Parade will feature marching
bands, specialty acts, traditional Irish

costumes and floats; and,

WHEREAS, the parade will begin
at 10:00 am at the Civic Arena, led by this
years Grand Marshall, Terry Griffith, and
including “Miss Smiling Irish Eyes”,
Kimberly Doyle, and her court, Jamie
Waters and Jennifer Joyce.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh, does hereby commend all of
the organizers of and participants in the
Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does, in the spirit of Pittsburgh’s Irish
community, hereby declare the week of
March 13 to March 20, 1999, to be “St.
Patrick’s Week” in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved to adopt the
resolution.
MR. HERTZBERG seconded the

motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Donahue:

Thank you, President of City
Council, Bob O'Connor, and thank you to
all the Councilpersons here. Another year
has passed and we can tell it's March again
as we look out the window and see the
snow there. We are hoping that this bad
weather will leave us by Thursday so by
Saturday morning it is in the 50's and the
sun will be out.

Again, this year we would like to
welcome the whole Pittsburgh community
and Allegheny County to join us in this
celebration of Saint Patrick. This is a
community parade not only Irish, but all
the people and the community and the
surrounding area hopefully —will
participate. Again, we have planned to put
on a production that will bar none be the
best we that we have ever done. So we are
looking forward to all of you being there.

Before I introduce Ms. Smiling
Irish Eyes and the Grand Marshal, I would
like to introduce the workers who make all
of this possible. I'll start from the very far
left and that's our Saint Patrick Fran
Walsh, and next to him is Jerry O'Brian,
and County Manager Glen Canon and the
man who orchestrates the whole parade
once it gets started at the parade site, Jim
Flannigan. The secretary, John Mackavoid,
and our Grand Marshal's lovely wife, Jan
Griffith, who is also a member of the
parade committee and I will introduce the
last two in time. There are some more
people out in the audience I would like to
introduce Ms. Smiling Irish Eyes’ mother
and dad, Dennis and Linda, and Denny
McMannis and his friend Jay Rolling. I
will now tum the program over to our
Miss Smiling Irish Eyes of 1999 Kimberly
Doyle.

Kim Doyle:

J just first want to thank God for
giving me the chance to be here. I want to
thank the Irish Committee and everyone
who voted for giving me this wonderful
and exciting opportunity. I am proud to
represent the Irish community, Thank you.

Mr. Donohue:

And this year’s
Marshal, Terry Griffith.

1999 Grand

Mr. Griffith:

I would like to join Kevin in
thanking President of the City Council,
Bob O'Connor, and all the members of the
City Council for having us this moming.
On this momentous occasion we should be
grateful and proud that we are citizens of
this great city and country and free to

380

celebrate our heritage and each others
heritage as well.

In Northern Ireland Belfast is
holding its second ever St. Patrick's Day
Parade next week. With the blessing of
the city's first Roman Catholic Mayor but
the loyalists are boycotting it. After
having promised 50,000 pounds taken
away by the Belfast City Council because
last year, the first year, citizens were
waving Irish flags. Miraculously though
through the generosity of people in this
country who donated money to the Belfast
parade committee and money from Euro
funds the parade will go on. Although
Saint Patrick's remains are refutably buried
in (inaudible) 20 miles South of Belfast,
Saint Patrick’s Day in Northem Ireland has
long been a muted affair and celebrated
exclusively on catholic turf. | What
enlarges it in America to include anyone
and everyone is the first amendment’s
guarantee a freedom of religion will not be
diminished by a Congress bent on some
kind of favoritism for one religious group
over another. Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion
says the constitution.

And that's that. Over here Saint
Patrick is everyone's saint or non-saint and
there are no barriers real or imagined
between Catholics and Protestants, no
animosity, no resentment, nothing means
spirited, no bombs, no guns, and no hate.
Thus are we able to enjoy the
Americanization of Saint Patrick. So we
must thank the Irish immigrants and
today’s Irish Americans for making it so.
Whether they are Catholic or Protestant or
neither. Over here Saint Patrick belongs to
all of us.

In London Dublin and Belfast a
new wisdom seems to be immerging

ESV

slowly and we in Pittsburgh should take
satisfaction in it. In the current troubles
Americans are playing a role as mediators
and Pittsburgh specifically has opened its
arms in friendship to Jerry Adams and the
whole ideology of democracy for people
who have been cruelly treated in their own
country.

A just piece in the North of Ireland
is the theme of this year’s parade. And
many of us are dedicated to that purpose.
It's a fine commentary on British
stubbornness that the former colonies that
threw off British’s role 200 years ago are
helping rescue the former mother country
from another. case of colonial
mismanagement. We hope that Belfast's
Saint Patrick’s. Day Parade will be as
glorious as Pittsburgh’s, none the less the
peace process has improved public
confidence especially among nationalists.
Flying Ireland's tricolor is now legal so are
signs and gaelic. The guns are silent not
dependably silent but silent. And in that
light our march down Grant Street and the
Boulevard of the Allies will be a
demonstration of changing times.

As President Clinton said in
Belfast in November of 1995 we will stand
with those who take risks for peace and if
you walk down that road continually you
will not walk alone. Rejoice in our
freedom to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in
Pittsburgh and around the world and I look
forward to seeing all of you on Saturday.

Mr. Donohue:

Thank you, Terry. I also missed
another supporter of the Saint Patrick’s
Day Parade and worker who has helped us
throughout the years in our committee,
Beth Pithinger.

381

Now again, I want to thank all City
Council and hope to see all of you there on
Saturday morning at 10:00. For the people
who are going to be in the parade,
approximately 9:30, quarter after nine.
Thank you again for the time you gave us.

Mr. Ferlo:

I just wanted to ask a question
actually. I just heard the gentleman say
that the parade route will be down the
boulevard and I was wondering why the
parade route wouldn't be down Fifth
Avenue corridor?

Mr. Donohue:

This year we are still going on the
boulevard it had been set that way six
years ago and the parade committee itself
requested we continue to go down the
boulevard. The boulevard gives a better
access for our size parade, one. Two, the
boulevard if it is a sunny day gets sun on
both sides of the street. Also when you
have a family you need room, on 5th
Avenue which is a great avenue, which
was a great avenue probably still will be a
great avenue for parades, it is too crowded
for the kind of crowd that we have down
there. Are we in stone with the Boulevard
of the Allies? No, we are not. The way
this year we are going to continue there
and unless there are some changes made
we will still march down there.

Mr. Ferlo:
Thank you.
Saint Patrick:

We wish everyone that the wind

stay at your back this afternoon and see
you at the parade on Saturday. God bless.

The Chair:

We have two to be read into the
record,

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

No. 1371 WHEREAS, on Sunday,
March 20, 1999 Oliver Randall
Montgomery, Sr. will be honored for his
fifty years of service as a community
leader and trade union activist; and

WHEREAS, Oliver Montgomery,
as a teenager working his way through
college, joined USWA Local 2163 in
1948. In 1950, he was transferred to
USWA Local 1462 Brier Hill Plant of the
Youngstown Sheet & Tube where he
served a four-year apprenticeship and
became an Industrial Bricklayer. He rose
through the ranks of the Local Union
service as a shop steward, grievance
chairperson, job evaluation chairperson,
education chairperson, worker’s
compensation chairperson, secretary to the
Civil Rights Committee, Local Union
Officer and Central Body Officer. He also
founded the Youngstown Sheet & Tube
Credit Union and served as its Vice

President until asked to join the
International Union’s Research
Department in 1969 as a Research

Associate and Financial Analyst where he
served for 24 years until named to head
Steelworker Organization for Active
Retirees (SOAR) in 1994; and

WHEREAS, Oliver Montgomery
helped build SOAR with more than 200
chapters in 50 states and Canada. He
graduated Youngstown State University in

382

1956 with a B.S. in pre-med. and
psychology. Mr. Montgomery has lectured
on Labor Issues and Labor Economics at
Notre Dame, University of Pittsburgh and
Carnegie Mellon Universities; and

WHEREAS, Oliver Montgomery
served as a member of the National
Founding Steering Committee of National
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists in
1972, and stiil serves as a member of the
National Executive Council. A_ life
member of the NAACP, Montgomery has
lead the Penn Hills NAACP Branch’s fight
for justice for the past five years; and

WHEREAS, he has received many
awards and accommodations while serving
in the U.S. Army. He retired in 1989 after
more than 41 years of military service,
both active and in the reserve. A veteran of
the Korean War, Montgomery was
assigned to the Pentagon while serving
four years in the Reserves.

NOW, THEREFORE BE iT
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council
of the City of Pittsburgh, joins family,
colleagues and friends in honoring Mr.
Oliver Randall Montgomery, Sr. for his
outstanding achievements, hard work and
dedication.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

We will now move to presentation
of papers.

—eaaaeaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoayaoaoyoyoyy————eeeeeeeeeeee

MR. COHEN PRESENTED:

No. 1372 Resolution providing for
the leasing of space located at Highland
and Rippey Streets, Pittsburgh, PA
Council District #9, 11" Ward (land to be
improved by HOME DEPT U.S.A., INC.
for a Home Improvement Center), from
HOME DEPOT U.S.A., INC., for the
purpose of establishing a Community
Oriented Police mini-station. The lease
term will be for 3 years and renewable
annually subject to an annual appropriation
provided by City. Council. Yearly rental
cost to the City of Pittsburgh is $1.00 plus
utilities. The City shall assume
responsibility for the utilities, as they will
be metered in the City of Pittsburgh’s
name.

Which was read and referred to the

Committee on Lands, Buildings &
Procurement.
MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

No. 1373 Resolution providing for
the issuance of a warrant in favor of Tony
Pampena Corporation in the amount of
$106,760.66 in payment of an Emergency
Contract for the Rehabilitation of the
Flowers Avenue Retaining Wall; and
providing for the payment of the cost
thereof.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

No. 1374 Resolution amending
Resolution No. 144, effective April 2,
1998, entitled “Providing for a Contract or
Contracts, or use of existing Contracts in
connection with the Grant Street
Maintenance Program; and providing for
the payment of the cost thereof,” by

383

increasing the total project allocation by
$75,000.00 from $152,500.00 to
$227,500.00.

No. 1375 Resolution providing for
a Contract or Contracts, or use of existing
Contracts and for the purchase of
materials, equipment and supplies in
connection with the construction of a new
playground at Friendship Academy; at a
cost not to exceed $60,000.00.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Engineering and
Construction.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

No. 1376 Resolution Vacating
Shore Ave. (80’ wide, from Allegheny
Ave. easterly to its previously vacated
portion (per Resolution 255 of 1966));
Galveston Ave. (80° wide, from the
northern right-of-way of former Reedsdale
St. to Shore Ave.); Stadium Dr. West (40°
wide between North Shore Dr. and
Reedsdale St. as relocated); Stadium
Circle Dr. (Stadium Outer Ring Rd., from
centerline Gate A to centerline Gate D);
Allegheny Ave. (Kaufmann’s Ramp at
Shore Ave. northerly to the southern right-
of-way line of the former Reedsdale St.,
for a variable width of + 20°) Former
Reedsdale Street, 40° wide from
Allegheny Avenue to its easterly terminus
in the 22" Ward, 6" Council District of
the City of Pittsburgh.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Public Works, Water &
Environmental Services.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to suspend
Rule 8 by providing for consideration of
the bill only until or after the 8th calendar

day following the meeting in which the bill
was introduced so the bill will be on the
agenda this Wednesday.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MS. MCDONALD PRESETNED:

No. 1377 Resolution Approving
Execution of a Contract For Disposition of
Land By and Between the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
and the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers, Local Union No. 5, for
the sale of Parcel E-1a (Part of Block 293
Lot 8) in the Sixteenth Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh in Redevelopment Area No. 55,
Carson Street, Council District No. 3

(construction of office building,
apprenticeship training facility and
conference center).

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Housing, Economic
Development & Promotion.

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

No. 1378 Resolution authorizing
the Citizen Police Review Board to enter
into a Contract or Contracts for the hiring
of counsel and consultants to assist in the
representation of the Citizen Police review
Board at a cost not to exceed $45,000.00
(Forty-Five Thousand Dollars)

No. 1379 Resolution PROVIDING
for conveyance by the City of Pittsburgh of
certain property, under Act No. 171 of
1984, entitled, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

384

No. 1380 Resolution PROVIDING
for conveyance by the City of Pittsburgh of
certain property, under Act No. 171 of
1984, entitled, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

No. 1381 Resolution PROVIDING
for the conveyance by the City of
Pittsburgh of certain property, under Act
No. 171 of 1984, entitled, “Second Class
City Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984, having been
placed for sale to adjoining property
owners in conjunction with the City of
Pittsburgh/City Source Associates
Sideyard Program.

No. 1382 Resolution PROVIDING
for the filing of a petition or petitions for
the sale of certain property or properties,
known as Lien Excluded Properties
acquired at tax sales, in accordance with
Act No. 171 of 1984, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:

No. 1383 Resolution requesting the
City Solicitor to file a legal action, in
either state, federal court, to recover
damages and other relief by various gun
manufactures who fail to institute
specified safety guidelines.

Which were tead and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

No. 1384 Communication from

City Solicitor, Jacqueline © Morrow

submitting a summary of all claims filed
and paid in February 1999.

Which was read, received and filed.

No. 1385 Petition from the
residents of the City of Pittsburgh
requesting a public hearing to discuss
URA’s sale of land on the LTV site to
UPMC for a Football Compound.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Housing, Economic
Development & Promotion.

MR. HERTZBERG Moved to receive
and file the Solicitor's report.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:
Anything under unfinished
business?
UNFINISHED BUSINESS

I have the appointment of the
Shade Tree Commission. We have final

appointment to the Shade Tree
Commission.
MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:

No. 1325 Resolution Authorizing
the appointment of Vanessa Pressley
Larson, 401 Pin Oak Court, Moon
Township, PA 15108, as a member of the
Shade Tree Commission, term to expire
January 31, 2000.

No, 1326 Resolution Authorizing
the appointment of Mary Savage, 7010

385

Bennett Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15208, as a
member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2000.

No. 1327 Resolution Authorizing
the appointment of Peggy Smymes-
Williams, 122 South 17" Street,
Pittsburgh, PA 15203, as a member of the
Shade Tree Commission, term to expire
January 31, 2000.

No. 1328 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Patricia Carr, 305
Raymond Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218, as
a member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2000.

No. 1329 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Eddie Shaw, 6351
Phillips Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, as
a member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2001.

No. 1330 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Kenny Steinberg, 210
Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, as a
member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2001.

No. 1331 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Ellie Padole, 3309
Beechwood Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA
15217, as a member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January 31,
2001.

No.1332 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Lisa Kunst Vavro,
Department of Engineering and
Construction, as a member of the Shade
Tree Commission, term to expire January
31, 2001.

No. 1333 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Mark Remcheck, 2162

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ooo eeSS eee

The Circle, Washington, PA 15301, as a
member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2001.

No. 1334 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Eliza Smith Brown,
5367 Fair Oaks Street, Pittsburgh, PA
15217, as a member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire Janaury 31,
2001.

No. 1335 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Nancy Noszka, 1405
Jancey Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, as a
member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2001.

No. 1336 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Nita Fandray Modaro,
128 East Agnew Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
15210, as a member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January 31,
2001.

No. 1337 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Lindsay Bond Totten,
RD#3, 359 Locust Hill Road, Cheswick,
PA 15024, as a member of the Shade Tree

“Commission, term to expire January 31,
2001.

No. 1338 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Myra Antonio-Hall,
Department of Parks and Recreation, as a
member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2002.

No. 1339 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Ann Jones Gerage, 64
S Fourteenth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206,
as a member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January 31,
2002.

No. 1340 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Josie Gaskey, Western

386

Pennsylvania Conservancy, 209 Fourth
Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, as a
member of the Shade Tree Commission,
term to expire January 31, 2002.

No. 1342 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of John Hook, 214 Fourth
Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15215, as a member
of the Shade Tree Commission, term to
expire January 31, 2002.

No. 1343 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Judith Donaldson, 650
Smithfield Street, Suite 210, Pittsburgh,
PA 15222, as a member of the Shade Tree
Commission, term to expire January 31,
2002.

No. 1368 Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Jennifer Arkett, 411
Seventh Avenue, PO Box 1930,
Pittsburgh, PA 15230, as a member of the
Shade Tree Commission, term to expire
January 31, 2001.

Mr. Ferlo:

Yes. Thank you, Mr. President.
Obviously we would like to thank
collectively all those individuals that were
just named. My motion is to approve all

ee SSS.

the nominations by the Mayor for the new
and improved Shade Tree Commission.

But on the motion to approve, I
won't reiterate all my comments from the
Standing Committees Meeting, but I am
concemed that there are at least three staff
people I believe that are named. All of
whom could serve in an ex-official
capacity. I don't think there is going to be
really controversial split votes on this
commission. The staff people, I applaud
them for agreeing to work the extra hours
and do the good work of the commission.
But if colleagues have other individuals as
well from their respective districts that are
interested and concerned about the urban
forestry issue, I would strongly suggest
that we continue to add names to the
commission.

As far as I am concemed if it is 30
people, I don't think it is a problem the
more the merrier. J think it would improve
the good work. There are a lot of sub
committees that need to be created.
would like to reiterate my request that the
administrator make clear to the
commission who within the bureaucracy
will help staff the commission? If it is
Engineering and Construction, if it is
Planning, if it is someone from the
Mayor's Office, if it is Dale from forestry,
or Public Works, whatever, but I would
ask them that they quickly communicate to
the commission and to this Council
through who in the administrative chain of
command it is going to be? So that the
commission can get started, and they can
be sworm in and they can formally
advertise their meetings. I would ask the
Clerk’s Office to help out and I would also
reiterate my request that they get part of
the web site, the city's web site location. I
would ask that the tree commission have a

few pages on the City of Pittsburgh's web
site including posting their meetings. Also
I think the administration should allow the
cable casting of meetings at least on a
quarterly basis to get some people
involved in this process.

I would reiterate one request to the
Clerk and to you, it has been over a year
now since the administration has not put
out a bid, a competitive bid for the bus
shelter program in the city. These are
beautiful shelters, there are several
companies that have the financial
wherewithal that are chomping at the bit
waiting for the bid to come out. Two great
local companies, all union companies,
locally based, Chancellor Martin Media,
Gateway Outdoor, and possibly others.

We have already been out we have
probably lost over a hundred thousand
dollars so far in the ad money that we were
going to be taking in with this bus shelter
initiative, and that money was to go to the
tree commission. So please if the
administration could move off the dime, it
has been over a year now for the
competitive bid on the bus shelter. The
commission is out money, and more
importantly or equally important a lot of
our bus residents who are waiting for
buses don't have the comfort of new and
improved bus shelters. Please move
quickly on that issue because it indirectly
relates to the Shade Tree Commission.
Thank you.

The Chair:

Our citizens could use them on a
day like this. We will send a letter today
and request that answer by the end of the
week,

Mr. Hertzberg:

All right. I want to follow up on
that bus shelter issue, because we had that
debate and it was over and we have been
waiting forever. Now I drive to McKees
Rocks, which adjoins Council District
Two on the west, they got them all over
the place. They have been up for six
months or a year and they are very nice
looking, they are very tasteful. I don't
understand what the delay is.

Mr. Ferlo:

The delay is with City Planning
when it should have just stayed in General
Services who knows how to construct a
bid. That is the problem. Sometimes
people think too much in government.

The Chair:

The Port Authority put them up
and I believe there is room for more in our
city too, whether it be Port Authority or --

Mr. Ferlo:

I don't want PAT to put any more
up. This is our right of way, we should be
making the money, not Port Authority they
have enough money.

The Chair:

But our citizens are suffering. So
we will insist that the Mayor react this
week for an answer and who is bidding on
this? Is it General Services?

Mr. Ferlo:

Director Hirsh, City Planning, who
unfortunately has ten other responsibilities

because she is one of these catchall
directors, she is a great director.
Unfortunately she is burdened with every
Project that the administration takes on
because of the incompetence of other
directors.

Mr. Cohen:

Mr. President, on the Shade Tree
Commission, I submitted two names of
people from the neighborhood of
Friendship who are interested in being on
the Shade Tree Commission. I am glad to
hear Councilman Ferlo say that it would be
opened up to more people because these
are two people who had a real avid
interest. So if we could get them on, I
think it would be an asset to the
commission.

The Chair:

Do we have a date of when that's
going to start so it doesn't become a
fiasco?

Mr. Ferlo:

I would like to ask the President
and the Clerk to communicate to the
administration and let the commission
members know and also this Council
because many of us would like to be at the
initial meetings.

The Chair:

They will be swom in and we will
insist that they move quickly because I
think this is a much bigger issue. There is
a lot more interest than I think people
realize in this commission. And thank you
for bringing us all together.

aN3036a6CSa=6eN0R00—00 SSS

Is there any more unfinished
business to come in front of Council?

Mr. Ferlo:

I just want to clarify again if we
could reiterate that we have a Post Agenda
on this issue of the Federal Empowerment
Zone. And if we could hear that date and
time and place and I am concemed
because I have spoken to two Congress
people they have given me a completely
different version of our application versus
what the administration is telling me.

I would like to sort out some facts
and fiction and also since I made my
comments about making sure that we
never greet Al Gore here in the city all ofa
sudden now he has expressed some
interest in making sure we get funded. So,
maybe we need to start pounding on Al
Gore and maybe we will get our
application re-reviewed once again. So if
we could reiterate when that Post Agenda
is.

The Chair:
Do we have a date on that?
Mr. Hertzberg:

The Empowerment Zone, it is
March the 30th. March 30th and we did
change the date specifically because of the
congressional calendar. We invited all of
our Congressmen to be here in person. I
don't know whether we have confirmation.
But I know that they won't be in sessions
then, they're on recess then and that's why
we have moved it back to try to
accommodate their schedules.

The Chair:

389

I think your comments are reaching
pretty far. I got a call from Al Gore's
Office and they are very concemed about
this issue. I believe it is certainly the
proper time to bring it up. I know in the
past Mr. Cohen has brought it up quite a
bit.

Mr. Ferlo:

Just tell them to send a check.
The Chair:

But it is time to get the money,
show me the money. This is an
opportunity to gather our leadership.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Who has been invited to that Post
Agenda? Who are the invitees?

The Chair:

I believe our congressional
leadership, how many congressmen?

Mr. Hertzberg:
Dr. Bir.
Mr. Ricciardi:

The administration, the city, the

county, some state officials, federal
officials, and development officials.
Okay. Thank you.

Mr. Ferlo:

I did ask Ms. McCormick and Mr.
Kolling -- I wanted Ms. McCormick and
Mr. Kolling. The administration hired all
these people, a couple hundred thousand

er
S———OoOoOooeeeeeeeeeeee

dollars they are paying out in salaries I
wanted to understand what they are doing
and what their role is in this, good bad or
indifferent.

Mr. Cohen:

Is it possible to get a local
Tepresentative from the Department of
Housing and Urban Development? So
that, if we were to get empowerment zone
funding, it would come through that
department and also would prevent certain
representatives there to say that they don't
know the answer because it is from the
Department of Housing and Urban
Development. If we could get someone
from that department, that would be
helpful.

The Chair:

Should we ask members of Atlanta
and Philadelphia and Cleveland and all the
cities that seem to get the bacon?

Mr. Cohen:

I don't think they will be coming,
Mr. President.

The Chair:

I believe it's something that we
have to do. This is certainly taking an
opportunity whether it is election time or
what, maybe that's the best time to get the
money.

Mr. Onorato:

Is the Congressional delegation
coming?

Mr. Hertzberg:

390

They're the featured.
The Chair:

That's the key.
under unfinished business?

Anything else

I am sorry, we didn't vote on the
appointments to the Shade Tree
Commission.

MR. COHEN moved to approve the
appointments of the Shade Tree
Commission.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Now move to Committee Chair
Reports, Mr. Hertzberg.

CHAIR REPORTS
Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you, Mr. President. We will
begin by talking about the status of our
snow and ice control program. A subject
which I know is right at the front of
everyone’s concerns today.

First in general, the Department of
Public Works has changed some of their
procedures since we had some problems
particularly in the 31st Ward, which I
know is your district, Mr. President. We
are utilizing the Public Works Third
Division now which is actually located on
the Hazelwood side of the Monongahela
River. We are utilizing the Third Division
for first responses in the 31st Ward. The
capacity of salt at the Hazelwood Facility

SeGSCanNwxmO eee

has been doubled. We are also loading
salt at the county facility, which is located
in the 31st Ward and alternative fuel sites
are available for all divisions with the use
of gas cards,

And since the January problems we
have had two snow ice related events and

the primary and secondary roads
throughout the city were cleared
effectively.

With respect to the current snow
storm which I see hasn't stopped, our
Public Works Department started its pre-
salting at two am. this moming that's
before there was any snow falling. We
began to salt the roads. The snow started
falling at about four a.m. this morning, by
seven a.m. because we got an early start,
by seven all the primary roads had been
salted already.

Right now Public Works is going
back through all the primary roads, we are
hitting them a second time. Because of the
nature of the storm, we're going to have to
do the primaries twice. We expect to have
them completed by around noon at which
time the shift will go to the secondary
roads and by about seven o'clock we
should have those completed.

On the subject of pothole patching.
We have spent about $163,201 patching
potholes. Our efforts continue, 688 tons of
cold patch have been put down.

On the issue of overtime or
premium pay 73%of the budget has
already been spent which is about
$500,000 of a $689,000 budget.

On the issue of vacancies, nine
laborers out of the ten that were approved

391

have already been hired. We continue to
have other vacancies. Four tractor
operators are still vacant they are
developing a test for that position. Two
skilled laborers are still vacant; we are
awaiting the bid results. Two truck driver
openings are vacant; we are waiting the
bid results. One tree pruner vacancy is
still vacant; we're interviewing an
accountant too. There is no list and it
must be rebid.

There are 16 additional vacancies
in operations, 14 of which are in refuse
and they have been requested but not
approved to be filled yet and that I assume
budget hasn't approved the filling of those
yet.

On the environmental services, the
refuse end, we have some very good news
to report for all the taxpayers, the Landfill
bid was awarded February 24th we have
great savings to report the amount of $1.4
million over five years.

On the playground retrofit topic
and retrofits need to be distinguished from
reconstruction. Retrofits are primarily
playgrounds that we reconstructed maybe
five, ten years ago and we are making
some new safety updates to. We're
finishing retrofits at © Wightman
playground, which started in '98, for '99
there are five retrofits planned, Swisshelm
Park, Magee, Alton, Olympia and East
Camegie.

Some other miscellaneous things
that have been completed by the
construction division, guiderail installation
at Guyland Street, Windgap Road, 18th
Street in Oakland Square, step repair at
Doaj Way, Ottawa Street and 56th Street.
Wall repair at Luella Street, Dornestic

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Street and Marvista
completes the report.

Street. That

The Chair:

Thank you.
comments?

Any questions or

Something isn't kosher. I came
down the Boulevard of the Allies today,
and I don't think it was touched.
Something either we're short of manpower
or I mean it is a main artery, it wasn't even
to stop the traffic. But I know they started
early and I was on the phone and my office
got a lot of complaints, more complaints
probably today than in the past. I'll know
more -- just by luck my trusted assistant,
Doug Shields, was picked up at 9 o'clock
this moming to visit Hazelwood, Lincoln
Place, and Swisshelm Park with a reporter.
It wasn't intentionally on snow but we will
certainly probably get a good report on if it
is working or if it isn't first-hand today on
the 31st Ward.

Istill encourage the city and county
to go back and I understand they are
working with our old agreement where the
county did Lincoln Place because of it’s
really at the tail end of the city. So when
the county did it, we never had a
complaint, in fact someone this moming
was they live in Gates Manor where the
bureau does half and then they stop and
they say we are okay as long as we can get
to the bureau we're all right. So, we still
have a lot of work to do. I know
Councilman Diven is checking his district
that's why he's late.

Mr. Ricciardi:
I thank you for those remarks

because I think we still need to continue to
oversee or at least have input into snow

392

removal and ice control here in the City of
Pittsburgh. Obviously the Chair,
Mr. Hertzberg, gave a good report.
However, you know it is different to see
something on paper as I said several
months ago when I presented our plan to
one of my constituents and they said what
I could do with it.

Mr. O'Connor, you raise a very
good point when the county did the
Lincoln Place area, please keep in mind it
is not because they were just doing it out
of good faith, but we were doing a number
of their roads. I keep bringing this up. I
believe this firmly that the agreement
between the City of Pittsburgh and the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and
Allegheny County is at the detriment of
city roads, and city pave ways.

Please recall when the county
decided, when the county decided to give
back Lincoln Place, the City of Pittsburgh
did not give back any county roads to
Allegheny County. So if you have an
agreement in place and Allegheny County
says well we're going to do the 31st Ward
which is Lincoln Place, and the City of
Pittsburgh says well we're going to do a
number of county roads. Well when the
county said we no longer want to do
Lincoin Place, the City of Pittsburgh did
not give back any roads and that's at the
detriment of that.

Tf you go right now on Carson
Street, which is a state road, you will see
that it is running water. It is doing very
well. That's a state road, city workers are
doing that road. If you go on right now
some other county roads and it escapes me
tight now, Noble Lane and a few other
ones, it is running water and the city did it.
Well, I am convinced of this. The city

should do our roadways, Allegheny
County should do theirs and the state
should do theirs. Because what happens
here in the City of Pittsburgh people are
always going to blame the City of
Pittsburgh, the elected officials and Public
Works when they see roads are not well.
But if they realize who is responsible for
what, things would change.

State Representatives and State
Senators should receive the same number
of calls that we receive regarding state
roads but they don't because the City of
Pittsburgh has taken responsibility for
them. I have stated this in the past and
some others try to brush it off as political
rhetoric but it is not. Mayor Murphy has
continued to live up to the agreement with
Commissioner Dawida to do county roads.
And when they gave back Lincoln Place
we should have gave back county roads. It
is a matter of record.

People can still talk about you
know when the county came here and the
city came here and we all wanted to be
frends, and they showed us. Well we're
doing the same amount of roads, meaning
the same lineal, came out to I think 9.8,
Mr. O'Connor, 9.8, 9.8, you can't compare
the two. The county is doing city roads
that only require one tandem to go up and
down to snowplow it. We're doing county
roads with four lanes of traffic so you have
to double that and sometimes triple that
and that's one of the problems.

We can keep running away from it,
but it is bad agreements between
Allegheny County and the State of
Pennsylvania and the City of Pittsburgh.
So a lot of this should be redone and
rethought out.

393

The Chair:

Thank you. Let's see what happens
by rush hour going home tonight.
Anything else Chair Reports?

Hearing none, move to Reports of
Committee.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MR. UDIN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1386:

Report of Committee on Finance and
Budget for March 3, 1999, transmitting
sundry of resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1310:

Resolution transferring the amount
of $15,000.00 from fund no. 1000, org.
code 999200, sub class 150, budget year
1999, Non-Departmental Citywide tot he
Public Safety Police Miscellaneous
Services account fund 1000, org. code
230000, sub class 150, budget year 1999 in
order to provide services to the Police and
Communities Together annual program. —
-(SPONSORED BY ALL COUNCIL
MEMBERS)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1316:

Resolution providing for the filing
of a petition or petitions for the sale of

certain property or properties, known as
Lien Excluded Properties acquired at tax
sales, in accordance with Act No. 171 of
1984, “Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act”, effective December
11, 1984.

(a) 916 Madison Avenue, 23"
Ward, Block 24J, Lot 220, being sold to
Spring Garden Neighborhood Council,
Inc., $100.00. Vacant lot containing an
area of 750 sq. ft. Intended Use: Future
development. Council District 1.

(b) 918 Madison Avenue, 23%
Ward, Block 24J, Lot 224, being sold to
Spring Garden Neighborhood Council,
Inc., $100.00. Vacant lot containing an
area of 4,390 sq. ft. Intended Use: Future
development. Council District 1

(c) 922 Madison Avenue, 23°
Ward, Block 24J, Lot 225, being sold to
Spring Garden Neighborhood Council,
Inc., $100.00. Vacant lot containing an
area of 2,000 sq. ft. Intended Use: Future
development. Council District 1

(d) 414 Suismon Street, 23 Ward,
Block 238, Lot 277, being sold to East
Allegheny Community Council,
$1,000.00. Three story brick house
situated on a lot containing an area of
1,291 sq. ft. Intended Use: Future
development. Council District 1.

{e) 1201 — 1203 Spring Garden
Avenue, 24" Ward, Block 24F, Lot 173,
being sold to Spring Garden
Neighborhood Council, Inc., $100.00.
Vacant lot containing an area of 3,072 sq.
ft. Intended Use: Future development.
Council District 1.

394

(f) 1836 Gebhart Street, 26" Ward,
Block 47H, Lot 121, being sold to Spring
Garden Neighborhood Council, $100.00.
Vacant lot containing an area of 17,951 sq.
ft. Intended Use: Future development.
Council District 1.

(g} 1824 Spring Garden avenue,
26" Ward, Block 47H, Lot 127, being sold
to to Spring Garden Neighborhood
Council, $100.00. Vacant lot containing
an area of 6,480 sq. ft. Intended Use:
Future development. Council District 1.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1317:

Resolution providing for the filing
of a petition or petitions for the sale of
certain property or properties, known as
Lien Excluded Properties acquired at tax
sales, in accordance with Act No. I71 of
1984, “Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act”, effective December
11, 1984.

(a) 5432 Penn Avenue, 8 Ward,
Block 50S, Lot 200, being sold to
Friendship Development Associates, Inc.,
$1,000.00. 2.5 story brk hse. & 1 sty. brk.
& tile gar situated on a lot situated on a lot
containing 5,203 square feet. Intended
Use: Rehab for sale. Council District 8.

(b) 722 Lorenz Avenue, 20" Ward,
Block 20R, Lot 60, being sold to West-
End Elliot Joint Project, Inc., $100.00.
Vacant lot containing an area of 2,800 sq.
ft. Intended Use: future development.
Council District 2.

—==m=_™BhDnADADAA~AAA»»»»™ADDDDDnAA=~™D9IBDA~DD9DDnDDna@O@"""_“OW@HDHDYT—TF—__—_—_—

{c) 1413-1419 Nixon Street, 21*
Ward, Block 22E, Lot 96, being sold to
Manchester Citizens Corporation,
$100.00. Vacant lot containing an area of
9,240 sq. ft. Intended Use: Hope VI.
Council District 6.

(d) 1921 Manhattan Street, 21°
Ward, Block 22F, Lot 29, being sold to
Manchester Citizens Corporation,
$100.00. Vacant lot containing an area of
589 sq. ft. Intended Use: Hope VL
Council District 6.

(©) 1404 Warner Street, 21 Ward,
Block 22F, Lot 120, being sold to
Manchester Citizens Corporation,
$100.00. Vacant lot containing an area of
2,838 sq. ft. Intended Use: Hope VI.
Council District 6.

(f) 1411 Nixon Street, 21 Ward,
Block 22F, Lot 20, being sold to
Manchester Citizens Corporation,
$1,000.00. 2.5 Sty. fra. & shg. Hse and a 1
sty. c.b. open building, situated on a lot
containing an area of 1,914 sq. ft.
Intended Use: Hope VI. Council District
6.

(g) 10 Borough Street, 26" Ward,
Block 47H, Lot 120, being sold to Spring
Garden Neighborhood Council, Inc.,
$100.00. Vacant lot containing an area of
4,794 sq. ft. Intended Use: Future
development.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Bills are now ready for final action.

395

All those in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Ferlo
Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald
Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)
AYES Seven NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1387:

Report of the Committee on Public Works,
Water and Environmental Services for
March 3, 1999, transmitting two
tesolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1309:

se
in. SS

($200,000.00) Dollars, chargeable to and
payable from Account 527900, Fund 1000,
Org. 430000, Sub-Class 150, Project N/A,
Budget Year 1999, Vacant Lot Cleanup,
Department of Public Works.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1357:

Resolution further amending
Resolution 781/1998, January 1, 1999,
entitled “Adopting and approving the 1999
Capital Budget and the 1999 Community
Development Block Grant Program; and
approving the 1999 through 2004 Capital
Improvements Program,” _ transferring
$4,000.00.00 from various accounts to
Citywide Resurfacing Code Account.
(SPONSORED BY MR. ONORATO).

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Hertzberg:

Point of procedure. There should
be another bill in there. There should be
capital, I think. You only have CDBG, for
some reason, on the asphalt, there are two
bills.

The Chair:

Did we final vote that last week,
remember we held the meeting?

Mr. Hertzberg:

396

No. They are companions, one is
for community development block grant,
one is for capital bond money.

Mr. Ferlo:

They combined both of them for
the 4 million.

The Chair:

Did we final
Wednesday?

vote that last

Mr. Ferlo:

I thought the one bill of 4 million,
we took money out of CD and/or capital.

Mr. Onorato:

No it was amended last week it is
all bond.

You have four million.
Mr. Hertzberg:

My mistake. I understand.
Mr. Ricciardi:

Mr. President, on 1309 before we
get into a long detracted dialogue on the
other one, Mr. Hertzberg, on 1309 the
$200,000 is that the money that is
probably in all likelihood going to
CitySource to clean some of our vacant
lots?

Mr. Hertzberg:

Yes.

Mr. Ricciardi:

—eeNleayeCOeeeeeaaeaeaeeeeeeeeeee SSS

The question that I have, Mr.
O'Connor, and I am very pleased about
this money. During the budget I recall
when the URA was at the table and I asked
URA because they zeroed out their funds
for lot cleanup for their properties that they
own throughout the City of Pittsburgh. So
those are URA lots. So just as a side note,
I think we're going to have some problems
come up, because we continue hopefully to
do a fine job on our lots. But I would like
maybe Mr. Hertzberg can come before us
next week and just let us know what the
URA plans on doing with their vacant lots
throughout the City of Pittsburgh because
this money- should not be cleaning up
URA lots. This money should only be
cleaning up three taxing body lots. Am I
correct, Mr. Hertzberg?

Mr. Hertzberg:
Tam not sure.
Mr. Ricciardi:

I think I am. We can have better
clarification for next week. Thank you.

Mr. Ferlo:

I will let Councilman Onorato go
first, but I have an amendment that is
conflicting with Councilman Onorato if he
wants to go first.

Mr. Onorato:

Considering I was the sponsor of
the bill I appreciate that. I would like to
first state that when I introduced this bill
over two weeks ago and I think actually
the wrong bill is in front of us. I amended
by substitution last Wednesday and it

should be just city bond money, which
passed unanimously. But we're going to
amend it today anyway.

If you recall, the procedure that we
just agreed to was last week we took a
final vote on increasing the appropriation
the four million dollars for street paving.
We took a preliminary vote on the funding
of the four million dollars which was all
bond money being relocated. But that was
after a previous week of debate. We are
now probably at the 15th day point where I
Proposed the amendment of increasing
street paving by four million dollars. I
have been asking colleagues or anyone to
come up with a different amendment or
make adjustments to my amendment.
Then Council President O'Connor and
some of the members last week asked me
to sit down with the administration to see
if I could come up with some kind of
compromise.

Ttook you up on that and on Friday
of last week I had a meeting with Deputy
Mayor Cox and they agreed, me and the
administration, agreed to four million
dollars but in a different funding source,
But before I present that amendment I do
want to comment on the procedure. I
think this is why the communication
between the administration and Council
falls apart. First of all this was not being
ran through by me. JI think all my
colleagues would agree, I have been very
receptive to holding it and trying to coax
everyone into the debate and coming up
with their own options. But two things
happened in the last two days.

One, I have an internal memo here
from Director Fred Reginella to Executive
Secretary Tom Cox. It's one I want to read
one sentence. It is the second sentence

here. We find Dan Onorato's proposal to
take monies away from various capital
programs totally absurd. Now to have that
kind of a comment from a director after I
spent almost three weeks working with the
administration, working with my
colleagues to try to get discussion on
trying to debate if we should do more
streets, I don't think that's an absurd
concept. I also wonder if the director
thinks that Deputy Mayor Cox is absurd
now since they're agreeing to the four
million dollars? I would like to find that
out. But to have that put into a memo
about a colleague who is seriously
debating what our streets should look like
is totally out of line.

I will be talking with the director
about that, and this was cc'd in all across
the city which I really don't appreciate.
That's number one.

Number two, there is an editorial
today I can't even blame the paper because
obviously they had a source from the
administration which boggles my mind. I
hear comments here basically saying that
the road to fiscal hell is paved with good
intentions ripping apart an amendment I
presented two weeks ago that doesn't even
exist any more. We amended by
substitution, we changed it three different
times already. But it goes on to talk about
how if I do this, it would gut traffic signal
maintenance. If I do this it will gut
building maintenance, if I do this it will
gut moving the Public Works out of
Schenley Park. IfI do this it will gut the
federal mandate for the fueling tanks. The
whole point of me identifying the money
was that we were trying to decide where to
take the bond money from.

In the mean time, on Friday I am

398

meeting with the administration, coming
up with a compromise and the last
paragraph reads and by the way, they quote
anonymous sources from the
administration. The last paragraph reads
the wise thing to do would be for City
Council to postpone action on the
amendment and meet in committee with
the Mayor and administration. What do
you think we were doing? I met Friday
with the administration and I agreed to this
compromise. So on one hand they
shouldn't be going around doing this and
try to sabotage a debate when we are
serious about this. We are very serious
about it and very disappointed on how this
played out in the media. With sources
being leaked from the administration at
least that's what it says here, Murphy
administration officials say. | They're
quoting someone in the administration. 1
don't know who that is, but I would hope
that maybe they can spend some of this
money and fix the leaks over there on the
administration's side, because it doesn't do

anything.

Their directors better watch the
memos they send out. Because if they
think moving $4million out of a
$52,000,000 budget is absurd, maybe they
think it would be absurd if we eliminated a
few of these departments, which I wouldn't
hesitate to do if that is how they want to
operate. If I have directors calling me
absurd, I have no problem with looking at
our entire budget and putting it out and
seeing if we can get 2 better deal if that's
what we are going to do here.

But the compromise that we have
from the administration, and procedurally
what I am going to ask which I said I
wouldn't do, but I will as a courtesy to me
colleagues. Tom Cox the Executive
Secretary suggests that the $4 million

VU6Saeae=E]a@=a6ES——

come in three categories.

One, 2 $1,750,000 out of capital
equipment acquisition. Now already
colleagues have been lobbied and I think
people have been frightened by the silent
campaign that if we do this you won't be
able to clean your streets because you
won't get street cleaners. There is over $4
million in that account and if we take a
million seven out, I think the debate that
we have to have is what do we not
purchase? And that's why J am going to
ask procedurally during my debate here to
recommit to review that list, to see what
equipment we shouldn't purchase, if we
choose to do this line item.

They also decided to take $250,000
of recommending out of Engineering and
Construction personnel. Remember this is
coming from the administration not from
me. So J assume there is probably excess
bond money in there, there is a lot more
than $250,000, but they are saying
$250,000 of bond money from
Engineering and Construction personnel
for a total of two million.

The other area, which I would
agree with the administration's since they
are proposing this is that there has been
this discussion that we are not touching the
fund balance over a certain level. The
administration is anticipating on May first
when the CAFR comes out that the fund
balance is going to be up well over two
million an additional two, and that we take
the first $2 million and use that cash and
put it into street paving. So that $2 million
added to the previous two million will be
the four.

So $2million relocating bond
money, and two million of cash reserve in

399

the fund balance after the CAFR verifies
that the increase is there.

I was going to originally amend by
substitution and call for the vote on this
today. However, I will be willing to
Tecommit. Councilman Ferlo put it into a
corresponding amendment today which is
fine. Half of it is the same as the one I put
forward which is two million from the
fund balance and another two million from
the hot and metal bridge, which J am not
sure is even there. But if it is, 1 have no
problem debating that either.

But I would like to recommit this
with the understanding that between the
meeting with the Mayor on Friday and any
colleagues and this one we have in front of
us from Councilman Ferlo, that we agree
on what exactly we take the two million
bond money from tomorrow. And then
have it finally voted Tuesday and we will
have the four million. The bottom line
though is the administration is agreeing
with Council moving in our direction to
put $4 million more into street paving.
That's the real story here. We're now
coming down to the final piece of okay
what two million of bond money do we
move.

I have always said I would be
flexible on that. I am not tied to any one
line item. If we have bond money that we
can all agree on and have consensus, that's
fine. Let's just do it. So at this point I will
open it up for debate, but at the end of
today I would like to make a motion to
recommit. Iam not going to amend today
I will do it tomorrow.

Mr. Ferlo:

I think it’s incorrect to say the

administration agrees to anything.
Because I don't think they agreed to
anything. I think basically the
administration --

Mr. Onorato:

I have a letter here from Mr. Cox
in writing,

Mr. Ferlo:

I understand. I am saying what I
think really is happening versus what
either the posturing is politically or other
wise, J think what is really happening is
the administration feels they have a gun to
their head and the majority of colleagues
want the pavement account increased by
$4 million. And they’re counting over
here and if they count right and there are
five people that are insistent and adamant
that it be increased to the four million that
is what they're dealing with.

So I think it is more appropriate to
say that they feel they have a gun to their
heads in terms of majority vote of Council,
and now it is the painful struggle deciding
where the four million is coming from. I
had proposed last week and I still thought
it was a good suggestion in all do respect
to the good work of Councilman Onorato.
If there was going to be a committee going
over there, I think it needed to be more
diverse than one colleague who is
headstrong on this issue of the four million
which is fine. But if we're going to get to
a consensus, it has got to be a committee
with some diverting views; that didn't
happen. 1 am certain Mr. Onorato may
feel strongly about the four million and --

Mr. Onorato:

400

I didn't form the committee.
Mr. Ferlo:

And his proposal on the floor was
to cut some things both CD and/or capital
and that's fine. I don't happen to agree
with those accounts, Councilman Udin
made a different proposal, I have yet a
second or third suggestion today by way of
my amendment. I think the problem is if
we don't get a shared consensus building
over there it can't be just any one
colleague, it shouldn't be me going over
there individually, it shouldn't be
Mr. Onorato, it shouldn't even be Mr. Udin
as the Finance Chair.

So, unfortunately we are back in
the same pickle and predicament. If we're
going to increase the asphalt account by
the $4 million, which I am still not even
convinced that we need to do, but if that's
what the majority wants to do, then I am
very concerned about where the
four million is going to come from.

My suggestion, which I would at
least put out on the table for discussion
tomorrow, is that we do partly what
Councilman Onorato and the
administration suggested. That we take at
least the two million of the unfunded,
basically of the annual fund balance,
which is perceived to be an excess of the
fund balance that we used for budgeting
purposes for the '99 budget. But 1 would
say we take two million dollars from the
hot and metal bridge project on the basis
that we're spending upwards of 15 to
$16 million for a new bridge across the
Mon. I don't think it is unreasonable to
suggest that either the University of
Pittsburgh kick in a million or the state
government kick in a million or two.

eee

So my proposal is that two million
come out of the hot and metal bridge
project. As far as my argument with the
state government, there is a tremendous
state surplus, the administration
promenaded around Governor Ridge for
his re-election. I think we should call on a
chip that says a bridge that is going to
connect two state routes, Carson Street and
the Second Avenue. They are both state
government operated routes of vehicular
traffic so we're putting a new bridge that is
going to be a connecting, that is going to
be a major connected bridge between two
State routes of Second Avenue and the
West Carson Street and East Carson Street
corridor. I don't think it is unfair that if we
are putting up 14, $15 million that state
government kick in a little bit.

So I would like to throw that out
also for tomorrow's discussion as an
alternative. But I can't support the issue of
the cutting of the garbage trucks, which I
believe is part of this proposal and the
street sweeper proposal. I think the whole
street sweeping program needs to be re-
looked at as Councilman Hertzberg has
pointed out. But I don't think the answer is
necessarily to gut the fleet. I don't think
there is more than eleven or twelve
Operating sweepers right now. Last year at
least in my district and the eleven years
that I have been here was the worst year
for street sweeping or lack there of. I don't
know why, I don't know if it is equipment,
I don't know if they are taking on more
areas now because of other colleagues
complaints, but it has come at an
expensive street sweeping cleaning effort
in my Council District noticeably this past
year.

I also think we are sending the

401

wrong message about the garbage fleet.
The administration still has not engaged in
a win, win strategy with the union on
getting a contract finalized. They are stil]
picking on this union as far as I am
concemed. I still don't know if they still
have privatization on the back of their
heads as far as the environmental service
workers and fleet? Now for us to gut
some of those trucks I think it is sending
the wrong message.

I hope it gets recommitted today
and I would ask that my colleagues
consider the two million, two million
proposal that I have offered.

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. The
reason that I support a significant increase
in street resurfacing money is just because
of what has happened in my district. That
is there are streets that were not paved last
year and streets that were paved and that
are breaking apart right now and we
certainly had a long discussion about that
last week. Walnut Street happens to be the
most obvious example because it's a
primary road but there are many others in
my district as well.

I support an increase, a significant
increase in street resurfacing for 1999
because it's a core function of city
services. If we can't provide that core
function in a quality and professional way,
then perhaps there are no more important
things other than Public Safety, street
resurfacing and the major core functions
that a city does. So I remain flexible as to
where that money comes from.

1 think the administration's
proposal that I have just heard through

Councilman Onorato sounds like a good
proposal, particularly if we're going to
have an extra two million dollars in fund
balance that we didn't expect to have.
That seems to me to be found money.
Maybe it is not, it usually isn't but it
certainly sounds at the moment as if it is.
So 1 am flexible as to how we do it.

I thank Councilman Onorato for
putting this forward and on the issue of the
letter that Councilman Onorato got from
Director Reginella ] do have to weigh in
on that one and that is that, that is just
improper and an inappropriate letter.
There is somebody down at Engineering
and Construction that has an acid pen. I
have been getting letters probably the last
year, letters from Engineering and
Construction that say that reasonable
requests by residents in my district some
how are absurd or irrational. We need to
have a discussion with Director Reginella
and make sure that that kind of thing is not
put in a memo to a member of Council or
frankly to any resident of the city. If it is a
request to city government then we have to
address that request. If the director doesn't
agree with it, then you say you don't agree
with it. You don't engage in character
assassination or use adjectives that really
shouldn't be in any kind of memo like that.

I think we need to talk to Director
Reginella about that issue and go ahead
with street resurfacing.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. There are certainly
questions here and I am glad Councilman
Onorato is recommitting. We need to do
that. We need to find out what would be
the effects of the latest amendment. I am
certainly concerned if we are not going to

be able to get the appropriate refuse
equipment there is no doubt in my mind
that we need to replace some of the refuse
trucks.

The hot and metal bridge we need
to get some more information on that. My
information is that the contracts have
already been let, the bridge is pretty much
at least halfway through the rehabilitation
already and the money is probably already
encumbered. These are the kinds of
discussions that we can have tomorrow.

I stand committed to increase the
amount by $4 million and finding some
way to do this. I think we can find a way
to do this and not harm some of the other
important capital expenditures.

Mr. Onorato:

I just had to take a few issues with
Councilman Ferlo's comments. And one is
I have lead the charge in the past and I
continue to support the funding for the hot
and metal bridge as much as we can. But I
think Councilman Hertzberg might be
Tight here. If we can't do it, if we can't do
it, if we can, I have no problem doing that.
But I take exception to the fact that the
committee has to be more than one person.
I didn't go over and do this on my own. I
took the suggestion the Council President,
I have been asking for 14 days for
comments from my colleagues. I received
absolutely nothing except from
Councilman Ricciardi who initially said he
had a problem with two line items right
after I introduced the first one.

The committee could have been all
nine of us as far as I am concemed, but
there was absolute silence. And for
Councilman Ferlo's amendment I got it

SS EE ECCT

here today, sitting here at the table and he
passed it around. If he would have talked
to me earlier, and if the hot and metal
bridge is available money, I have no
problem with doing that either. I don't
mind taking it from there. Everyone that
seems to think and tried to imply that I am
doing a side deal with the administration is
tidiculous because the reason they are at
the table is because we had five votes.

My colleagues supporting my

amendment is what gave me the strength
to negotiate here because they see that we
do have the five votes, no doubt about
that, But I don't want anyone to think that
I went over there as a single member
committee, I went over there because I was
the only one doing it. Anyone wants to
join me, please come on. I have been
asking for 14 days for a response from
people. I also want to point out no where
did I say we were defunding
environmental services or defunding street
sweepers, There. is capital equipment
acquisition line items there to be lowered
by a million seven. There is four million
in there to start with. The reason I am
Tecommitting is because I said from the
very beginning I want to see what is on the
list of purchases and what they're saying
they are not going to purchase. It is more
than just those two departments.
There is also other capital equipment here
in public safety. I mean J don't know what
they're proposing to cut that's why we're
Tecommitting.

I don't think we should get into
scare tactics to try to win over a particular
line item until we actually see what it is. I
mean it happened last week where
community groups someone spread the
word that they were defunded, which
wasn't true and they went nuts. But what

403

we said from the very beginning is we
can't have it both ways. If we're going to
fund streets and do it, we have to take it
from some where.

I am looking forward to any
friendly amendments where to take it
from. I believe we now have two, three,
four good options tomorrow and let's take
it from the bond money. I don't care what
account we take it from as long as we can
get five votes. My whole goal here is just
to do more streets, to double it. Hopefully
we can have a consensus tomorrow that
the administration will also agree to spend
the money. We start doing the streets for
what the taxpayers of this city deserve and
not try to sabotage any amendments
regardless of who it might be tomorrow
because there might be a new one on the
table based on just one funding line item.

As Mr. Ferlo has eloquently stated
over the years that I have been here no
matter what we allocate today it's just one
big checkbook we can reallocate it
tomorrow from some where else. That
$29 million in bond money can be moved
from any account at any time anywhere.
He knows it as well as I do. He knows
that capital budget well and well one day
you might not have a million seven in
capital equipment and leasing you can put
it back in the next day from some other
account.

T really don't care where we take it
from as long as we put four million dollars
into street repaving. I look forward to the
debate tomorrow.

The Chair:

Okay. Again I want to thank you
for not only taking the leadership in this

roll I think it is very responsible of you
holding it one more day to discuss it. As
you look at it, it keeps getting better.
Today is much better than the proposal I
saw yesterday. And if Mr. Ferlo can find
an extra two million on the hot and metal
or somewhere else J think, it is a win, win
we have a 100 percent of what we want.

But irregardless of anything at least
you have half the money there. For
another day it’s certainly worth the debate.
I want to thank all Council members. I
think sticking together to make this happen
that is one of the biggest complaints I get
next to snow is our streets. I am sure you
are all in the same boat. You want to
make a motion to recommit.

MR. ONORATO moved to recommit Bill
1357.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

The other bills are ready for final
action.

All in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were: :

AYES:
Mr. Diven Mr. Ferlo
Mr. Hertzberg Mr. Onorato

Mr. Ricciardi Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)
AYES Six NOES Seven

Bills have received the legally
Tequired number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1388:

Report of the committee on Planning,
Zoning and Land Use for March 3, 1999,
transmitting one resolution to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1313:

Resolution authorizing _—the
submission of an application to the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Community and Economic
Development for the Emergency Shelter
Grant Program for fiscal year 1999.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those

opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

404

eee

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)
AYES Seven NOES None

Bills have received the legally required
number of votes and have passed finally.

Mr. Cohen:

Mr. President, I would like to first
vote aye on the recommitted bill that was
just a moment ago.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1389:

Report of the Committee on Parks,
Recreation and Youth Policy for March 3,
1999, transmitting one resolution to
Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1356:

Resolution amending Resolution
No. 626 of 1998, effective November 5,
19998, entitled “Resolution authorizing
and directing the Mayor, Solicitor and the
Director of Parks and Recreation to enter
into a Lease and Agreement with the Boys
and Girls Club of Westem Pennsylvania,
in connection with the construction,
maintenance and operation of a

community recreation and park facility in
Leslie Park, 9" Ward, City of Pittsburgh”
by changing the terms of the Lease and
signatures to the Lease. (SPONSORED
BY MR. FERLO).

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you, Mr. President. I want
to thank my colleagues for supporting this
resolution, which further clarifies as
Tequested by the Law Department a
resolution that we did approve late last
year. This would facilitate tremendous
opportunity for not only the Lawrenceville
community but young people throughout
the neighborhoods in and around
Lawrenceville. This is a two half million
dollar plus construction of a new multi
purpose youth center in Leslie Park. It is
being done in the most sensitive way in
terms of the esthetics of the park with
minimal reduction of open space and trees
and the open space ambiance of the park.

It's going to be a major boom to
young people in the community. I want to
applaud the Boys and Girls Club of
Westem Pennsylvania as well as the
anonymous contributor of over $2 million
for this tremendous gift. With this final
Tesolution, we will move quickly to
finalize the lease.

I would ask that the President and
all of my colleagues please attend the
groundbreaking, which I hope will be in

ee
See

the next few weeks when the weather
breaks. So thank you very much.

The Chair:

Thank you. I want to echo your
applause, I think for not only the donator,
the Boys’ Club, yourself. I think this can
be a role model, actually a model for the
rest of the city to follow. Hopefully it is a
great addition to the Lawrenceville
community, and I applaud you for your
efforts,

Mr. Ferlo:

Also, it does open up two other
projects that the Boys and Girls Club will
be working on. The School Board I
believe last week voted to approve a
charter school proposal by the Boys and
Girls Club. It will tum the present Boys
and Girls Club location at 45th and Butler
Street into a unique charter school for 120
young folks from in and around the
Lawrenceville community. The school
would specialize in computer sciences and
job opportunities with a high degree of
corporate involvement and sponsorship
and mentoring of the high school students
at this charter school.

As well the Boys and Girls Club is
contemplating a rental of an abandoned
building on Carson Street a half a block
from 45th Street, that used to be a five and
dime, It's going to possibly be a major
outlet mall within this building for major
clothing projects. I don't buy all those
clothes, but like 501 Jeans and all those
kinds of things that kids buy. But it's an
exciting project that actually will have
young people become entrepreneurs and
leam business principles by actually
running and engaged in a direct for profit
business.

The Chair:

Teach them how to sell clothes
instead of buying.

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Ricciardi Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

Ms. McDonald:

Yes I had to leave the room for a
minute, Mr. President, may I please
register aye votes on all the bills under the
Committee on Planning, Zoning and Land
Use as well as an aye on recommittal of
Bill 13572 What other committee did I
miss? And one other bill in Public Works,
register an aye vote on Public Works.
Thank you.

MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1390:

_—————
ooo

Report of the Committee on Public Safety
Services for March 3, 1999, transmitting
two resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1300:

Resolution authorizing and
directing the Chief of Police and the City
Solicitor to prepare and submit to City
Council a written assessment and
evaluation report regarding the City of
Pittsburgh’s purchase and installation of
video cameras on or in police vehicles
operating in the City of Pittsburgh. —
(SPONSORED BY MR. FERLO)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1314:

Resolution providing for a contract
or contracts or use of existing contracts for
the annual program of the Police and
Communities Together Program, at a cost
not to exceed $15,000.00 from the Public
Safety Police Miscellaneous Services
account fund 1000, org. code 230000, sub
class 150, budget year 1999.
(SPONSORED BY ALL COUNCIL
MEMBERS).

Which was read.
The Chair:
You have heard the reading and

title of the bills, any discussion on the
bilis?

407

Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you, Mr. President. I want
to thank my colleagues for supporting this
resolution, to be kind of a fact finding on
this whole issue on the installation and
operation of video systems in our police
squad vehicles. I very much favor this. I
know it is going to be somewhat a cost
item. I would estimate three or four
hundred thousand dollars to do our fleet.
We could possibly pay for that long term
through the equipment leasing authority.
We have a lot of professional folks in-
house in our repair shop. I think they
could help reduce the cost of the actual
installation. But before we actually move
towards that, this 120-day fact finding by
the Chief and the Solicitor and also J think
Director Costa should be involved in this
issue also and possibly other city
departments.

But I think the issue of installation
of videos in police vehicles is a major
safety factor for our own city police. I
think that individuals are engaged in
criminal misconduct I think it will aid in
the prosecution of those individuals who
are engaging in this conduct who may
have interaction with the police having
been stopped. I think it will help inquest
boards, and I think it will help the
prosecution of individuals to follow up in
terms of jury trial or court of law as well in
the few instances that there might have
been allegation of impropriety on the part
of an officer. 1 think it would also
possibly help clarify some of those issues.

For all those reasons I think
actually the long term it is going to be
more cost effective even though it looks
like a big-ticket item of three hundred,
$350 thousand. In the long run I think we

—SV—eNleN ee

will actually possibly be saving money in
terms of lawsuits and pain and suffering
that goes on as a result of problems that
ensue from stops with police vehicles at
times.

But the information will be exhaust
of review of all the different laws locally
and state that we need to be concerned
about. Review of the vending community
what is out there in terms of those that
would be likely competitive bidding for
this video equipment. What is best state of
the art technology, number of police
bureaus and sheriff departments have
already installed these systems in the last
five or six years. We can leam from their
experiences. There are different ways to
do it. There are higher levels of video
installation that include side mounts as
well as rear mounts in addition to the front
video view system. Whether or not we
want to work to advocate a change in law
in Pennsylvania so that there can be audio
with the video. Right now audio is not
allowed under state law, as opposed to just
the video. Whatever police training would
be needed record storage, tape storage
issues that will come up.

Again, all of these kinds of issues
will be reviewed by the Chief of Police. I
want to thank him for his cooperation in
complying with the request that is
contained in this resolution. But I hope
come budget time we will actually have a
report that we can then debate in terms of
the actual appropriation for the year 2000.
Thank you.

Ms. McDonald:
Yes I want to commend

Councilman Ferlo for this piece of
legislation. It's something I think has been

408

talked about and talked about. It would be
nice to have actual concrete information be
brought forward to Council so that we can
have an intelligent dialogue as to whether
we would like to set this in as policy.

The one concern that has been
raised many times is the cost. In answer to
that since I do want-- I have always
wanted to have a pilot program of video
camcorders in the cars, not necessarily on
all vehicles but at least have them on some
vehicles so that we can ascertain the
effectiveness. We can assess the cost that
would be involved, the cost that the
administrative cost that often times are not
evident in the public discussion such as
storage that the chief has talked about as
well as other hidden overhead types of
costs.

I would like to have the
administration not just to come back with
recommendations and information
regarding all of the police vehicles, I
would also like an alternative that would
be a pilot program where some of the cars
and then maybe even to have a plan as to
which cars it would be? Which runs,
maybe not have one officer be in charge of
the vehicle that has the recorder on there
but maybe spread it out so that each officer
has opportunities to have a car with a
recorder in it. I think that that would help
to keep a check and balance not only on
the officers actions, but as well as citizens
actions since they really don't know what
is going to roll up on them whether it be a
car with a video cam.

I applaud Councilman Ferlo's
legislation. I look forward to the dialogue
but I would hope that the administration
would come forward as soon as possible
on this issue.

The Chair:

Do you know the 350, how many
that will buy?

Mr. Ferlo:

I am going by roughly 120 to 140
vehicles that would have to be retrofitted.
The Chair:

It's amazing why we are so far
behind on this stuff. Again you watch
television California, Arizona, whatever
they have had them for years. I just see
this as a win, win. This is probably the
cheapest investment we will ever make
just looking at either the lawsuits in the
past or potential lawsuits and again the
safety of the police officers. I am sure
someone who may want to do something
even wrong knowing a camera is on them
would think twice too. So I see this as a
very positive move in the right direction.

Again, let's keep on-- I will ask
Mr. Diven to make sure he keeps on the
administration and Public Safety to get
these in as soon as possible. I want to
commend you for bringing it forward.

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

409

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Ricciardi Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
The Chair:

Under motions and resolutions, just
to show that the administration does pay
attention to us. It is the pleasure to put
before you the authorizing appointment of
Duane Ashley for Parks and Recreation.

MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTS:

No, 1391 A Resolution authorizing
the appointment of Duane T. Ashley, 218
North Graham Street, Pittsburgh, PA
15206, as the Director of the Department
of Parks and Recreation.

MS. MCDONALD moved to approve the
resolution.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Mr. Ferlo:

Discussion. Obviously I am in
favor of Director Ashley. But I think as a
procedure I would like to have an
opportunity to have him come to the table.
I would like not so much on _ his
appointment because I am obviously in
favor of the appointment, having spoken
and lobbied for his appointment. But I do

i ——eEe

think we should take the time to have
some discussion.

There has been at least a two or
three year gap in not having a director in
that department, there are a lot of morale
issues. I want to understand the director's
role in the future as it relates to being an
advocate for the Parks Department. There
are too many things that have to do with
parks that have been delegated to the
Planning Department. There are issues
about our rec centers and our fields, I think
it would be healthy and helpful to have a
discussion. I don't believe it should be in
the context of we are going to either
approve him or reject him. I have already
made it clear I am very pleased that the
Mayor agreed to pick the best talent. I
think Dwayne will be a great director. It is
our opportunity to talk about a number of
issues in the Parks Department.

The Chair:
We can certainly --
Mr. Ferlo:

Or we can have a Post Agenda,
whatever.

Mr. Cohen:

I think that would be helpful. It
certainly wouldn't hurt to talk about
important policy issues as they relate to
parks and recreation.

I want to commend the Mayor for
making this appointment. In the dealings
that I have had with Dwayne Ashley over
the years it's always been professional he's
been very responsive and I think that he
would do an excellent job as Director of

410

Parks and Recreation. I know that every
member of Council agrees but I just
wanted to say in my own personal
experience on issues and I could go
through six or seven issues. I have had to
deal with him in the last few years; he has
always been very responsive and very
professional. I am sure he will bring those
talents to the job of director. I am very
happy for the appointment.

Mr. Diven:

I would just like to follow up on
what Councilman Ferlo said. I think it
would be a good idea to bring him in front
of Council just so we can talk about his
complete picture of where parks and recs
need to be going and our facilities.

T had the opportunity to sit with
him for about 45 minutes yesterday
afternoon. I got to say he has got some
really exciting ideas but I am sure as the
Parks Director he can't do it alone. By
having him in front of Council we can
hopefully start a dialogue of where he
needs the support and where he needs our
help to go after the additional resources to
Teally take it to the next level. I think a lot
of times when we have him in front of
Council we are going issue by issue an we
can't see the whole scope. I think it would
be real helpful too.

I know that one of the things that
we discussed in our meeting yesterday was
potentially going after some state funding.
I talked to him about the work that we
have been doing with our local delegation
to try to build a relationship so that we can
go after state grant funding or reoccurring
funding. I think one of the areas that we're
-- I think we can have a tremendous boost
to our financial picture would be in Parks

—— eee

and Recreation.

I think getting Duane at the table
and having him talk about the complete
picture and where we want to go and how
we can use our resources to make sure that
he has the appropriate funding levels to
make that happen? So I think that's a
fantastic idea and J think that I am sure all
of you will be impressed with the direction
he wants to take the department. I think
that we have got a great opportunity but it
is up to us to capitalize on it.

Ms. McDonald:.,

Yes. I would like to commend the
Mayor for making an appointment of
someone I would call homegrown in city
govemment and city administration.
Someone that's come from up through
ranks and it is something that I think is an
added dimension to the selection of
directors that he has and we have fine
directors, And Duane Ashley will make
another fine director.

I have no problem with
confirmation but I would ask that his
confirmation not be mired in our
discussion on what our vision is. I mean
come on we can ask Mr. Ashley to come
to the table and talk about his vision, but
ultimately it is going to be our vision.
There are going to be nine visions that he
is going to have to, you know, get together
and try to make sense of and try to move
ahead. So actually it's going to be our
frustrations, our visions, our concerns and
that's not part of his appointment. That
teally should not be part of his
confirmation.

I would suggest that we have him
before us to make if you want to have a

411

confirmation fine. I prefer that we confirm
him now and then as Councilman Ferlo
suggested have a Post Agenda to give
adequate time so we can give our concerns
to him and try to hash out a vision and see
what he has on his mind. But I would
prefer that we confirm at this time and
schedule a Post Agenda so that we can
really get into the details of what we
would like to see for Parks and Recreation.

Mr. Ferlo:

I don't agree with that. The
problem is it is not nine things, it's one
thing. He is the director, we are paying
him a significant salary and I want to know
that he's going to take charge. The
Mayor's style is to give these directors a lot
of latitude. We have had a gap for the last
several years and I think it is important
that he understand that this Council is
confirming him and that we are squarely
behind him but he himself we're not going
to go out and raise money. We can be
helpful in that process. We are not going
to be able to critique the performance of
staff in the various departments. We are
not going to -- I mean that is not our job
and function.

I would like to know from him by
way of the confirmation process that he's
been given a green light. I want him to be
a powerful, strong independent director
and advocate for the park system. I want
him to say to other directors that have
parks issues, hey I want to be in the loop.
Why is every time I am involved in a an
issue at least in Highland Park it seems
like there are four other departments that
are involved in it and not the Parks
Director? I would like to know that he has
been given the authority and the respect as
the new director to take back control. I

would like to have him at the point of
center of the RAD funding issue on the
four regional parks of what is going on in
forestry, on the master planning a lot of
other things. I mean the City Planning
Department is running the Parks
Department other than maybe the rec
centers and that's not right. The planning
should be involved but the Parks Director
should be identified as a highly visible
person and we have a high visible person.

I would like to know that that
person is going to be out in the private
sector and in the non-profit community is
going to be projected as a leader of the
park staff. They badly need a morale
booster in that department. I would like to
know that he is going to be relegated on
equal par with the Planning Director and
the Engineering and Construction Director
and everyone else. I personally would
think that that is 4 helpful process for him
to come before us. I will go by the wishes,
I am already obviously voting in favor of
him, but J will abide by the wishes of the
majority.

The Chair:

Let's ask him to come in front of
us. I would ask one or both the Deputy
Mayors to be there to show support for
him. And exactly what you said if he's
going to be given the green light and given
a responsibility that we know he can
handle. I think that's a very key point who
is running the parks and what we can do?

Mr. Diven brought up a good point
can we help? Where are our lobbyists and
let's bring some money home for our
parks. So there is a lot to be discussed. I
think I know there is no doubt that he will
get the appointment, but if we can bring

412

him either tomorrow or next week with his
plan of action.

Ms. McDonald:

In all do respect. You can do it
that way, but I am just giving you a sense
of reality. You're going to have a Post
Agenda in terms of a confirmation. That's
what it is going to end up unless we
respectfully decline a lot of the dialogue in
terms of the details of our vision for
everything under the sun in parks and
recreation. There are tons of things under
Parks and Recreation we can talk about. I
would just prefer that the pre-standing
committee meeting where we confirm or at
least interview not be tumed into a Post
Agenda for an hour. It just doesn't seem

right.

If you are going to really interview
and confirm set a time limit where you
know because we do this all the time. Set
a time limit where we are not an hour or
two hours into discussing and we have
really just had a Post Agenda. If you want
to a post agenda, schedule a Post Agenda.
If you want a confirmation let's do an
interview confirmation and nothing more.
1 would say to that we have never after
interviewing not confirmed someone. I
don't remember anytime I have been since
November ‘94 and I can't remember one
time we interviewed and then didn't
confirm anyway. So that is what I am
saying.

If we're going to have a one-hour
or two-hour discussion, because we're
going to confirm. So if you want to do it
that way fine, but I will bring that to the
table if there is a miniature Post Agenda
going on. I think under the leadership of
Councilman Ricciardi who Chairs Parks

and Recreation and who is in dialogue
with Mr. Ashley if we want to have a Post
Agenda, let’s schedule that at a different
time. You can do what you want.

The Chair:

We will I think at the request of
Council members to bring him to the table.
I think maybe it shows him respect to give
him the opportunity to tell us what he sees.
I agree with you, Ms. McDonald, let's not
make it a nine member issue of all of our
little park concerns, let him show us what
he's envisioned for the Parks Department.
So we will ask him to come either
tomorrow or next Wednesday,

Under motions and resolutions,
anything else?

Mr. Ricciardi:

I would like to take a moment.
Colleagues, I think.it is very important for
all taxpayers in the City of Pittsburgh to
realize what the tre cost of the
construction of two stadiums here in the
City of Pittsburgh will be to their wallets.
At the same time, I think it is very
important to investigate and review all
additional what I would say hidden costs
to taxpayers in the City of Pittsburgh for
the construction of two new stadiums.
And in this case I think it’s important for
the water ratepayers to realize what the
cost will be to their water rates here in the
City of Pittsburgh.

There is no denying the fact that
water rates here in the city continue to
increase throughout the years and at times
they have even sky rocketed. There is a
resolution before me today that would be
up for consideration by the Pittsburgh

413

Water and Sewer Authority on this Friday,
Mr. President, and the Public Auditorium
Authority and Allegheny County.
Allegheny County the chief architects of
Plan B Cranmer and Dawida will be
coming before the Pittsburgh Water and
Sewer Authority and asking for $550,000.

Let me tell you colleagues I have
been very involved in the budget of PWSA
last year for this year. And that $550,000
to date does not exist. That is not money
that we have on hand, that is not money in
our operating budget. We will have to
give them $550,000 of capital money.
Capital money is borrowed money.
Money that will not have to be paid back
at $550,000 dollars to the bond to people
who have issued bonds here in the City of
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, but
money that will have to be paid back both
in principle and interest. That money
$550,000 next year will probably come out
to a one percent rate increase.

I think it is very important for
people to realize that next year when you
get your water bill, the PWSA water bill,
and there is an increase in there, you can
take that 1% increase and you can thank
the chief architects of Plan B, Dawida and
Cranmer and Murphy. Thank you.

By the way, I will be opposing
resolution 41 on Friday. I might not even
be able to attend the meeting, but J will not
be supporting it or voting for it. Thank
you.

Mr. Ferlo:

I just don't want a big scare to go
out, and I want to try to understand the full
information. First of all we need to move
ahead with Plan B and the construction of

———————LSSSS

the stadia as well the Convention Center.
And I don't know if the Convention Center
is a different part of this funding scenario
that Councilman Ricciardi spoke about or
not, but there should be an investment
made including by the Pittsburgh Water
and Sewer Authority. But I don't see why
they can't make sure that over the 20-year
life of the construction of these buildings
including the Convention Center, and I
have spoken about this in the past. I don't
like the fact that PWSA has a flat rate for
everyone no matter who you are.

I would ask strongly that if there is
an investment being made by the
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority in
capital funds or other wise that to the
extent that the water bill is paid for by the
football stadium, by the baseball stadium
or the Convention Center, that it be an
equal amounts paying off whatever
contribution of support is made by the
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.
Even if it means a different rate than a
residential ratepayer.

I think this should be a win, win
for everyone. It should not be a
burdensome thing where the overall rate
structure is effected by this investment.
But let's be honest the Pittsburgh Water
and Sewer Authority in addition to a
kickback to the city operating budget has
been subsidizing the construction of new
houses and commercial activities for the
last decade that I can recall to the tune of
million of dollars. I don't think it is fair to
say now that there should be a different
principle applied to the construction of the
stadia and the Convention Center.

I would only ask that the prudent
thing to do is to make sure that the
reimbursement of their future water bill is

414

commensurate and equal to the debt
service commitment made by the
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority,
Dawida or no Dawida.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I think that's a very good idea that
Mr. Ferlo has raised and I am going to
contact the appropriate officials and I hope
they amend this resolution that $550,000
eventually should be PWSA should be
reimbursed for this money.

Mr. Ferlo:

It is not only just reimbursement, if
these are expanded and approved I would
assume they are going to be utilizing more
water. So I would hope that we are not
just talking about just a wash, pardon the
pun. But we are talking about money
coming in from these three entities that
should be paying more money to the
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority and
generating more income in revenue and
water rates to the PWSA.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I hope that would be correct, Mr.
Ferlo, but it is very questionable if there is
going to be more water being used on site
than there is now. All I know is the facts
are very clear $550,000 that's going to be
used from bond money repaid by principle
and interest. And this, one cannot deny
the fact that even setting aside your
concems and hopefully that would happen,
which I doubt because of the special
interest groups that are involved. PWSA
Tatepayers will experience an increase in
their rates to a tune of at least 1% in order
to make up this $550,000. And I think that
is wrong.

[SSS

No time did Mayor Murphy,
Commissioners Dawida or Cranmer stated
that they are going to be using ratepayers
money in order to accomplish the
construction of new ball fields in the City
of Pittsburgh. Matter of fact, the
Pittsburgh Pirates have just given a
$500,000 signing bonus to an athlete to
sign on with the Steelers. They just gave
away a $500,000 signing bonus to an
athlete then they tum around, the architects
Cranmer Dawida Murphy tum around to
the PWSA people and they need 550. It's
interesting why didn't the Steelers just use
that I mean Pittsburgh Pirates just use that
$500,000 to take care of their own sewer
lines. Isn't it interesting? It is just an
offset, just a coincidence give a way
$500,000 signing bonus, oh we are short
now $550. Maybe the ratepayers can take
care of it. :

I think next year the ratepayers will
be smart enough to realize that when their
rates go up, 1% of that can be put at the
doorstep of Commissioners Cranmer,
Dawida and Mayor Tom Murphy. Thank
you.

Mr. Ferlo:

I would like to flush out the
argument a little bit more because the fact
of the matter is you have two stadia not
one. They have to be utilizing more water,
you have an expanded Convention Center
and thanks to the Hertzberg amendment,
there are going to be twice as many ladies
rooms and bathrooms as opposed to the
present stadium, which is hopefully going
to be the case.

I would strongly ask that whatever
the math is this should be actually a
Tevenue generator for the Pittsburgh Water
and Sewer Authority. It should not come

415

as a burden and I hope they get millionaire
ballplayers because we have a player’s tax
now and it is more money for the Parks
Department.

The Chair:

I certainly would not support any
of our -- any one in the City of Pittsburgh
paying more water rates for any stadiums
or Convention Center. I certainly would
ask that you look into what Mr. Ferlo just
said, we are building two stadiums,
doubling the Convention —_Center.
Hopefully expanded restrooms will mean a
lot of flushes so that that who pays the
water bill but I know -- I know where we
can get $550,000, this is very serious,
where is Pitt. They're going to play at this
new stadium what is their rent and who is
going to get their rent. That money better
go into our coffers or to pay for the
Stadiums before any city residents pay
anything whether it be Pitt or anyone else,

I don't want to pick on Pitt, if
Duquesne uses that stadium, if they need
500,000 more and they're going to rent it
for the university, which I strongly support
to use that facility, and they will probably -
~ the University of Pittsburgh may use the
restrooms too, the water bill will go up.
That water bill should pay for this
$500,000 with the rent.

I think that should be a wash or a
flush and make sure no one in the City of
Pittsburgh pays any more rent or water
bills. In fact I don't know if you guys, the
last 1 supported this and maybe I am
getting beat up pretty bad besides the
streets, the next thing hitting everybody is
their water bills. I didn't realize, I didn't
see any I thought we were raising
commercial and hospitals and universities,

—EeEmyEyEyEeEaEaeEEE————— ee

but everyone is going crazy over their
water bills these estimate rates, hopefully
Mr. Ricciardi you will look into that too.
By going from three months to one month,
and what they are projecting, I have had
four or five people show me their bills
people are carrying them around including
my wife saying what is going on. So, let's
take a look at that. Definitely don't pay for
any stadiums out of our water bills.

Mr. Cohen:

It has been a wide-ranging subject
that's for sure, Just on the issue of the two
stadia and who is going to be paying for
what when it comes to leases. When it
comes to parking, gate revenues etceteras,
I just want to make it very clear that that
issue has not been settled, that the lease
agreements are being negotiated. I raised
at the last public Auditorium Authority
Board meeting, five issues from those
lease agreements that I felt were not
protective enough of the public. They are
negotiating those leases, they are going to
come back to the Auditorium Authority
and that includes issues like the revenues
that are going to go back to the public as
opposed to the teams for gate, for parking,
for concessions, etc.

If Pitt were to move to that stadium
then that would be of course a big issue
and University of Pittsburgh obviously
should pay some part of that whole cost of
the stadium. So I don't want the public to
think that that's been settled it has not and
at least I for one on the auditorium
authority have been lobbying my four
colleagues there to try to be tougher
frankly in terms of protecting the taxpayer.

Mr. Ferlo:

I think Mr. Rooney already has that
money spent from Pitt.

The Chair:

Before all these deals are finalized,
let me ask you a question, the zoning
change and things for the stadium will
Council have any final word or action if
these aren't appropriate rents? I don't mind
Pitt paying, they should pay rent, but it
should cover the cost of the stadiums,
maybe the overruns. | just don't think it
should go into any owners pocket until the
taxpayers of Pittsburgh have put up
enough the deal we saw on the table I will
copy Mr. Ferlo's is a no brainer.

It is a win, win for especially the
taxpayers of this city. I leave it up to you
to be the lead because of your position on
the Auditorium Authority not to be
blindsided by any of these issues such as
whether it be 500,000 or any other hidden
cost to the taxpayers of the city.

Mr. Cohen:

Weil, I was surprised when I saw
the first draft of the lease agreements. Just
to give you one example. We had been
hearing that the two teams were going to
be paying rent on the two stadia. And then
I see when I read the lease agreement that
any cost overruns on either of the stadia
are going to be charged against the rent.
So in effect they won't be paying any rent
for years. That's just one of the issues that
I brought up at the Auditorium Authority.
You need to have an arms length
negotiation with these teams and with the
University of Pittsburgh should they go
there and make sure they have a good lease
agreement.

The Chair:

Pitt maybe the relief pitcher and
come in and save the cost I guess.

Mr. Ferlo:

Put the University of Pittsburgh on
the back of the tax rolls, all that land in
Oakland.

The Chair:

On the University of Pittsburgh, I
had one call from one business person
that's in favor here, that's making a ton of
money on the students any how. But if
you move that stadium, the new basketball
arena where the stadium is, I certainly
think it would be more in the heart of
Oakland. I have never seen anyone stop in
Oakland for a coffee, beer or sandwich
going to go a basketball game because it is
way up on the Hill. So hopefully moving
it down, there will be a lot more events
and better for the students and the business
community. So I think it is a win, win.
Mr. Ferlo:

Does Pitt have a basketball team
now?

The Chair:

They have a little better than his
school. We have a new coach and let's
look for a better basketball program at
both of our universities because I would
like to look at an NBA team someday
coming here but we better get some
basketball teams college so that people can
support them. A little bit more of a
winning team.

Mr. Hertzberg:

417

I would to like shift our focus get
back to what the city's -- our basic services
one of which is refuse. I have an
announcement from the Department of
Public Works. We are asking residents
because of the snowfall and some of the
difficulties that our refuse vehicles
encounter in the alleys that for tomorrow,
people that normally have their refuse
picked up on Wednesdays and if you
usually have it picked up in an alley, could
you please on this occasion because of the
snow and if you are healthy and strong
enough please try to put your refuse in the
front on the main street rather than the
alley for tomorrow. It will allow our
refuse trucks to be more efficient with the
snow that may still be in the alleyways.

Again, people that have refuse
picked up on Wednesday if your able to
please put it in the front rather than in the
alleys.

The Chair:

Until they put the plows on the
front and they are able to go up the alleys,
we will honor that request.

Anything else?

Motion to excuse the absent
member. Mr. Udin is out of town.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to excuse the
absent member.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.

aeGeCa3e3s————sws00OOOOOO
The Chair:

Motion to approve the minutes.

MR. FERLO moved to approve the
minutes.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. FERLO moved to adjoum the
meeting.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.

And on the motion made by Mr. Ferlo, the
meeting adjourned.

418

MUNICIPAL RECORD

ee eeeeeeeeeeee—————eEeEeee
Proceedings of the Council of the City of Piusburgh
ee eee

VOL. CXXXIIT

March 16, 1999

No. 11

Municipal Record
ONE-HUNDRED
THIRTIETH COUNCIL
BOB O'CONNOR ‘resident

Pi
. City Clerk
. Deputy City Clerk

LINDA M. JOHNS
JOHN R. MASCIO .......

Pittsburgh, PA

Tuesday, March 16, 1999

PRESENT:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato
Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin

Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor
Ms. McDonald (Pres't)
The Chair:

Will you all please rise for Pledge
of Allegiance and remain standing for a
moment of silent prayer for peace and hope
throughout the world.

We have an honored guest, Donald
McClelland. He is eight years old in the
third grade at Saint Basil’s Elementary
School and he is from Council District
Three, Mr. Ricciardi's District. He's
accompanied by his grandmother and
grandfather, Don and Maryland, and his

419

Uncle Rick whose in EMS, Emergency
Medical Services, for the City of
Pittsburgh. Please lead us in the pledge.

Donald McClelland:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.

The Chair:

Don, we have a flag of our city and
country for you.

Before we bring our special guests
up, I noticed some of you are pleasantly
surprised if you will see the changes to City
Council chamber. The flags of our sister
cities which was the idea conceived and
finalized by Councilman Ferlo, President
Emeritus. Mr. Ferlo, would you like to
explain a little bit about the flags?

Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you, Mr. President. I want to
thank you and all of our colleagues for your
support for a little bit of resources that we
expended and with the good help of City
Clerk Staff and John Mascio we were able
to order an appropriate flag of the country.
We have about nine sister cities at this
point or City Council and/or the Local
Sister Cities International Project have
formerly recognized a sister city. We may
well remember and as well our President
traveled to Omiya, Japan, which is one of

ooo

our sister cities. This weekend coming up
here we have a delegation from Cuba. The
Mayor himself has been to several countries
around the world promoting good will and
economic development and cultural and
exchanges between our two peoples.

I thought it would be appropriate
and I think Council is pleased and
supportive of having the country flags of
our sister cities. | Hopefully when a
delegation visits us, if they are part of a
ceremony here in chamber with the
President and members of Council or the
Mayor, we can appropriately lift up the flag
of that particular country and put it
alongside of our flag of our country and our
state and our city.

We have a flag here from Bilbao,
Spain; Omiya, Japan; Saarbruken, German;
San Isidoro, Nicaragua; Sheffield, England;
Sofia, Bulgaria, Wuhan, China; Zabreb,
Croatia; and Matanzas, Cuba at this point.
It is our hope that as we add formal sister
city resolutions and relationships that we
will also ingratiate the chamber with
additional country flags. I think it’s festive,
I think it’s goods and I think it makes good
sense for people to people relation. Thank
you.

The Chair:

Thank you. I think it really added a
lot to Council chamber.

Mr. Ferlo:

We don't have one for Ireland,
Mr. Diven, and I believe we are meeting
shortly with a delegation of the sister city
locally. They have been working on a sister
city relationship and I hope that that can be
at least one of the flags. There are many

420

other flags I think we can add very shortly.
But J would encourage all of our colleagues
to assist the local sister city initiative and
let's try to add some additional sister cities
to chambers.

The Chair:

We certainly look forward. I had a
small meeting with the delegation from
Ireland and I know Mr. Onorato has been
meeting with some delegation from Italy.
And so let’s pull it together and at least
bring those two in soon. But thank you. It
really is an outstanding plus to Council.

PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. President, we have a delegation
from the Campfire Boys and Girls. If they
would like to come forward, Mike and all
the folks and Christopher Johns. We have
one of the small kids here from the
Campfire kids. I am joined here this
moming with Danielle Bauer, Executive
Director of Campfire Boys and Girls, Jill
Karichko (phonetic) the Program Director,
many of you know Mike Nichols here our
own Public Works worker very active in
the community and he is a program
volunteer with this great organization.

This young man to the left all
dressed up and decked out is Christopher
Johns he is a Campfire kid and on behalf of
the President and members of Council we
want to give him the official city flag
welcoming him here to chambers. I would
like to read the following resolution. On
behalf of all of our colleagues here on City
Council.

MR. FERLO AND ALL MEMBERS OF

SS COOTOEOSON

COUNCIL PRESENT:

No. 1392 WHEREAS, Camp Fire
Boys and Girls, the national organization,
will sponsor Absolutely Incredible Kids
Day on March 18, 1999; and

WHEREAS, Camp Fire Boys and
Girls has issued a call to action, asking
every adult in America to write a letter to a
child or children on March 18, 1999; and

WHEREAS, the Greater Pittsburgh
Camp Fire Council in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania teaches boys and girls self
reliance, good citizenship and leadership;
and

WHEREAS, through _ providing
interesting and innovating youth programs
and by successfully serving as an advocate
for youth and their families, Camp Fire
Boys and Girls helps the young cope with
an environments which may at times be
challenging, but always evolving; and

WHEREAS, Camp Fire activities
are all-inclusive, open to children of both
genders, all races, religions and creeds; and

WHEREAS, Camp Fire Boys and
Girls is commended and congratulated for
the plethora of worthy programs it makes
available to the young of the City of
Pittsburgh and throughout the nation, and
for the many services these young people
perform for their communities through
Camp Fire;

NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend all of
those who help to make the Camp Fire
Boys and Girls organization the success it
is; and

421

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council declares Thursday, March
18, 1999 to be Absolutely Incredible Kid
Day in the City of Pittsburgh.

MS. MCDONALD moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. HERTZBERG seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you very much. I want to
provide this to our representatives here.
Many of you may be aware that in addition
to the Council's recent support for the
construction of a new youth center in
Lawrenceville for the Boys and Girls Club,
there has now been a formal merger of
these two great historic organizations that
have provided services to young people for
many decades. So both the taditional
Campfire Girls and the Boys and Girls Club
of Western Pennsylvania have now merged
as two formal organizations now
representing one great youth service
organization. I am sure they will be
working out all the details.

So we're pleased to have a
delegation here today. I would like tum it
over to the reps to say a few words about
what this day is about and what we are
asking folks to do.

Ms. Bauer:

Thank you. On behalf of Campfire
Boys and Girls and especially our
membership, the incredible kids that we do
serve, we want to thank City Council for
their continued support of Absolute
Incredible Kid Day. But also of Campfire

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Boys and Girls and I would also like to let
you know this is Campfire Boys and Girls
30th Anniversary in Pittsburgh.

In 1969 Campfire Girls was
founded and started with an office over in
Allegheny Square on the North Side. So
we have come a long way especially now
with the exciting merger with the Boys and
Girls Club.

So we would just like to ask
everyone to take a special day, March 18",
think of all of our wonderful children, give
them a thought, think of all the things that
make them incredible, make them special
and wonderful and put that down in a letter
to them. Because we are finding out this is
the third anniversary of this special effort
and we are finding out wonderful things are
happening when people write these letters
and it is going to also be a keepsake for the
children that you give it to.

We have given a packet of
stationery and we have it here, I guess it
will be handed out later to you so that you
can write the letter with the stationary and
give the sticker to a special child in your
life. So we thank you for your support.
This is the third year that you have
supported this effort and hopefully it will
continue. Thank you very much.

Mr. Nichols:

Thank you very much. I just want
to say a few words. We do have a program
up in the Hill District and hopefully we will
have one in Homewood real soon and in
other areas as well.

I would like to say thank you for
what you are all doing and keep up the
good work. Thank you.

422

The Chair:

We have one to be read into the
record for Mr. Onorato.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTS:

No. 1393 WHEREAS the Ukrainian
Selfreliance of Westem Pennsylvania
Federal Credit Union was founded on
January 13, 1974 and celebrated its 20”
anniversary on Saturday, May 21, 1994;
and

WHEREAS the Credit Union has
grown from a modest beginning into a
sound financial institution. It concluded its
21* year with 988 members and assets of
over 7.8 million dollars, and

WHEREAS, the year 1995 marked
the end of an era. S. Michael Tymiak, who
was President from the start of the
organization, relinquished his position to
Mr. George Baran. At year end the Credit
Union had 1009 members and assets
totaling over 8 million dollars; and

WHEREAS, in 1996 the Credit
Union’s steady growth continued.
Membership increased as did loans to
members; and

WHEREAS, In December of 1997 a
new and improved computer system was
installed with the required specialized
programs for credit union operations; and

WHEREAS, in 1998 the number of
loan _—_ delinquencies was reduced
significantly through the diligence of the
Board of Directors. Additionally, the
Credit Union continued its goal of
increasing the training of its office workers;
and

a... eS

WHEREAS, the Credit Union also
joined the PA Credit Union League and
entered into a mentor relationship with
Parkview Community FCU. The 1998 year
ended with assets of over 8 million dollars
and a membership of $1,181.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh hereby congratulates the
Ukrainian Selfreliance of | Westem
Pennsylvania Federal Credit Union for
providing services to the community for the
past 25 years. ,

MS. MCDONALD moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. HERTZBERG seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Now move to presentation of
papers.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

No. 1394 Resolution Further
amending Resolution No. 781 of 1998
entitled, “Adopting and approving the 1999
Capital Budget and the 1999 Community
Development Block Grant Program: and
approving the 1999 through 2004 Capital
Improvement Program” by adding
$76,332.00 to various line items.
(SPONSORED BY ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS)

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

No. 1395 Resolution Approving the
Amended Redevelopment Proposal dated

423

February, 1999, including Modification No.
8 to the Redevelopment Area Plan, for
redevelopment activities in a portion of
Redevelopment Area No. 12, Allegheny
Center, in the 22" Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh (Council District No. 6).
(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD &
MR. HERTZBERG)

MR. COHEN moved to suspend Rule 8 by
providing for the consideration of the bill
only until or after the 8th calendar day
following the meeting in which the bill was
read so the bill will be on the agenda this
Wednesday.

MR. HERTZBERG seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Also,

No. 1396 Resolution Authorizing
the Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh to submit an Application to the
Pennsylvania Office of the Budget for a
Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program
(RACP) in the amount of $75,000,000 for
the Pittsburgh Steelers Football Stadium
Project. (Council District No. 6).---
(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD &
MR. HERTZBERG)

No. 1397 Resolution Authorizing
the Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh to submit an Application to the
Pennsylvania Office of the Budget for a
Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program
(RACP) in an amount up to $75,000,000
for the PNC Park Baseball Stadium for the
Pittsburgh Pirates. (Council District No. 6)
---(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD
& MR. HERTZBERG)

No. 1398 Resolution Authorizing
the Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh to expend $300,000 from the
Industrial Land Reserve Fund for the
environmental remediation of the former
Kerotest facility (Council District No. 6). --
-(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD &
MR. HERTZBERG)

No. 1399 Resolution Authorizing a
Cooperation Agreement or Agreements
with the Urban Redevelopment Authority
of Pittsburgh providing for the transfer to
URA of $4,500,000 for Neighborhood
Infrastructure Support (Council Districts:
All).---(PRESENTED BY MS.
MCDONALD & MR. HERTZBERG)

No. 1400 Resolution Authorizing
the transfer to Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh of certain property
located in the 14" Ward designated as
Block 128P, Lot. 7(Counci] District No.
5).---(PRESENTED BY MS.
MCDONALD & MR. HERTZBERG)

No. 1401 Resolution Authorizing
the Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh to Acquire all of the City’s right,
title and interest, if any, in and to the
following Publicly-owned Property
designated as Block 11-K, Lot 19, in the 1*
Ward of the City of Pittsburgh—Rental
Housing Development Improvement
Program (Council District No. 6). —~-
(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD &
MR. HERTZBERG)

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Housing, Economic

Development & Promotion.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

424

No. 1402 Resolution authorizing
and directing the solicitor of the City of
Pittsburgh to enter into a legal agreement
with the Stadium Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh for the purpose of selling various
fixtures currently located in Three Rivers
Stadium with the proceeds to benefit
various youth athletic —_ funds.
(SPONSORED BY MR. ONORATO)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

No. 1403 Resolution repealing
Resolution No. 770, approved December
30, 1998, providing for the transfer of the
aggregate amount of $10,164.90 from
various codes to Salaries, Regular
Employees, Account 511000, Fund 1000,
Organization 510000, Subclass 010, Year
1998.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

No. 1404 An Ordinance Amending
the Pittsburgh Code; Title Two “Fiscal”;
Article IX, “Property Taxes”; Chapter 263,
“Real Property Tax and Exemption”,
Section 263.22 “Participation In The
Property Tax Relief Program” paragraphs
(a) and (b), by increasing the maximum
income limit for participation in the
Property Tax Relief Program and setting
standards for certification; and Section
263.23 “City Treasurer Duties” paragraph
(b), by clarifying filing requirements.

No. 1405 Resolution authorizing the

Mayor and the City Solicitor to enter into
an agreement or agreements for the hiring

of counsel and consultants to assist in the
representation of the City of Pittsburgh for
outside legal counsel and consultants at a
cost not to exceed $50,000 (Fifty Thousand
Dollars), chargeable to and payable from
organization 108000, account 526100, sub
class 150, fund 1000, professional services,
Department of Law.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:

No. 1406 Communication from City
Controller, Tom Flaherty submitting the
City’s Single Audit Report for the year
ended December 31, 1997.

Which were read, received and filed.
The Chair:

Motion to approve.

MS. MCDONALD moved to approve the
communication.

MR. HERTZBERG seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
The Chair:

Now move to unfinished business. I
have the appointment of Duane Ashley to
Parks and Recreation.

MR. O°CONNOR PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1391: A resolution

authorizing the appointment of Duane T
Ashley as the Director of the Department

425

Parks and Recreation.
The Chair:
Any discussion?

MS. MCDONALD moved to approve the
appointment.

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Anything else under unfinished
business to come in front of Council?

Hearing none, move to Committee
Chair Reports.

CHAIR REPORTS
Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you. I have before me a very
detailed report that was put together by
several Parks and Recreation employees. I
will try to read some of the highlights. But
if there is any member of the viewing
audience that's interested in the entire
report, they can contact my office at
255-2130 and we will mail it out.

Colleagues, we have several recent
goals and accomplishments by the
Department of Parks and Recreation.
Number one, they have engaged in
cooperative agreements with the following
agencies and organizations. Collaboration
with the Amateur Athletic Union and
Youth Enhancement Support to provide
boys and girls competitive basketball
leagues throughout the city. Youth
placement initiatives at the Warrington

BNe6GCN{q3q3]e80u080F088q

Recreation Center, which is located in
Allentown in the district that I represent.
The 21st Century learning center at
Gladstone Middle School of which Mr.
O'Connor has been very involved in. The
21st century Learning Center with the
Urban League of Pittsburgh Charter School,
Community Builders, Hope Six Project for
an after school project at the Ammon
Recreation Center. It's a take off of the idea
our Council President had several years ago
in opening up the schools to all of our
children in the City of Pittsburgh.

Also we have been awarded
$35,000 to assess the mechanical integrity
of all 31 outdoor pools and recommend a
feasibility of constructing a family
swimming pool center,

We're one of 13 cities nationally to
be awarded ten of thousands of dollars from
the United States Tennis Association to
implement the United States of America
tennis 1, 2 and 3 programs.

The ‘99 grant for tennis from the
USTA is $45,000 and the adult and junior
lessons begin April 17th, Citiparks tennis
programs is now a 12 month program. It's
headed by Mr. James Rudolph and I know
Mr. Sala Udin has been very involved in
this program last year in bringing the tennis
program to his district specifically the Hill
District.

I think some of my colleagues don't
realize that I know how much you're
involved in all these years.

In cooperation with the Department
of Parks, Public Works and Engineering
and Construction we're entering the final
phase of development for an official one
half mile cycling course at the former

426

Washington Boulevard driver
location.

training

Also the 1999 Richard S. Caliguiri
City of Pittsburgh Great Race. The Great
Race will be the twenty-third, our
twenty-third annual Great Race and will
employ a state of the art computer chip for
timing and scoring.

To continue, we are also finalizing
plans for upgrade improvement in the

equipment inventory at all existing
Tecreation centers. Delivery of new
equipment is 50% complete. All

community recreation centers are currently
equipped with at least one new computer,
printer and fax machine. This is something
that Mr. Michael Diven has been talking
about for years now.

Also on a personal note, at the
Southside Market House the computer is up
and running, $100,000 plus new TV, new
VCR so we're being treated very well in the
South Side of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Rogers Neighborhood hosted a
segment at Magee Recreation Center,
featuring the Citiparks gymnastic program.
The segment aired on February 15, ‘99

Also we have a host of other
activities. Also was the football national
program.

Going onto SeniorInterests. We
reach -- this is very important, colleagues. |
would like to take my time with this. We're
going to reach out Pittsburgh, a Door
knocking Campaign by the staff of
Citiparks will occur on Tuesday, March 23,
and on Friday March 26, 1999. Parks and
Recreation has secured new listings for all
seniors over 60 years of age that can be

See

contacted by June 30, 1999 throughout this
door knocking campaign.

Thave been made aware of this, Mr.
O'Connor, several weeks ago at the
Southside Market House. I am going to ask
Mary Esther VanShura if she could give us
more of a detailed report but all colleagues
realize that unfortunately over the past
several weeks several seniors have passed
away in their homes and have gone
unnoticed for days and sometimes weeks.
And this is an initiative by Parks and
Recreation, Mr. O'Connor, especially Mary
Esther VanShura to use all of our
volunteers and senior centers and reach out
into the neighborhoods using people that
are trusted and that are noticed throughout
the neighborhood. We're going to try to
reach out and try to have an inventory, a list
of all of our seniors. Try to maybe start
some sort of phone tree, become aware of
people if someone isn't being noticed or not
heard of in the areas, maybe a phone call or
visit to their homes.

This really needs more details to
come before us and I think all Council
would like to become involved. I am
definitely involved in my neighborhoods in
District Three, but this is something that we
should all reach out for, Mr. O'Connor.

Also the Winter Games concluded
at the end of Januaryinvolving 288
participants. Summer Games will begin on
June 1.

Colleagues, we had a fantastic
dinner in the Southside. We had
participating 248 seniors from across the
city who came to Southside Market House
to receive their gold, silver and bronze
medals. It was just a great evening; one
that I think everyone enjoyed. We had a

427

surprise speaker and we had a very
inspirational speech given by Dr. Cyril
Wecht who joined us that evening. Matter
of fact it was really a big hit. Some of the
messages that he brought before us and
received a number of an applause during
the speech.

Let me point out that we have an
individual that is 93 years old that swims
40 laps a day. I am not a swimmer so I
don't even know what that comes out to, I
will have to ask Mr. Hertzberg. He does
that every day and we all know that Cyril
Wecht is a senior also at the age of 60 years
of age. So I challenged Cyril Wecht
because he is also a swimmer and he's
going to go head to head with our 93 year
old man and I have my money rolling on
the 93-year-old gentleman because he
shook my hand and he squeezed and it burt.

So I am going to be inviting
everyone to the race. I think it’s going to
be very inspirational and very welcome.

Now let me continue. A new mural
is being developed at our Greenfield Senior
Community Center during the '98/'99
school year. I think Mr. O'Connor is going
to be very involved in that.

Once again this is a very lengthy
report they have done such a fine job. I will
have to skip some of the things here.

Received a letter of recognition
from Allegheny County acknowledging the
fact that PNR exceeded our outreach goals
established for the fiscal year.

Conducted the first Breast Cancer
Awareness seminar for seniors. Conducted
three seminars during the Older American
month in 1998, which included the

a eee

participation of Auditor General Bob
Casey. It has always been stated over the
years that society and elected officials and
everyone would be judged the way we take
care of our seniors in society. I think all of
us in City Hall can be very proud that Parks
and Recreation really reaches out to our
elderly.

We will be conducting a new
program to offer CPR and first aid training
for seniors at the later part of June.
Implementing a new visiting nurse
program, continued golf, tennis, cycling,
fencing and health and wellness programs.
There is a tied vote we're going to have
colleagues fence together and the winner
wins the vote. So we will see who does any
fencing here.

This is something I believe
Mr, Hertzberg has been very involved in.
Continuing the negotiations with an owner
of a property in the West End for a new
senior community center. The Department
of Parks and Recreation and Councilman
Alan Hertzberg are currently in lease
negotiations with the owner of the old Saint
James Convent in West End for this new
center. Appropriate budget costs were
submitted for ‘99. Also something
Mr. Ferlo is very involved in.

Mr. Hertzberg:

That is not a new center,
incidentally if I can comment. It was one
that was there and then was shut down and
then reopened.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you. We will make note of
that on the change. And the process of
converting the Joe Natoli Center to a Senior
Community Center as a means to save

428

$18,000 a year in rental cost.

Continuing on, and I could continue
and continue and continue. Implementation
of a preschool program at Bloomfield,
Keilly, Morningside, Phillips and the South
Side. P and R is presently conducting a
facility and equipment analysis of each pre
school in our program to improve the
curriculum. The staff is developing a new
assessment tool to determine each child's
ability in a more quantitative manner.
Spring term, which will begin on
February | will conclude June 11 ‘99.

Mr. O'Connor, I thank you for
giving me this opportunity. Once again we
have a very detailed report. If any
colleague or member of the viewing
audience would like to read the entire
report, please contact my office at 255-2130
and we will mail it out today. Thank you.

The Chair:
Thank you.
Ms. McDonald:

I want to point out to piggy back on
Councilman Ricciardi's comments on
seniors being found left alone and that it's a
shame how this is brought to our attention.
It's nice to be proactive but unfortunately
there are times that we're left reactive. I
will say this, that Mary Esther VanShura
who heads the function of Seniorlnterests,
of senior programs, I have all the
confidence in the world that she will be
able to make some head way and even have
some resolution in what the city can do to
ensure that incidences such as these do not
occur with the frequency that lately they
have been occurring.

eee

Mary Esther as a Deputy Director or
Assistant Director not only has the
expertise, the resources, she knows where
to go. But what makes her special she has
the compassion, that lady loves the senior
citizens. She genuinely loves them. So I
look forward to possibly through
Councilman Ricciardi as Chairing the Parks
and Rec. Committee, to report back to
Council possibly some recommendations or
whatever the city can do to help insure
again unfortunate incidences such as these
do not occur. Thank you.

The Chair:

I know in Hazelwood the center
there actually has a group that calls
especially shut-ins every day to make sure
they are all right and too if they need
anything. I am sure Mary Esther is aware
of that. Maybe they can expand that all
over the city and hopefully the county. It is
not just a city issue.

Mr. Ricciardi, I am glad to see the
$35,000 to study the pools is available
that's great news. | want to apologize in our
discussions with Duane Ashley last week, 1
was over emphasizing maybe the Big
League because my son is in it, and I see it
every day. But I was reminded we also
have soccer, football, basketball programs
and especially tennis.

Mr. Rudolph has really made a
come back from maybe ten years ago when
it was really at its height and now he's
really taken the bull by the horns and taking
tennis all over the city again. So that is
tefreshing to all the youngsters. We have
all these courts available, certainly make
better use of them.

Again, thank you very much and

429

also you mentioned Mr. Rogers was in our
neighborhood. I was honored to have him
at Magee. He just received a national
award in California. I just saw in the news
for his programming for children. So he's
certainly one of our esteemed ambassadors
to Pittsburgh and all the great work he does
for children, so we want to pass on our
congratulations,

Mr. Ricciardi:

My daughter and I just watched him
this moming, I can tell you what he did.

The Chair:

When my first one was born, we use
to watch him three times a day. I knew him
pretty well. But there are a lot of kids grow
up with him and really owe a lot to what
he's done. Thank you for that report,
Mr. Ricciardi.

Now move to reports of committee.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1407:
Report of the Committee on Finance and
Budget for March 10, 1999, submitting
three resolutions to Council.
Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1353:

Resolution transferring $5,500.00

from Emergency Medical Services Salaries
Account to Emergency Medical Services

aay

Tuition Reimbursement Account for EMS

Personnel. (PRESENTED BY MR.
DIVEN).

Which was read.

Also,

Bill No. 1358:

Resolution transferring $107,708.00
from various 1997 accounts Citywide to the
Fire Bureau’s 1997 Salary Account in order
to resolve deficits in the 1997 Fire Payroll
Accounts.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1359:

Resolution transferring $128,274.00
from various 1997 accounts Citywide to the
Fire Bureau’s 1997 Premium Pay Account
in order the resolve deficits in 1997 Fire
Payroll Accounts.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and title
of the bills, is there any discussion on the
bills? Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken agreeably to
law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)
AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1408:

Report of the Committee on Public Works,
Water and Environmental Services for
March 10, 1999, transmitting ~— two
resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1357:

Resolution Further amending
Resolution No. 781 of 1998, entitled,
“Adopting and approving the 1998 Capital
Budget and the 1999 Community
Development Block Grant Program; and
approving the 1999 through 2004 Capital
Improvement Program” by transferring
$4,000,000.00 from various accounts to the

Citywide Resurfacing Code Account.
(SPONSORED BY MR. ONORATO).
Which was read.

Also,

Bill No. 1376:

lee

Resolution vacating Shore Ave. (80
wide, from Allegheny Ave. easterly to its
previously vacated portion (per Resolution
255 of 1966); Galveston Ave. (80’ wide,
from the northern right-of-way of former
Reedsdale St. to Shore Ave.); Stadium Dr.
West (40’ wide between North Shore Dr.
and Reedsdale St. as relocated); Stadium
Circle Dr. (Stadium Outer Ring Rd., from
centerline Gate A to centerline Gate D);
Allegheny Ave. (Kaufmann’s Ramp at
Shore Ave. northerly to the southern right-
of-way line of the former Reedsdale St., for
a variable width of + 20’) Former
Reedsdale Street, 40’ wide from Allegheny
Avenue to its easterly terminus in the 22"
Ward, 6 Council District of the City of
Pittsburgh.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and title
of the bills, is there any discussion on the
bills?

Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you, Mr. President. I want to
thank Councilman Onorato for his vigilance
in working on this issue of Council
appropriating more resources to street
repaving. Also, I want to comment that
with Council's support none of these dollars
are coming from the Community
Development Block Grant, which earlier
through the budget process we prioritized in
terms of critical housing and community
development initiatives. So 1 am pleased to
see that bond funds and anticipated fund
balance increases above and beyond what
Council budgeted for the '99 budget will be
the source of funding for this four million
dollars.

I do want to reiterate my criticism
and concem about the lack of proper street
management in the City of Pittsburgh. I am
somewhat depressed that even though we
are appropriating several million dollars
more, four to be specific, I am still worried
that we're not doing the streets properly. I
am still concemed that despite Council
passing an ordinance regarding the
excavation and digging of our streets by
utility companies, by contractors you name
it repeatedly we see streets that have just
been recently repaved. This will happen
again even with this $4 million be
obliterated as a result of the construction
and excavation into the street once new
asphalt is put down on a residential street or
commercial streets. There is not proper
inspection by the Department of Public
Works, they have not followed the letter of
the law by this Council.

We wanted a specific standard to be
met by contractors when they dig into the
street, it even describes how a metal plate is
Supposed to be positioned on the street
instead of bouncing around and being a
public safety hazard and menace to drivers
and vehicles. We asked that the metal plate
be identified with a sticker and a permit
number so that individuals can also help the
department police the excavation of the
street. I can show you hundreds and
hundreds and hundreds, hundreds just in
my smaller Council District, which means
really thousands of situations involving
holes in our streets where there has been no
attempt to hold the contracts or the utility
company accountable for the manner in
which they restored the street.

So part of the problem is too why
we're throwing good money after bad. It is
not just a winter situation. I am sick and

—e=snaaooooee

tired of hearing excuses from people in
westem Pennsyltucky about how our
weather is unique and that is why we have
potholes and bumpy roads. It is all a bunch
of baloney. It has to do with the manner in
which we have either established street
particulars or the manner in which we
either enforce or not enforce excavation and
people digging around in our streets. I can
take the media out and all of our colleagues
and any driver knows this, you see
repeatedly people digging in our streets and
when its put back it is not put back to
specification. They take concrete and
belgium block out. They fill it with loose
dirt, they don't put proper gravel back, they
don't put the proper under base back. They
don't put the proper asphalt back. They
don't seal the hole. They don't do it to the
specifics that Mr. Ricciardi once articulated
going curb to curb. It's just a mess. So we
are throwing good money after bad.

Iam voting for this today but I am
still concerned that we are not managing
our streets, we are not taking control in the
manner in which contractors just in such a
cavalier fashion dig up and ruin our streets.
It's going to depress me to no end to see this
money repave and I will pick an example
like Black Street from Aiken down to
Chislet Street there was a beautiful street
three years ago. If you go out there now it's
been dug up so many times by utility
companies and the Pittsburgh Water and
Sewer Authority, none of whom have
restored the street back to the appropriate
specifications.

So every time Director Kraszewski
comes to the table with his line of baloney
about we have these specks and we do
inspection, I don't know what world he
lives in, but don't BS me any more, because
it is all a bunch of baloney. We had

432

specifications that we don't hold people
accountable. We don't do proper
inspections. I want to know how many
contractors have ever been sited under the
code for their lack of the restoration of the
street? I would doubt that you would find
one.

So again we're going to spend
another four million dollars on top of the
other five or six million dollars and we are
still going to allow people to decimate our
streets. It doesn’t make any sense to me.

I would also ask -- my detectives in
Public Works have told me now that one of
the reasons why nova chip was a problem is
someone made a decision. By the way
nova chip is a patented process by a
particular company that we hire as one of
the outside contractors for the asphalt
program. It was used on a number of
streets. The problem is not only the
weather which is Director Kraszewski's line
here at the table, my understanding is what
was a patented process involving the use of
limestone in the mix was changed as a
Tesult of somebody in Public Works
deciding they wanted to put gravel in
instead of limestone. I would like to know
if that is the truth and I would like to ask
the Controller's Office to do an audit of the
nova chip streets with (inaudible), sending
it to the lab and finding out what went
wrong. I don't know if it is one of these
frankie door deals, there is a lot of deal
making that goes on in mid range in Public
Works that I have a lot of questions about.

But this is $4 million on top of
already five million that we budgeted. But
if we don't clean up our act and start taking
control back of our streets, we are just
throwing good money after bad.

—ooaoaoaoao eee eee

Mr. Udin:

Thank you, Mr. President. First of
all, Councilman Ferlo articulated most of
the issues for which I will be voting no on
this resolution. First, I would like to have
my comments brought forward from the
Standing Committee Meeting of the week
before last when we discussed this matter.

Also I want to clarify number one I
am voting no not because I don't believe
more money should be dedicated to street
resurfacing because I think that it should. I
think that we need to do a better, more
effective job at resurfacing the streets. I
also want to thank Councilman Onorato for
being open and sensitive to and modifying
the original legislation so that some of the
threats to community based programs and
other CDBG funded programs are not
included in this legislation. So I appreciate
that.

I am voting no to attempt to send a
signal that I believe something is wrong
with the way we are managing the street-
resurfacing program. I think it needs
outside independent examination,
professional examination and rendering of
an opinion about what the state of the art is
in street resurfacing, asphalt mixing and
how that compares to the way that we make
both the technical decisions and the
management decisions.

I frankly and this is not intended to
slam Mr. Kraszewski in anyway, but I left
the discussion not certain as to who really
makes the street repaving decisions.
Whether it is the supervisor of the asphalt
plant or is it the Director of Public Works.
And I just think there are too many
unanswered questions both management
and technical. I think we need additional

433

answers. I think they have to come from
the outside. And, as an expression of my
own protest against adding more money
prior to getting those questions answered, I
will be voting no.

(See Addendum for comments on
Bill 1357)

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes, thank you. First of all I think
our colleague, Mr. Onorato, has done just a
fabulous, just a great job in locating
additional sources for resurfacing of city
streets. He was able to get a number of
colleagues to give him initial support and
then work out a compromise with the
administration. I know that difficulty in all
those three, that process I thank him for
that. This money is definitely needed
setting aside Mr. Ferlo and Mr. Udin's
concerns both of them raise some legitimate
concerns that need to be addressed.

Yesterday I took an opportunity to
borrow a city car and I went over to South
Oakland, streets like Coltart Street, Coltart
Street needs to be a top priority for the
administration for this _ additional
$4 million. From there I went up to
Arlington neighborhood and I was making
some notes where the potholes need to be
fixed and what streets need to be
resurfaced. Finally I just got frustrated, Mr.
O'Connor, because there are just so many
streets in the Arlington area that need to be
done.

I just want to make sure that we're
part of the process. It's very difficult for me
to believe that Coltart Street has not been
touched for 33 years according to two
residents that I spoke to last night. I find it
very difficult to fully understand how

——OCOCoooaaee eee

streets make the list to become resurfaced.
I need to better understand and grasp them.
I was very pleased last year when the
Department of Public Works decided to
pave 18th Street for example. However to
be perfectly frank with you, I would have
bypassed 18th Street and really gone up to
the Allentown and Arlington section and
put into those roads.

So the request that I have through
our Chief Clerk, our City Clerk if she
would please and that is that I think all
colleagues should be part of the process.
Once the streets are made up through our
management criteria, I think we should
receive a list. I am more than willing to tell
taxpayers in District Three that this street
isn't ready to be paved yet and take a street
off and put another street on, And the way
I will do that is forming a task force in
Council District Three working with the
community groups, the business association
and the block watches because let everyone
be part of the program.

So once again thanks to
Mr.Onorato, thank you to the
administration for deciding on the

compromise, thanks to Ralph Kraszewski
and John Tortorete for doing all the fine
work. But, please let us be part of the
process. And maybe Linda Johnson-Wasler
can receive written correspondence getting
a commitment from the Department of
Public Works, forward us that list before
the job occurs. Because I think, Mr.
O'Connor, you would agree with this, I
know you have spoken about this several
times. Thank you.

The Chair:

Just following up on that. If you
remember last or at least the year before, it

was top secret no one could get the
information. So I will be meeting with the
Deputy Mayor and hopefully Public Works
and I agree with you. Let's use us as
guides. No one knows our neighborhoods
better than the Council people that are there
every day. So we can at least review the
list with them and help set priorities and
you will be able to see if it is shared across
the city.

Mr. Hertzberg:

I want to thank Councilman
Onorato. I think he has done a tremendous
job with this, pushing this through over
some turmoil a long the way. I think we
have been passing this back and forth from
committee back to recommitting for three
or four weeks now. I think we are finally
going to see the end of the whole issue and
it's ending the right way.

I share Councilman Ferlo's concem
about the utility companies and 1 would
welcome as the Chairman of Council's
Public Works Committee, I would welcome
any ideas on what we can do. I see the
same problems all the time. With the brand
new street that we resurfaced it looks good
and it is working properly. And all of a
sudden here comes the orange lights and
the trucks and all of a sudden they're dug up
and they're left in a much different
condition than they started out in. We need
to do something about it.

I think in the past we have seen not
enough resources allocated to resurfacing
our streets. I know we all support some of
the development efforts that are under way
and we all want to see new development.
We all realize we need it. But at the same
time, we can't forget the existing
improvements that we have, the existing

roadways we still have to maintain, what
we have and we need to allocate enough
money to do that. I think with this
amendment to the budget, we're doing that
for this year. I think we need to continue to
focus on it. I think in the past we haven't
allocated enough money to maintaining our
streets. It catches up real quick. It has
caught up to us.

We have to take control of the
situation this year and in the years in the
future and be sure to fund this item with
enough money to get on top of the
situation. I think, that’s what a lot of the
problems have been too. When you talk
about some of the problem streets and J
know and I am sure Councilman Cohen
will reiterate problems we did in the past.
Because we have equal amounts of money
we take these thin overlays and you know
try to stretch the number of miles we were
paving by using an inadequate product. We
have seen what happens, it just doesn't
work. With the amendment that
Councilman Cohen made now requiring
that all the primary roads not use any of this
thin overlay stuff that we use the regular
hot mix asphalt. I think we're doing the
right thing, we are moving in the right
direction.

I am happy to support this and also
thank you also to the Mayor's Office for
working through these amendments and
finding a way to get this done.

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. 1 fully
support this bill and the reason I do is
because of what has happened. I have seen
personally what has happened in the district
I represent. And that is that a number of
the streets, Walnut Street has been the
primary example because it's a primary

435

street. But a number of the streets in my
district not just in Shady Side but also some
in Squirrel Hill, Bloomfield, North
Oakland, etc., that were done last year have
been breaking apart this year just a few
months later. And the reason is because of
that thin overlay that was put on those
streets. So I am glad that Council moved
forward on requiring a full depth asphalt at
least for the primary streets.

I want to thank Councilman
Onorato for his persistence in moving to
propose to Council four million dollars of
new money for asphalt. We need it. It is
clear that we need it. But at the same time
we also need to have control over the
expenditure of that money where the streets
are going to be paved and how they're going
to be paved. So I do actually agree with
Councilman Ferlo and Councilman Udin
who have raised a number of past problems,
that's why I suggested at the table last
Wednesday that we have a special Post
Agenda with Director Kraszewski halfway
through the paving season. The paving
season is from April to October, so my
suggestion was late June or early July to
have a Post Agenda Meeting. Basically a
Status report meeting to see how it is going
in all of our districts and see if any changes
need to be made at that point.

But we're finally putting in the
resources to be able to pave the number of
streets that we need to pave both to catch
up on past practices and to move into the
future. So for that reason I fully support
this legislation.

Mr. Ferlo:

I just want to reiterate the request
again on the issue of the listing. If we
could have it by district, presumably by
now the Public Works would have had a

=—=—eEeEIESaaCaS—=——eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

list at least for the five or six million dollar
level. So if we could get that list to start
with and then if we could find out how they
prioritize the additional dollars. And, I
would ask that the President follow up on
that and we get a print out by Council
District. Thank you.

Mr. Onorato:

Just briefly with the quick summary
and that is that I think this process actually
showed that the system does work. We had
nice healthy debate over a three-week
period, The original piece of legislation has
been changed several times. Some of my
colleagues made some compelling
arguments about why bond money only
should be used versus CDBG and
convinced me. And if you think about the
core functions of government that I keep on
reiterating Public Safety, being able to pick
up the garbage and maintaining our streets,
this is one of the three core functions of a
municipality. Why else would you borrow
money on a bond issue except to start with
core functions and that is paving, one of
them is paving your streets.

I just want to point out again for the
listening audience and just for anyone who
might be in the audience is that 1999, the
City of Pittsburgh has a capital budget and
we're just talking bond money now of $29
million bond money to be spent in 1999,
The original budget as passed at the end of
the year had 4.9 million of that amount, let's
say five million. Five million out of 29.
This amendment is only moving two
million more bond money. So we will end
up spending 6.9, so let's say seven million
out of a $29 million bond issue. That stil]
leaves the $22 million of bond money to do
other things. I believe that that number
eventually should be a lot higher going to

436

street paving, but this is a start. Because
the additional two million dollars is coming
from the general fund. I think it was a very
good discussion of how we should
approach the general fund with caution and
this is dealing with the increase that we are
expecting to see from the CAFR Report.

But I think what this does this
debate and this vote today really sets us up
going into the budget process discussion.
One of the key issues is its going to be in
front of all of us based on this is that we
have to seriously look at what we budget
for street paving going into next year. We
have heard over and over again from
different professionals, we can keep on
getting more advise but it seems to be a $12
million, keeps coming up that we need to
have your basic maintenance going on
every year.

We are now out nine million
dollars, which I think is great for 1999. 1
would like to see us try to get up to that
$12 million for the year 2000 budget, for
next paving season. I think 12 million out
of a $30 million bond issue is very
reasonable for street paving. I look forward
to the debate. I thought the discussion was
very healthy and it was a great compromise
to move forward. But the bottom line for
everyone listening is that the city has the
ability to double the amount of streets that
was originally planned. Some of my
colleagues have some concemis that must be
addressed independent of the issue of
funding, but I think Council is making a
Statement that we want to increase the
funding. We're setting policy here today
and that we want to put money into streets.
Now we also have to make sure and do the
follow up that the process is working and
that how we're paving works. I think that’s
going to be seen very soon if it is working

or not. I applaud everyone and thank them
for their cooperation.

The Chair:

Before I cali the vote, I certainly
want to echo my thanks to you for bringing
this up and also working it through getting
nine votes or eight votes and the
administration to go along. You have made
a lot of amendments in the last couple days.

My concerns would be, there has
been a lot of finger pointing the last couple
days, we used the right stuff, we used the
wrong stuff. You're looking for quantity
not quality. Council is asking for quality
not quantity. How do we evaluate what is
being done?

If we are going to spend 9 million, I
think this is what Mr. Udin is concerned
about, I believe we need a process if we are
going to spend nine million dollars to be
evaluated that we're doing the right thing.
It is not a temporary paint job to make
everything look good. It is going to last six
months or a year. In the process, I would
Tequest somewhere I am not going to ask
for an amendment now, but I think
somewhere along the line, we have to have
an outside auditor or an evaluation that we
are doing the right thing.

So far I don't think we have.
Whether it was reasons for not enough
money, whatever the excuse was we're all
suffering the consequences or our
constituents, so I think -- is that what you
were leading to, Mr. Udin? So during this
process if you are spending nine million
dollars, I don't know if it is 20,000, 30,000
we do have our in-house inspectors but they
are also paid through Public Works. We
may need some outside auditors to evaluate

437

what we're doing to make sure we're
spending our money in the right direction.
It kind of sounds like when you take your
car to the garage and the guy says who the
heck worked on this the last time? We
can't continue doing that and I certainly
don't want to be here with the same process
when you find nine million dollars we all
supported and find out we didn't do the
right thing.

Mr. Ferlo:

I tried to raise this during the budget
deliberations about properly utilizing the
resources and expertise of Pennsylvania
Economy League. I did not feel we should
spend money paying them to tell us,
forecasting, which I think our own budget
staff, the administration budget staff, the
Controller's folks came up with a proper
forecasting. To me that was a waste of
money.

I do support Mr. Hertzberg's
initiative on the accreditation of Public
Works. I do support having the Economy
League look specifically at a program
function of Public Works. I think given
your comments and the majority of
colleagues’ comments about asphalt
management and street management, I
would ask that Council between now and
the budget seriously look at utilizing the

resources of the Economy League
specifically and narrowly on this issue of
asphalt and street management.

The Chair:

With all do respect to the Economy
League, I think we need a guy that goes out
and measures and says you are putting three
inches down.

ee
—— eee

Mr. Ferlo:

That is part of what their function
would be, Mr. President.

The Chair:

We will look into them or someone
else, But I want someone that knows
asphalt and knows what they're doing with
all do respect to the Economy League.
There are experts out there that can verify
what is going on.

Mr. Udin:

Let's asphalt from a hole in the
ground.

The Chair:

Well said.

Bills are now ready for final action.
All those in favor of the passage of the bills
vote aye when your names are called; all
those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Ricciardi Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Udin voted no on Bili 1357.)

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed

438

finally.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1409:

Report of the committee on Planning,
Zoning and Land Use for March 10, 1999,
transmitting one ordinance to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 948:

An Ordinance amending and
supplementing the Pittsburgh Code, Title
Nine, Zoning, Article V, “Use

Regulations,” Chapter 911 “Primary Uses,
Section 911.04.A.7 “Bed and Breakfast,”
by inserting new standards for “Bed and
Breakfast”. (SPONSORED BY MR.
FERLO & MR. RICCIARDI).

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and title
of the bills, is there any discussion on the
bills?

Mr. Ferlo:

I want to thank our colleagues for
Supporting these amendments to help
sustain and make more viable the five bed
and breakfasts operating in the City of
Pittsburgh.

These amendments will allow them
the ability to have a proper management on
the 24-hour basis of the facility of the bed
and breakfast. It would allow them an

nO EEOOTOO

opportunity to increase some revenue in a
reasonable, appropriate way by having
small social and business functions on a
limited basis in the bed and breakfast
operations, and what the specific
requirements for parking and hours of
operation would be and the manner in
which the event would be conducted.

To the extent that there has been
some criticism raised and I think to some
extent justifiably especially in one area
involving Maple Heights Court, I would
ask that pursuant to the adoption of this bill
that we have a more increased focus on
enforcement by building inspection. But I
would specifically ask that the Fire Bureau
visit Maple Heights Street and to the extent
that it should be firelaned on one side,
whether the B and B is there or not, I think
that should be done. I have lost a lot of
street parking at least in my Council
District as a result of the fire chief and the
bureau going through the area. I would to
ask that likewise that be done here in the
particular area that some of the residents
adjoining Maple Heights Bed and Breakfast
have raised the criticism.

In addition, if there is a particular
problem involving a vehicle, I believe
Molly's Trolley's was mentioned. I would
ask that the Department look at that issue
also and whether or not it is appropriate for
a vehicle of that sort to be backing down
the street even though it has been done
frequently and even probably by our
garbage trucks. I would ask that that be a
specific focus that the BBI and Public
Safety officials look at. But I am pleased
that the amendments, I would ask Council's
support I think they are reasonable. I would
reiterate having or conducting a bed and
breakfast in the City of Pittsburgh is not a
use by right. You have no guarantee

439

necessarily that you will ever get approval
by the Zoning Board or by this City Council
to operate a B and B. And since the initial
amendments of '93, which started this
process it has taken seven years to get five
B and B's. There is one that is going to be
developed appropriately on Stanton Avenue
in Highland Park, a smaller one. So, in
almost a decade it is not as if we are seeing
a pandemonium out there in our residential
neighborhoods in terms of reasonableness
on bed and breakfast operations.

I would hope that we would not
support any other amendments, which are
aimed at deflating and defusing and
demeaning the effectiveness of this bill.

Mr. Udin:

Thank you. First of all, I want to
thank Councilman Ferlo for amending this
bed and breakfast ordinance. I think it
enhances the city in the way that certainly
bed and breakfasts can in their special way.
I have several bed and breakfasts in my
Council District and have talked with a
number of the operators. One thing that is
peculiar about this particular industry is
their diversity. None of them are the same.
Some of them are operated in areas that are
more residential than others, others
operated in areas that are more commercial.
I am hoping that Mr. Ferlo will find the
amendment that I have distributed as a
friendly amendment and as a help and a
supplement moving in the same direction in
which his legislation is attempting to move.

Many of the people who have
contacted my office are not certain about
how all of this is going to work out
especially those elements that have to do
with liberalizing the extent to which bed
and breakfasts can engage in both limited

SSO

and unlimited social functions. So my
effort is to create a problem solving task
force, which includes all of the principle
parties. I am certainly open to whoever else
ought to be included so that there is some
place that problems can be brought to.

I know that enforcement will be
done primarily by BBI. But BBI is not
necessarily composed of a broad cross
section of all the people who are involved
in this industry to solve problems. If there
is some legislation that can be -- that needs
to come forward to amend this even further
after we have experienced this for 12
months, then we have a group that has
already worked out the consensus as to
what the changes need to be. So my
intention is to not in anyway weaken or
undermine this legislation, it is to
strengthen it and provide a mechanism for
problem solving and mediation and
developing some further amendments in 12
months taking another look at in 12 months
and developing other _legislative
amendments if needed.

MR. COHEN seconded the amendment.
The Chair:

Discussion on the amendment?

Mr. Ferlo:
Obviously I don't find this
amendment offensive at all. I think it is

appropriate, I am very confident. I was
confident in 1993 when I first proposed bed
and breakfast, and I am confident now
about the safe guards now that are
enumerated in this resolution by way of
amendment.

I find this proposed amendment to

be helpful. 1 would have preferred that it be
done by separate resolution instead of
appearing as language in a zoning code. I
would ask as a friendly amendment that it
be sunshined a year from now, so that it
doesn't continue to be a part of the actual
zoning code language. Its really kind of not
a-- its more of an authorizing resolution for
a task force.

So if we are going to do it by way of
an amendment today, I would ask that it be
sunshined so it doesn't continually appear
as a reference in a permanent document
known as the zoning code. But obviously I
support it. I will assist it any way I can. I
believe it is a good way to try to resolve one
by one complaint by complaints so we can
have the proper enforcement so we don't in
anyway effect the livability of our
community which is I do not believe --

Mr. Udin:

I have no objection to the sunshine.
The Chair:

Any more discussion? All in favor?
Which motion prevailed.

The Chair:

On the bill itself.
Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. I know
that I am in the minority here but I think it
was Jimmy Stuart in a Frank Capra
(phonetic) film that said that lost causes are

the only causes worth fighting for so J am
going to give it my shot.

cS EO CTOOOTOT_TESS

I am opposed to this legislation and
not because I am opposed to bed and
breakfasts. The bed and breakfast the few
that we have in the City of Pittsburgh and
most of them are in the Council District
that I represent, I think have been an asset
to Pittsburgh. I have stayed at one of them.
My wife and I stayed at one of them, the
Apple Tree on Negley Avenue in Shady
Side. We liked it very much. I think the
bed and breakfasts have really helped in a
marginal way, but it helped in terms of
economic development for this city as well.

But what this bill does is it expands
bed and breakfasts in a way that could
potentially undercut the quality of life in
our most dense neighborhoods. And we're
talking about neighborhoods where houses
are right next to each other. Now it is not
going to undercut the whole neighborhood,
but it's going to be the few blocks and the
few houses around a bed and breakfast.
Particularly the aspect of the bill that states
that you can have limited social and
business functions. That is really what I
focused on with my amendments last
Wednesday. There is really no limit on that
limited social and business function except
am occupancy number that has not been
determined yet in the largest rooms in each
of those bed and breakfast. And except that
it requires valet parking for one out of four
of the cars that are required at that bed and
breakfast.

First of all valet does not help a
neighborhood. It hurts a neighborhood. It
still means lots of cars going back and
forth, to and from the bed and breakfast.
But even if it did, even if valet didn't really
undercut that immediate neighborhood, it
still is only one out of four of the cars that
are required. That is what the legislation
says. My amendment last week that

441

unfortunately got only one vote and I think
you can probably guess who that vote was,
said that let's allow limited and social
business functions so long as the bed and
breakfast can provide their own off site,
excuse me off street on site parking. They
can provide the parking themselves. If they
can do that, then fine.

1 think that the neighbors could
probably put up with many parties next
door so long as those parties aren't too loud
and they don't exceed our noise
requirements, so long as they can provide
their own parking. But that amendment
failed. So what we have here really is a
potential banquet hall that doesn't
accommodate increase parking. That is
what the source of my opposition is. It is
not about Maple Heights Court, even
though I represent Maple Heights Court. I
am actually having another mecting with
the residents of Maple Heights Court at
3:30 this afternoon in my office. Anyone
who wants can certainly join me there,
because I think that they have separate
issues. This is about citywide legislation
and I am not sure that I could, I know that I
couldn't be any more eloquent than the
Chairman of our own Planning
Commission, that is Tom Amnstrong. Tom
Armstrong wrote a letter to Dan Onorato
who is Chair of the Planning Committee
and Ihave a copy of it here and I would like
to read from that letter.

Dear Councilman Onorato, and the
only reason it mentions Councilman
Onorato is because he is Chair of the
Planning Committee here. I am writing to
explain my personal opposition to the
Planning Commission's recommendation
on bed and breakfast.

Such facilities can play a wonderful

=e eee

role in our hospitality industry but we must
be careful to protect our larger
constituency, our residential taxpayers. The
proposed valet parking opens the door to
facilities in dense neighborhoods where
parking and traffic problems already exist.
Valet parking doesn't solve a problem, it
imposes noise and traffic problems on
communities that least absorb them. If
sufficient parking isn't available on the
premises, the operator should seek another
location. There is no scarcity of investment
opportunity in our neighborhood business
districts. Residential taxpayers deserve
neighborhood business districts.
Residential taxpayers deserve peace and
quiet regardless of their lot size.

Pittsburgh is surrounded by
suburban municipalities that wouldn't
dream of allowing commercial uses in their
residential neighborhoods much less with
legalized social functions. We should
nurture the bed and breakfast industry
without jeopardizing the quality of life in
our predominantly dense residential
neighborhoods and that is from Tom
Armstrong, the Chair of the City's Planning
Commission. I couldn't agree with
Chairman Armstrong more.

The bed and breakfasts as they
currently exist are fine. They do present
some problems to the neighbors but at least
in the neighborhoods that I have talked to,
Maple Heights is treated separately, they're
willing to put up with the impact that bed
an breakfasts have on the surrounding
neighborhoods. But this, this really would
allow a much greater impact. An impact
that would in my view at least tum these
into a potential banquet hall in a dense
residential neighborhood without
accommodating increase parking.

442

So for that reason I am opposed to it
and I would like to ask my colleagues one
last time to also oppose this because it is
not the right thing for our neighborhoods.

Mr. Ferlo:

I belabor for him, but again I
reiterate, no one has the right to have a B
and B in the City of Pittsburgh. My
colleagues now and in the future will have a
Tight to vote no. There maybe an
appropriate time that comes up in the
future, in fact I think there is one that is
being contemplated in the Schenley Farms
area, I believe, where Council is going to
have every opportunity to vote no. Because
we have the power, we still hold the power
of saying no on a conditional use for these
bed and breakfast operations.

The Chair:

J visited the Maple Heights, I had
never been in it, so I spent about an hour
and a half there the other day and that
owner and the owner of the Negley bed and
breakfast were there. It certainly changed
my impression of the way it was laid out.
It's more hospitable for a dinner party ten,
12, 20 people. If that's the intent which I
understand was the intent I went to visit,
now if it is going into 200 people,
weddings, fraternity houses deciding to
have a big party, then it certainly is not
going to work there or anywhere else.

I am willing to support it and I
believe we came up last week they need a
year review to reapply for their license and
also with what Mr. Udin is doing with this
task force which would include people from
Maple Heights and Negley and the North
Side. We’re certainly giving the bed and
breakfasts an opportunity to do what they

nn
a OSOOOT_ESUS

want to do but if for whatever reason they
fall astray I believe I would be the first to
support you. You and I just live about a
mile away from at least Maple Heights
would be the most in question I guess. If
they can't abide by the rules and they do
some of the things that maybe there is fear
of, I would certainly be the first to go with
you and revoke their license.

So they have the opportunity to
behave and take advantage of what they
have done. It's a beautiful bed and
breakfast. They have eight visitors right
now, eight rooms;.so eight cars going up
and down the street once or twice is not
going to interfere with anything. But if
these parties are meant to be social
functions like they are telling us, I certainly
can support it, but if it goes another
direction then I think Mr. Udin's task force
would be the first to come in front of us and
we would have to change it.

Mr. Cohen:

Just real briefly on ___ that,
Mr. President. | My opposition is not
focused solely on the Maple Heights Court
situation. | However, at that Bed and
Breakfast right now the proprietor of that
bed and breakfast has had weddings on that
site, significant sized weddings under the
law as it currently exists, which is not
enforced. I don't have great comfort despite
my amendment last week about having the
Bureau of Building Inspection designate an
enforcement officer. I still don't have the
comfort that this legislation will be
enforced. If that bed and breakfast could
have a significant sized wedding under the
ules as they currently exist, not even
counting Councilman Ferlo’s new
legislation, then there is a problem there.
So hopefully Councilman Udin's committee

that he's proposing here will help, but I
have my serious doubts.

The Chair:

Hopefully we're sending a strong
message that it is not every Saturday night
to have a wedding. That's not supposed to
be the intention.

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Diven Mr. Ferlo

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Cohen voted no on Bill 948)

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1410:

Report of the committee on Public Safety
Services for March 10, 1999, transmitting
sundry of resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

ee
See

Bill No. 1299:

Resolution providing for a Contract
or Agreement or the use of existing
Contracts or Agreements to purchase
LifePak 12 Heart Monitor/ Defibrillator/
Pacers for the Bureau of Emergency
Medical Services at a cost not to exceed
$156,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1354:

Resolution providing for a contract
or contracts from time to time in connection
with demolition and removal of condemned
buildings and providing for the payment of
the costs thereof, Capital Project Funds,
Peoplesoft Fund 5100, cost not to exceed
$600,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1355:

Resolution providing for a contract
or contracts from time to time in connection
with demolition and removal of condemned
buildings and providing for the payment of
the cost thereof; Community Development,
Peoplesoft Fund 2610, cost not to exceed
$450,000.00.

Which was read.
The Chair:
‘You have heard the reading and title

of the bills, is there any discussion on the
bill?

444

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were.

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1411:
Report of the Committee on Engineering
and Construction for March 10, 1999,
transmitting sundry of resolutions to
Council.
Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1189:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements or use of

existing Agreements and/or a contract or
contracts, or use of existing Contracts and

——=———eeeeeoelSaSSaSaSSSSSSS

for the purchase of materials, supplies and
equipment in connection with the
renovations and maintenance of various
public Buildings; at a cost not to exceed
$650,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1250:

Resolution providing for a Contract
or Contracts, or use of existing Contracts,
and/or Agreement or Agreements, or use of
existing Agreements for the renovations to
the City County Building and for the
purchase of equipment and supplies for said

project; at a cost not to exceed
$180.000.00.
Which was read.
Also,
Bill No, 1301:
Resolution further © amending

Resolution No. 1018, effective January 1,
1997, entitled “Adopting and approving the
1997 Capital Budget and the 1997
Community Development Block Grant
Program; and approving the 1997 through
2002 Capital Improvement Program, “ by
increasing a line item (Lower Allegheny

Riverfront) by $28,000.00 from
$550,000.00 to $578,000.00.

Which was read.

Also,

Bili No. 1302:

445

Resolution further amending
Resolution No. 781, effective January 1,
1999, entitled “Adopting and approving the
1999 Capital Budget and the 1999
Community Development Block Grant
Program; and approving the 1999 through
2004 Capital Improvement Program,” by
amending the funding source of the Route
51/Liberty Bridge line item.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1303:

Resolution further amending
Resolution No. 781, effective January 1,
1999, entitled “Adopting and approving the
1999 Capital Budget and the 1999
Community Development Block Grant
Program; and approving the 1999 through
2004 Capital Improvements Program,” by
reducing the Transportation Improvements
Program by $250,000.00 and creating a
new line item titled “West End
Improvements.”

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1304:

Resolution Amending Resolution
No. 136, effective March 31, 1997, entitled
“Providing for an Agreement of
Cooperation with the Pittsburgh Cultural
Trust in connection with the Construction
of the Lower Allegheny Riverfront Park,
bounded by the Allegheny River on the
North and the Tenth Street By-Pass on the
South; and providing for the payment of the
costs thereof,” by increasing the total

em
a ee

project allocation by $28,000.00 from
$550,000.00 to $578,000.00.

Which was read.

Also,
Bill No. 1305:

Resolution providing for a three (3)
party Cooperation Agreement between the
County of Allegheny, the Port Authority of
Allegheny County and the City of
Pittsburgh, in connection with the initial
engineering services associated with the
West End Improvements; at a cost not to
exceed $250,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1306:

Resolution providing for a
Cooperation Agreement with the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
Department of Transportation for

reimbursement to the state for the City’s
share of improvements to the Liberty
Tunnel South Portal Interchange; at a cost
not to exceed $235,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1307:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements, or use of
existing Agreements and/or a Contract or
Contracts, or use of existing Contracts for
the Reconstruction of Various Park
Facilities; providing for the purchase of
equipment, materials and supplies in

connection with such projects; at a cost not
to exceed 642,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1308:

Resolution providing for a Contract
or Contracts, or use of existing Contracts
for the installation and maintenance of
traffic signal equipment throughout the
City; at a cost not to exceed $80,000.00.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and title
of the bills, is there any discussion on the
bills?

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. On bills 1303 and 1305
related to the expenditure of $250,000 on
the West End improvements, first I would
like my comments brought forward.

Iam supporting these bills, but I just
have some concems. I question priorities
here. The West has been plagued with this
west bus way phase one project now for
over a year. The project started late in the
80's and was presented to all the
neighborhoods in the West as an exclusive
right of way for buses that would travel
from the parkway near the Camegie
interchange through the westem
neighborhoods, straight to downtown
Pittsburgh. In fact City Council in 1994
and 1995 and 1996 probably approved 20
and 30 resolutions relating to this bus way
under the presumption that that's what the

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8 8 SSS

toad would be.

However, and let me step back, at
that time the Port Authority who was the
lead agency on the project was very kind to
me and to this Council offering to meet

with us and explain anything we wanted to-

know about what was happening on the bus
way. But then surreptitiously at some point
everything changed. And suddenly J pick
up a newspaper and read that this isn't the
same project any more. We are now going
into a recovery plan. This is a scaled down
project. I think it's a sort of fraud that was
visited upon this Council upon this city and
particularly upon the westem
neighborhoods.

Unfortunately, there has just been a
vacuum in leadership on this whole thing.
It just doesn't seem like we can get the
project going again. Instead, what we see
are projects like this. This project moves
ahead this hole in the wall through the West
End Circle moves ahead. This becomes our
priority not finishing the bus way the right
way, but projects like this. And they
become our priority because now we're
concerned about the north shore. We forgot
all about the airport bus way, that is over
and done with. We are going to do it
wrong. We are scaling down the project.
We should have never done it in the first
place but we did.

It's 360 million dollars waste of
money. So now we're going to do
something different. Now our focus is let's
get the traffic over to the north shore. Now
we need a light rail extension to the north
shore. We're doing ail these things, but we
forgot to finish the project we started.
That's why I resent this although I am going
to support it. It is different pots of money.
Mass transit funds are a different pot of

447

money that you work on the bus way with
than these funds.

So I am supporting this, but I look
at this and this is a total project cost. I
think when we are all done, when we put
the hole in the wall and then when we
reconfigure the whole West End Circle it is
about a 25 or $30 million project. Now
what the Port Authority is starting, they're
starting to tie into West Carson. Really my
favorite, and I am being sarcastic, my
favorite part of this when they're actually
going to bring buses onto West Carson the
street that can least handle it and probably
the worst part of this road. But they're
going to do that by what they call a fly over
tamp. A ramp that is another 20 or
$30 million job. So here we are up to
$50 million on these two projects we are
spending when we could probably bring the
bus way up above West Carson for about a
hundred and solve most of the problems,
we're not doing that.

In fact the bridge that we talked
about putting over the Mon River that also
got all messed up in this whole discussion
taken off the shelf, that bridge still isn't
back into the mix of things. I don't know if
we have got the leadership to ever get a
bridge done either with this thing.

So I am disillusioned with this
whole process. We will get an
improvement in the West End. I don't think
it should be the high priority it is; I think
the higher priority is doing this bus way
Tight. But this is something that is going to
make an improvement in the long run for
everyone including the West End
community. So, I am supporting this with
reservations and in the future I am not done
with this bus way thing. We will be
revisiting it.

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(See Addendum for comments on
Bills 1304 and 1306)

Mr. Udin:

On a different subject. This relates
to Bill 1307 in a way because 1307
provides for funds to continue the
playground building project. But it has
more to do with Public Works.

J am always happy to attend ribbon
cuttings at a new playground in my district,
but when | visit that playground several
weeks or several months later, the
maintenance of the brand new, beautiful
playgrounds is frequently not there. It is
not sufficient. And so we have a number of
playgrounds I believe, brand new, we have
made major millions of dollars of
investment and thanks to the foresight of
Councilman Cohen and this Council. But I
don't believe that we have a corresponding
capacity to clean those programs by the
Public Works Department.

Also I don't believe that we have
found a way to engage the nearby
communities in a voluntary kind of clean
up. If we would kind of provide them with
the tools and supplies they need, people are
so happy about getting a new playground in
their district that they would be willing to
do it themselves. So I would like before we
build any more playgrounds, I would like to
see us make some assessment of what our
ability is either internally or with volunteers
to keep those new playgrounds maintained.
Other wise, we will be back here in a very
short period of time trying to find money to
repair playgrounds that could have been
maintained if we had taken some preventive
measures.

448

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you. Councilman Udin
raises a very important point. The city has
made a tremendous investment in new
playgrounds, upwards of seven million
dollars to redo all of the 10 playgrounds in
the City of Pittsburgh and to do that
without providing for maintenance is a big
mistake.

The legislation that I introduced, the
playground safety legislation, I believe it
has been awhile, I want to look back, a
maintenance component that requires
Public Works to go back and maintain the
playgrounds on a regular basis. I want to
look at that. But legislation aside, there has
to be a practical plan to do that. I would
support having a dialogue with the Public
Works and the Parks Department to see
what their current plan is and how that plan
can be _ improved. Because the
improvement in our neighborhoods has
been tremendous, but for us to come back
five to ten years from now and have to do it
all over again would just be a tragedy.

So I would certainly support
Councilman Udin's effort. I think we need
to look at the original legislation, which I
would be happy to do, and then have a
dialogue with Parks and Public Works as to
how they're going about it now. And
clearly it needs to be improved.

Mr. Udin:

Pethaps the leadership of Mr.
Hertzberg with Public Works in working
with Councilman Ricciardi of Parks and
Recreation, can give us some assessment of
what the size of the task is, and whether or
not other resources in the community can
be garnered. Because I am sure that people

eEEESESESE=———oOoOoOo SS

in the community would be willing to
volunteer to keep these areas clean.

Mr. Ferlo:

I reiterate my concem that our new
Director of Parks, Mr. Ashley, wrestles
back some control over all these
playgrounds. Many of these playgrounds
are not isolated, they are in major parks
even smaller parks of the city and basically
under the jurisdiction of Parks and
Recreation. All though the physical
assignment and task have been assigned to
Public Works in ‘terms of clean up and
maintenance, but I think Director Duane
Ashley needs to wrestle back some control
and meet with the staff and interact with the
Director of Public Works, I think the Parks
Department working with Council
members, myself included, would have a
better chance of working on a volunteer
participation process more than Public
Works would likely have the resources or
the ability to muster up to that call.

So I would ask that Director Ashley
review the record today and I would be glad
to attend any meeting. I don't want any
playgrounds to stop because I have three
planned in my district that are going to be
starting soon. Well, one major playground
and two concession stands, but the point is
well taken and we have all had experiences.

I have to go back out to Arsenal
Park where we spent several hundred
thousand dollars, five years ago and some
repairs have had to be made to the new play
equipment. That has probably been the
case throughout the system because now
even our newer playgrounds some of which
I have done at least five or six years ago.
And they're older playgrounds now, even
though they were newer. So we have to

449

address the point that is well taken.

I would ask that Director of Parks
also kind of speak out on this issue and give
us some ideas on how we can mobilize
some community input. That's sort of what
we have been doing with the super
playground in Highland Park and it could
be a model for some of the other parks too.

The Chair:

Again, it has to be —
Mr. Ferlo:

But these parents, by the way I have
spent a lot of time and have interacted,
some of these knucklehead parents have to
wake up too. They have kids there in the
play area, they see the kids being abusive to
the equipment, speak up. I see parents
throwing cans around the park. I know
because I have interacted and confronted
parents some times.

So I mean some of these community
folks that are sitting around in the park
system I mean don't expect that the city can
do everything. I mean our men and women
out there in Public Works are stretched out
to the limits, there are ball fields activities,
there are playground activities, they are
working hard and doing a lot. But once in a
while, I mean the residents themselves got
to take some personal responsibility for
your kids. I mean we have to be a partner
in this. If it is not going to work, then we
aren't going to do some of these
playgrounds in some of these areas.

So, for the parents who are sitting
on their butts with their kids at these
playgrounds, pick up a dam wrapper and
pick up a can and throw it in the garbage
receptacle. Help out. The city can't do

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V_——— See

everything and we shouldn't try to say to
people that we can do everything. Because
we can't, so help out a little bit. Teach your
kids to be respectful of the equipment.
Otherwise they are going to lose it.

I mean I have stopped kids twisting
the swings around and throwing litter
around, you have to educate little kids.
You have to be parental to them, give them
some good advise, and they will do a good
job if they are brought up right. So for
some of those parents who are sitting there
smoking their cigarettes on their butts, tell
them to mind their children and clean up
the park a little bit.

The Chair:

Throw their butts in the right place
when they're finished smoking them. I
certainly agree and it came up a little bit
last week. We are spending all this money
and no one is taking care of it, Public
Works may or may not be doing the best
they can. Just a simple if you have five
kids and say let's police the area, the kids
are very happy to do it especially the ones
under ten. I don't know about the older
ones. I think we can take a lesson from the
Conservancy what they did with the flower
planting, they had volunteerism, whatever
happened to our Partner's in Parks.

I think everyone has to be part of it
but also our Public Works division. I know
when we have someone assigned to a park
or a couple parks that person takes a lot
more pride in it. I think it is a total
management aspect and certainly involving
the community. I have been at little league
games where the kids just trash it with cups
and everything else and the team walks
away. That shouldn't be allowed, those
kids have to pick up after themselves. It is

not fair for a city employee or anybody to
pick up every Coke bottle and hamburger
wrapper or whatever else they are using on
the fields. I mean the cans are there, we all
have to start pitching in. I certainly would
agree with you. I have scolded quite a few
myself.

Mr. Ferlo:

Bill 1189, Mr. President, on a
separate matter, this was an authorization, it
is kind of a hodge podge bill to enable
Engineering and Construction to repair and
maintain and renovate and fix various
public buildings. But originally this bill
and its amount contained roughly $650
thousand for the construction of a so-called
Public Works Facility as a result of the
Phipps Conservatory not being the location
any more for Public works. Many of us
want to have some separate discussion that
we don't know where this facility is going
to be built, where it should be built whether
or not it should be built, is it only a Public
Works facility? Maybe we need to look
over all at our building inventory, the needs
of parks, other departments so we separated
out the amendment that is before us today.
But I didn't clarify that the remaining
money technically is enough to do the
Department of Public Works building.

I am not going to amend it further
but implicit in this resolution downsizing
its amount implicit in that is Council
making it clear that we want a separate
resolution, a separate discussion, and a
separate set of plans that will come before
Council in Standing Committee when it
comes to the point of building this so-called
Public Works Facility. The first thing I
heard was it was going to be built on
Second Avenue, which doesn't make any
sense to me. We have got $50 million

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invested for economic development. I don't
know why we would build a big Public
Works tax-exempt facility that doesn't
make any sense to me. We even have a lot
of buildings, I have got places in
Lawrenceville that would be a great
location for a Public Works building, so if
no one else wants it, I will take it.

The Chair:

I believe in your discussions, the
Director Reginella made it clear that we
would have final vote on any of the monies
or plans.

Mr. Ferto:

I know, but he is not always in the
driver seat. I want'to make sure whoever is
in that driver’s seat they are going to have a
head on collision with Council if they
screw us up on this.

The Chair:

I certainly agree putting a couple
hundred trucks on the high tech center, on
the edge of the high tech center and all of
that potential development certainly doesn't
look very appealing or appetizing to me
right now. Let's find out where they're
going right next to the jail —

Mr. Ferlo:

J am sure the University High Tech
Center wants to be right next to Public
Works, that makes a lot of good sense.

The Chair:

Well that is where the bridge is
going to end up.

451

Mr. Ferlo:

The food is locked there with that
sports crap.

The Chair:

Any more discussion? The bills are
now ready for final action. AH those in
favor of the passage of the bills vote aye
when your names are called; all those
Opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
The Chair:
Thave an appointment.
MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:
No. 1412 A resolution appointing
Thomas Fitzgerald as a Board Member of

the Personnel Appeals Board, for a term to
expire January 31, 2000.

_
SSS

MR. FERLO moved to approve the ©

nomination.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

The Chair:

We learned our lesson last week. I
just want to make an announcement. A
Public Hearing Thursday, March 18", at
2:00 p.m. conceming the zoning changes
with the sports facilities.

Mr. Onorato:

Real briefly. I wanted to inform my
colleagues for two things. One is as you
know I am your representative on the
Stadium Authority. I introduced a bill
today, I did not waive rule eight, it will be
up next week. But I am looking forward to
everyone's input about this idea of what we
do with the old stadium and the possibility
of selling the seats and other artifacts that
are in the building, memorabilia that people
might want to buy.

It appears that there could be a
significant amount of money generated and
a lot of fun and good will built up in
addition to the money raised. J initially put
a suggestion forward that we develop a
trust fund, use some of the money for youth
activities. It could be anywhere from
staffing for opening our schools at night.
As you know we have the nine community
enrichments, we could maybe double that
or triple that, we could either renovate
fields, new baseball, new soccer fields but I
think the ideas and the opportunities are
unlimited here and that's what J am looking
for, for some suggestions.

452

In the mean time, I got a lot of calls
in my office from certain companies that
deal in these types of issues. There is one
company, I don't want to use the name
today, but they are putting together a
proposal for us. I will bring that to Council
and to the Stadium Authority and also to
City Council and to the Mayor that could
involve having athletes there, which would
raise additional money that the city could
get a piece of. Maybe this thing could

. Teally take off, but I believe it is a golden

opportunity to look at Plan B and have a
component that really goes back to the
average citizen and the region.

T don't I think it would be a shame if
we let all of this potential money just go
into the construction here. One of the
criticisms you constantly hear out there is
all of this money is going to the high priced
ballplayers. Regardless if you believe that
or not, this is an opportunity to provide
some services and facilities to the youth of
the region. I think it could be a fun time for
all of us.

I look forward to the debate. I look
forward to suggestions, friendly
amendments, suggestion of how we can
spend the money or put the money into the
trust fund and use it long term. If we just
use the interest for staffing, I think it's
going to be fun coming up with some of the
scenarios that are possible here. I also look
forward to that we have the auction. That
might be a year and a half away to two
years away, but the planning should start
now. I know I will be interested in buying
a few seats, I think it would be great to have
in your family room or game room.
Graduating from high school in '79 and
growing up in the '70's it was a great decade
to be in Three River Stadium.

Not many stadiums in ten years can
claim four Super Bowls and two World
Series. That is a pretty awesome
performance and if you put on top of that a
World Championship for the college Pitt
played in Three Rivers and a lot of those
games that year in ‘76, there is a lot of
memories. There is one thing we have
leamed in the market place, people are
willing to buy sports memorabilia. This is
an opportunity that we don't miss. If you
can recall when Forest Field closed, the last
day was a free for all there. I think if we
organize it and you let everyone have an
organized way of bidding on certain items
in the stadium it could be fun and raise
money in the long run. Thank you.

Mr. Udin:

I want to thank Councilman
Onorato for his innovative idea relative to
the stadium. It just kind of reminded me, I
am not pushing it but it is just a kind of free
flow of thoughts. I have been working with
the Roberto Clemente Foundation and the
Pittsburgh Pirates. We're working on a
project that IJ have discussed with
Councilwoman McDonald the possibility of
putting it in some where in the East End, a
major youth development project that
combines both sports and education and
character development. It could be possibly
a project that something like the auction
might want to fund, something that goes
back into the people, back into the youth
and still keeps alive the memory of the
combination of sports and character
development very important maybe we can
use that as a project.

The Chair:

I just want to, can you make sure I
get my seat? I have been there 27 years;

453

can I get first dibs on my seat?
Mr. Onorato:

There were rumors that relatives of
yours were --

The Chair:

I have actually caught three or four
balls; I get the extra points. I think it's a
wonderful idea and make sure it’s for the
city kids. You maybe with the county when
this all happens so we can benefit all of it.

Mr. Onorato:

We should also be careful. I think it
is an opportunity to benefit I say the youth
of the region. We have to be receptive to
the fact that even though this is a city
authority and the city has picked up the
bills for a long time, there is a lot of county
money in there and now some state money.
I believe there are facilities that could end
up in the city that really are opened to
everyone in the region. It's definitely not
just for people that live in the city. We
want people to participate in this no matter
where they live and it is all of ours and we
are doing this together.

The Chair:

We certainly want to commend you
on it.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes, thank you. Obviously, this is a
very positive issue that Mr. Onorato and
Mr. Udin have brought up. Unfortunately, I
am going to talk about an issue one that is
very conceming. Mr. O'Connor, the past
several weeks I have received a number of

rr
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calls from constituents in South Oakland
experiencing once again an increase in
graffiti. First of all I want to thank
Councilman Jim Ferlo who informed me on
Monday that there was going to be a court
case in our municipal building with one
actor and that goes under the nickname, Mr.
Ferlo, is it Surge.

Mr. Ferlo informed me of that
information which I did not know. On
Monday immediately along with my
Administrative Assistant Mr. Bill Fry and I
we went to the municipal building to attend
the hearing. Unfortunately, colleagues, the
hearing was postponed. The reason I am
bringing this up, I would like to really make
this high profile. If I am not mistaken, this
guy has been around for several years
dating back to when he had some run-ins
with the late Honorable Mr. Baldie Reagan
at that particular time. And once again he
surfaced to such an extreme that if you look
at the Bates Street corridor and some other
streets in South Oakland and probably
throughout the City of Pittsburgh they look
like battle fields, to use the phrase that is
often used by Jim Ferlo who has become
the graffiti buster here in the City of
Pittsburgh.

But the reason I am bringing this
high profile is that I believe our Magistrates
should severely punish the actor, severely
punish. Number one he should be
embarrassed publicly. Number two, he
should be made to pay for his vandalism.
Number three, I think he should go out
there and be forced to clean it up. But I
think that our municipal magistrates should
tealize that we are going to follow this case
very closely. Not what happens to some
other cases where the magistrate goes out
there and says well I will give you 30 days
to do this or I will accept this as

454

punishment. I am talking about severely
punish this individual. He has cost us tens
of thousands of dollars in property damage.
Once again I am working with the
administration to clean up some of this
graffiti so graffiti crews from other parts of
the city are going to concentrate on the
South Oakland area. That's not right for the
other neighborhoods but we need that
additional help that Mr. Sal Sirabella,
Operating Deputy Mayor is going to give
us.

But I am not sure if people feel
comfortable with this. If you don't, just let
me know. I would like to pass a resolution,
forward it to Chief Magistrate Simmons to,
let him know that we believe actors such
like this case and if the gentleman is found
guilty, obviously it is a ledge now, if he is
found guilty we want to see the maximum
amount of severe punishment inflicted on
this individual. You can read it the way
you want, thank you. Please look at the
damage that he has done.

Mr. Ferlo:

Obviously I support the resolution.
All of us, I think, we have repeatedly
spoken out over the years about graffiti
vandalism. I think actually public
execution of the index finger would be
appropriate because that is usually what the
spray can paint allows this gentleman to do.
I guess that would not be allowed in the
civilized society.

But again what is so aggravating
and Councilman Ricciardi rightfully points
out to the Bates Street corridor, but it
happens throughout our district. But the
Bates Street corridor we are spending all of
this money now with the increased revenue
from the business improvement district and

a.=aaa@eeeeeell

presumably Public Safety and cleanliness
for the business improvement district in
Oakland is a high priority. They will be
cleaning up some of the graffiti in the
perimeter of the business improvement
district, but it is the main streets leading up
to the bid area where it looks like a combat
zone. And, Councilman Ricciardi
rightfully points out the Bates Street
Corridor. It is just unbelievable how it has
deteriorated over the last five or six years.
It is a student ghetto.

I am very concerned that the
administration whatever well intention
Council's actions were in the past on
amending the graffiti bill, we have not seen
a commitment by the administration. They
have apparently hired yet another
contractor, I believe Mary Anna Richards, [
believe, who is supposed to be out there
hitting the ground running shortly with the
weather warming up. But I would ask the
administration to please make the Bates
Street corridor and the other corridors
leading into that business improvement
district a high priority. It doesn't make any
sense to clean up the Forbes, Fifth corridors
and then have the other main primary routes
leading into the corridor look like a combat
zone.

But I don’t know if there is anything
else we can do. | think we have extended
ourselves to whatever we can do within
local municipal law for the graffiti
vandalism fine and cost and community
service and you name it. It maybe
appropriate now that we would ask that the
state legislature find some other way to give
local magistrates and chief magistrates like
Judge Simmons other tools that they may
need to come down on individuals.

The other thing that is depressing,

455

even if you agree with the obscure
argument of graffiti vandalism being in
some form of public art, ] would ask that
the graffiti community out there, I mean
there are any number of opportunities to
participate in community mural projects
including a lot of self expression. I don't
understand why we can't get some of these
other individuals involved, | think mainly
that is not what their intent is. I don't think
their intent is public art or public
expression.

T would ask that the chief magistrate
do whatever is in his power because the
property damage is in the tens of thousands
of dollars. The gentleman who called me
from South Oakland, Mr. Ricciardi, owned
several buildings and he is one of your
good friends, Mr. O'Connor. He is very
concemed and very upset about what has
happened and it is just wrong. It is a
disgusting atmiosphere in which somebody
has to return home to their private home
and it is just an outrageous offense on
commercial properties and it should be

stopped.

This is I think this maybe the
second or third time this individual has
been caught and I agree with Mr. Ricciardi
whole heartedly. But public education of
the index finger is —

Mr. Onorato:

Let me chime in here. I want to add
my support to Councilman Ricciardi's
resolution. I would also like to make a
friendly amendment to add onto it because
it appears that society has gotten away from
holding actors responsible for their actions
and that's why you see this increase in these
types of activities. I would like to ask the
Law Department in addition to what

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S=as lle

Councilman Ricciardi is asking. We have
to know if we're allowed if this individual
was found guilty and he hasn't been found
guilty yet. But if he is, I mean there should
be a way that they put on some kind of
work outfit that identifies him of being
found guilty for doing this and sit there and
scrub this wall or come up with thousands
of dollars. If they don't come up with it,
they sit in jail one or the other. But have J
no problem with public humiliation once
somebody is found guilty.

We better wake up to the realization
that this is not kids play any more. If
someone wants to just spray paint a private
property or public property and they get
caught and they are found guilty, I have no
problem with hundreds of people driving to
work everyday seeing somebody identified
in a uniform as being found guilty and part
of a work gang cleaning up a wall. I think
we should do it, I think it should be done to
anyone found guilty and that sends a strong
message. If it takes two, or three or four
people to be public humiliated to send a
message to stop others from doing it, I am
all for it. I think we should do it and I think
we have a legal right to do it.

I would like to have the Law
Department give me an opinion and telling
us one isn't allowed. And if it isn't, I want
to see where the courts have said it is not
allowed. Because I know other states are
doing it and I frankly am sick and tired of
it. We went through a playground being
bumed down in my district last year, caught
the individual we have him doing some
public works, but it was a juvenile. This
individual is not a juvenile. I don't think it
is ajuvenile.

Mr. Cohen:

He has been doing it for 20 years.
Mr. Onorato:

He probably has a pension from the
spray painting industry. But I would say
that we publicly humiliate the individual
and put him to work cleaning up the walls
that he painted. If Councilman Ricciardi
doesn't mind, I would like to have the
opinion from the Law Department if that is
allowed.

The Chair:

I understand the hearing Monday
and I made a call too that it was postponed
because I think there are two of them and
they didn't have an attorney. I think the
magistrate is sending a strong message
better come back with an attorney. I
believe it's April 7" and I urge anyone in
the Oakland area to be there. I also ask our
police detective or operators to check I
understand his insignia is all over so they
can track it just like handwriting so that this
person again -- how old is this person? I
have heard his name for years.

Mr. Cohen:
He has to be in his 30's by now.
The Chair:

So he should either be made to fix
it, paint it, clean it or pay for it and no other
choice. I certainly think the will of the
people are here and this is a -- if this is an
expression, yes there is a brand new
building that the University of Pittsburgh
put up at Atwood, brand new brick it is
sprayed there. This is a crime. This isn't
some kid putting Johnny loves Mary down.
So this is really outrageous. And, Mr.

ETT

Ferlo, I agree with you. One finger, two
fingers let's -- 1 hope our magistrate got the
Message and the people of that
neighborhood are going to be there in
person to really show what that person has
done to the community and it certainly
sends a bad influence all over.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I just want to thank all colleagues.
But, Mr. O'Connor, I think you are
absolutely right when you mention about
the detectives, We have to make sure that
we are organized and that we have our
people there because people have vacation
days, sick days. So ] think we have to make
sure that we are organized on our end to
present a good, decent case to make sure
that if these people are the actors that the
decision comes down on our side. So,
maybe I can take the lead on that and keep
everyone abreast of what is going on. I will
see everyone April 7th.

The Chair:

Also, make sure I know a lot of
judges are running for office, I think it is a
time to have tough judges. So hopefully
whoever is the judge for this person is the
right judge.

Mr. Ricciardi:
Nice high profile case.
Ms. McDonald:

Thank you. I just have two things.
One should have fallen under unfinished
business but I don't know, maybe I missed
when it was called for unfinished business.
But the TIF committee, I will be in touch
with all Council members as weil as Dr.

457

Mulugetta Birru, Mr. Steve Leeper, Mr.
Ron Suber, President of the School Board,
Mr. Rick Fellers who is the Business
manager there to convene our first meeting
of the TIF committee. We want to insure
that even though the Mellon TIF and the
PNC TIF, First Side TIF, which really
hasn't even been discussed on Council but
is moving. That even though they have
been grandfathered and do not fall in the
auspices of the amendments to the TIF
legislation, that there is still some
monitoring and some review of what they
have done so far particularly in terms of
minority contracting, employment, etc.
Where are they with this and to report back
to Council?

So that I will be in touch with all of
you all as well other officials in terms of a
meeting, which should occur within I
would say two to four weeks. That should
have been under unfinished business.

The Chair:

If I could echo in, we have two
proposals that I would like to share with
you and be part of that committee.

Ms. McDonald:

Exactly. Outside of the TIF, this is
under new business. In meeting there has
been an Affican-American Business
Roundtable Committee slash Information
Exchange Committee that was convened by
minority enterprise corporation. Sharon
Williams is the Executive Director there to
discuss opportunities for minorities, for
business opportunity in terms of Plan B as
well as the myriad of economic
development initiatives in this region. And
to make sure that the minority business
community is on top of things and basically

SSS OO OOOO

in the fore instead of always chasing the
opportunities. In the meeting this morning
what was not even strange but what was
interesting was that even amongst the
members there that there was not clarity, no
full clarity in terms of all the financial
assistance that is available out there and
where these entities are.

We talked about many different pots
in terms of bonding, in terms of revolving
loan funds, what is for minorities, what is
for this, the county, the city, etc, etc, the
URA. If it is confusing to us as members
of this committee, I can't imagine what it is
like for minorities and women and
disadvantaged businesses out there who
don't know how to access the moneys to be
able to make a go of these opportunities.

So I will be formally asking the City
Clerks Office to convene a televised Post
Agenda to discuss the financial
opportunities that are available, with the
URA, private entities, the city, the county,
etc. I will be collaborating with
Councilman Udin as well as Councilman
Hertzberg of the URA on this but it should
be cablecast to alert the general population
out there as to where are these pots of
monies? How are they accessed? How
many are there? And if it looks like it's
confusing, then we seriously need to
discuss collapsing some of them so that it
makes it easier to access. If it is confusing
then it defeats the purpose of having these
pots of money out there. It needs to be easy
to access and easy understand for the
general population. I would hope to be able
to convene this as soon as possible. This
should also be on a fast track to alert the
community.

Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you, Mr. President. Very
briefly, I have been asked to serve as
honorary chair of an effort to raise some
money for the Greater Pittsburgh
Community Food Bank.

Last year you may remember
Comedy Relief, we raised about seven
thousand dollars. This year again we're
having Comedy Relief H and this year it is
going to be held at the Rose Bud Cafe on
Smallman Street. It is $20 all dollars raised
that evening go to the Greater Pittsburgh
Community Food Bank. It's going to be a
great, fun event. I have tickets that I am
willing to pay for to extend an invitation to
all of my colleagues to be there that night
up on stage. We have a lot of great local
comic acts. 1 am particularly anxious to see
Gene Collier from the Post Gazette. I am
sure that's going to be a rare situation that
evening. Also, Chilly Bill Cardille will be
there and Stephen, Steve Luncinski, from
Chiller Theater days and eight or nine local
great comedians that have performed
throughout Pittsburgh area and around the
country.

Again, that is Rose Bud Cafe, you
can pay at the door, $20, Saturday evening,
April 3rd, and following that there is a great
show by a local band, House of Soul. So
it's going to be a great fun evening at Rose
Bud Cafe. I want to thank Robin
Femandez and the staff there for helping
out and donating their time. If you need
more information, you can call my office at
255-2140. That's Comedy Relief to
Pittsburgh on Saturday evening April 3".
It's going to be a great event, seven o'clock.

Secondly, Mr. President, could I ask
for a report back from Director Costa from
General Services? I have been approached
by and I am not sure what all the facts are,

S——a—aNaqe0aaaeeeeeelees=s=Sl

but I have been lead to believe that the
Harley Davidson Company, which is a local
Pennsylvania. company that makes
obviously motorcycles is willing to give
trade for trade. They are willing to give a
new motorcycle for a previously owned
City of Pittsburgh motorcycle. 1 am
wondering if that is the case that that
information is correct that I have received?
If it is, I don't understand why we can't take
them up on that deal.

T don't know why we would go
through competitive bid and spend money
if there could be some kind of quit pro quo.
I am still concerned about our ‘97
motorcycles, maybe Mr. Diven knows more
about this? Usually when we bought
motorcycles, they were good for a number
of years. So I] would like a fuller
explanation from Director Costa on what is
or is not the facts regarding upgrading our
fleet of motorcycles and the veracity and
the appropriateness of the offer being made
by the Harley Davidson Company of
Pennsylvania.

Mr. Diven:

Just to follow up on that question, I
too was approached by some people in our
traffic division regarding an offer that was
on the table from Harley Davidson, where
they would take I believe 25 1997
motorcycles, take them and trade them in
for 1999 motorcycles at no cost to the city.
So they would drive in with a '97 and drive
out with a'99 with no money exchanged.

Talking to some of the people
regarding this, what they are saying is
Harley Davidson is in the process of I guess
developing a new line of bikes. They want
to clear out their newest inventory and with
the resale value of the old Harley Davidson

bikes being so high, they can do this by just
not collecting the markup from each of the
motorcycles.

I had the opportunity to talk to the
administration. They said that they were
definitely looking into the possibility of
doing this and they are supposed to get
back to me with a report as to what
direction they're going to go. I think it is
any time you have the opportunity to take
motorcycles that have two years of wear
and tear on them and tum them in for brand
new ones, it is something that we should at
least put every effort into pursuing.

Mr. Ferlo:

I would like to maybe be involved
in some meeting. One, I definitely want to
favor a Pennsylvania Corporation like
Harley Davidson and most if not all of its
product base of the motorcycle is made in
America, and supports Pennsylvania jobs.
But I am concemed historically the
motorcycles have been great bikes for a
great number of years more than just two
years. I don't want to get a pig in a poke
here. I mean it wasn't until Director
Miskovich came along that they were
finally getting twelve to fourteen thousand
dollars on a resale for even a used
motorcycle. In the past a lot of deal making
went on with some city employees. I will
leave names out.

Tam just concemed about this issue
now because I am hearing different, you
know it is my natural suspicion when it
comes to City Hali bureaucrats. But I want
to know what is going on here with these
Harleys?

Mr. Diven:

EE eee
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As soon as I get the report back
from the administration I will make sure I
share it with you. If we want to set a
meeting up, J am with that idea as well.
Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you.
The Chair:

I believe they have been very
cooperative. I worked with them recently
on another thing involving motorcycles and
they have been trying to get more city
business. Do you know if there is a time
line on this?

Mr. Diven:

I believe it goes till sometime in
April.

The Chair:
We can meet with Mr. Costa right
away to find out. I am on the equipment

leasing, what the plans are.

Any other discussion? Approval of
the minutes.

MS. MCDONALD moved to approve the
minutes.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. ONORATO moved to adjoum the
meeting.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.

And on the motion made by Mr. Onorato,

460

the meeting adjourned.

ADDENDUM

Mr. Udin’s comments on Bill 1357
can be found in the Standing Committee
Meeting minutes of March 3, 1999.

Mr. Hertzberg’s comments on Bills
1303 and 1305 can be found in the
Standing Committee Meeting minutes of
March 10, 1999.

MUNICIPAL RECORD

eee
Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pitisburgh
oo

VOL. CXXXII March 23, 1999 No. 12
Council. They reside in Councilman
Diven's District.
Municipal Record Anthony Zupanek and Joshua
Coennen:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of
ONE-HUNDRED the United States of America and to the
. republic for which it stands one nation
2: SBIRTE TE COUNCIL under God indivisible with liberty and
BOB O'CONNOR svsssnsrnneersneee President Justice for all.

LINDA M. JOHNSON-WASLER.... City Clerk
JOHN R. MASCIO Deputy City Clerk

Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday, March 23, 1999

PRESENT:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato
Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin

Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor
Ms. McDonald (Pres't)

The Chair:

All please rise for the pledge of
allegiance and remain standing for a
moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the world.

We have two special guests with
us, nine-year-old Anthony Zupanek and
ten-year-old Joshua Coennen. They both
are in the fourth grade at Carmalt
Elementary School and are accompanied
by Anthony's mother, Jeanne, who is the
Treasurer for Overbrook Community

The Chair:

Thank you. Nice to see a salute
this time. We have many special guests in
the audience.

PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. Joe
Costa from the Pittsburgh AIDS Task
Force please come up. Is he here? I heard
he was in the room. With or without
Mr. Costa I think he is here, thank you.

Mr. President, why don't we have
another proclamation until Mr. Costa
comes back. Thank you very much.

Mr. Diven:

Thank you. With us today, we
have some very special guests from the
Women’s Center and Shelter for Greater
Pittsburgh. They're celebrating their 25
years in business and also trying to bring
some light to a fundraiser that their center

=e,

is currently undertaking.

With that, I will ask you to
introduce the group. We have a
proclamation here, but let me read this
first. The work that these people have
done for the past 25 years, is some of the
most important work in the City of
Pittsburgh. We thought it was appropriate
to make sure that you all had the
opportunity to come down and be
recognized for your service and your
dedication to the community. So with that
I will read the proclamation.

MR. DIVEN AND ALL COUNCIL
MEMBERS PRESENT:

No. 1413. WHEREAS, the
Women's Center and Shelter of Greater
Pittsburgh began with a small group of
women in 1974 as a drop-in meeting place
and has grown into one of the country's
leading programs on domestic violence
with a staff consisting of nationally
recognized experts in the field and;

WHEREAS, the Women's Center
and Shelter has worked diligently to
overcome many obstacles and to increase
public awareness about domestic violence
and;

WHEREAS, the Women's Center
and Shelter worked alongside legislators to
have domestic violence recognized as a
crime and as a community problem and;

WHEREAS, this year, 1999, marks
the 25" anniversary of the Women's
Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh
with many special events planned to raise
awareness about domestic violence and to
celebrate the past twenty-five years and;

WHEREAS, on Tuesday, March
30, 1999, the second annual "Dine Out
Nite" will be held to kick off the 25"
anniversary celebration and local
restaurants will donate a portion of the
evening's proceeds to the Women's Center
and Shelter.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend the
Women's Center and Shelter of Greater
Pittsburgh for the important work they do
in providing a safe atmosphere for women
and children in crisis and congratulates
them on their 25" anniversary.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare Tuesday, March 30,
1999, "Women's Center and Shelter of
Greater Pittsburgh Day" in the City of
Pittsburgh.

MR. COHEN moved
Tesolution.

to adopt the

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Diven:

You can have the microphone so
you can introduce the guests.

Ms. Reagan:

Thank you very much. I would
like to introduce Ronda Nesbit, who is our
Board President, Pat Violey, volunteer
former board member, Cathy Whitely
worked at the Women's Center and Shelter
the longest as a paid employee. She is the
Manager of our Children's Program. Jeff

a SEE OOOO

Dunmar is new and he works in our school
programs, working with breaking the cycle
of violence. Maureen Hetrick is our
Developer Director. We have a very
special guest with us today, Ann Statler,
who is a founding mother of the Women’s
Center and Shelter 25 years ago. And she
is still a very active volunteer with us.

T would like to take this
opportunity to thank the city very much.
One of the reasons why the Women’s
Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh is
such a success is. because of the people of
the City of Pittsburgh. We have had a
tremendous amount of community support
and it is what has brought us altogether
and into the forefront of our nation in the
work that we do in domestic violence.

I want to take this opportunity to
thank all of you and the community of
Pittsburgh.

The Chair:
Thank you.
Mr. Diven:

Would anyone else like to say a
few words?

Mr. Cohen:

I wanted to take a moment to
congratulate the Women's Center and
Shelter. I think that you are an example of
how things could truly get done in
Pittsburgh in a way that becomes an
important institution in Pittsburgh. There
is a social problem and a serious social
problem and that is abuse, abuse of women
and children usually in the domestic
context. And people like yourself many

years ago decided we're going to do
something about that. How do we solve
that problem? And the truth is it is a multi
faceted resolution to that problem but one
of them is to have a shelter. A shelter for
people to go and be abie to rebuild their
lives,

The Women's Center and Shelter,
and I obviously will not give the address,
but it lies in the area that I represent has
done a remarkable, remarkable job in
addressing that need. 1 can't believe that
you’re 25 years old, because it certainly
doesn't seem that _ long. But
congratulations on doing a remarkable job.

Mr. Diven:

Maybe Maureen if you would like
to come up and talk about Dine Out Night
and some of the restaurants that are
participating and how it’s going to help the
center out and provide the resources to
continue the work. I think, hopefully
people watching at home and some of the
media can make people aware about this
important event and bring some attention
to It.

Ms. Hetrick:

On Tuesday, March 30th, will be
the Women’s Center and Shelter Second
Annual Dine Out Night where we have
Participating restaurants throughout the
city and county donating a portion of their
proceeds from that evening to benefit the
Women’s Center and Shelter.

Some of the restaurants are Cafe
Sam in the Shadyside area, Cafe Mimi in
Swissvale, Jimmy G's in Aspinwall, Rico's
in North Hills, Piccolo Mondo in South
Hills, Buffalo Blues in Shadyside.

V—_— eee,

Mullaney’s Harp and Fiddle in the Strip
District. It should be a fun night. It is an
opportunity for people who support the
Women’s Center and Shelter to come
together, to enjoy a nice meal, to meet
other people who are working and
volunteering to support the Women's
Center and shelter. Basically everyone has
to eat, so let's eat together to support the
Women's Center and Shelter. Thank you.

Speaker:

Mr. President, can we tum the
microphones on we can't hear a thing back
here? Turn it up so we can hear.

Mr. Cohen:

Joe Costa, from the Pittsburgh
AIDS Task Force come up. Can you hear
me okay? Just like, much like the
Women's Center and Shelter, the
Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force also has done
a remarkable job in the City of Pittsburgh
to address a serious, serious problem. And
that is the problem of HIV and AIDS in
the City of Pittsburgh. And despite some
of the things that you have read about this,
there is not yet a cure for AIDS although
they're certainly, we certainly made a
tremendous amount of progress in treating
people with HIV and people with AIDS.

The Pittsburgh AIDS task force is
having an event on April 7th we're they're
bringing August Wilson's Fences to
Pittsburgh at the Public Theater on
April 7th and I wanted to give them
recognition of that fact this moming.

MR. COHEN PRESENTS:

No. 1414 WHEREAS, The
Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force which was

founded in 1985, is an organization of
effective and compassionate volunteers
who provide medical, emotional and
jegal support to AIDS victims and their
families; and

WHEREAS, although many
recent headlines have been misleading,
there is still no cure for AIDS; and

WHEREAS, new therapies have
dramatically increased the life
expectancy of people living with AIDS,
creating a greater demand on PATF
resources; and

WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh
AIDS Task Force has expanded HIV
testing services and now provides

assistance to people living with
HIV/AIDS in Fayette, Greene,
Washington and Westmoreiand
Counties; and

WHERAS, on April 7, 1999, the
Pittsburgh Public Theater will present a
performance of the August Wilson play
“Fences” for the benefit of the
Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force as a means
of raising much needed funds,
increasing awareness of the agency and
allowing it to continue to lead
prevention and advocacy initiatives.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED that the Council of the
City of Pittsburgh does hereby
commend the Pittsburgh AIDS Task
Force and proclaims April 7, 1999
“Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force Day” in
the City of Pittsburgh.

MS. MCDONALD moved to adopt the
resolution.

—_——_——_——————— ee

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Cohen:

We have Joe Costa here from the
Task Force, who is Executive Director,
who is Director of Development for the
task force and we want Joe to accept this
proclamation on behalf of the City and
please tell us something about the event.
Thank you.

Mr. Costa:

First of all on behalf of the
Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force and the many
clients it serves, I want to thank City
Council for supporting the agency and for
this proclamation. Also you're not the first
to make that mistake. I just got this job
three weeks ago, and in the Tribune
Review said I was Executive Director as
well. So you read the article.

Our association with the Pittsburgh
Public Theater is very important. They did
the very first raiser 13 years ago for the
Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force and each year
since then have provided us with a house
for one night to raise funds for the Task
Force. It continues to be one of our largest
source of income. So the fact that we have
this proclamation we're very appreciative
and hope that many of you can join us on
August 7th for the play Fences by August
Wilson.

I also just want to take this
opportunity and it must be a common way
to raise funds is by dining out, tomorrow
40 restaurants in Pittsburgh will donate a
portion of their proceeds to the Pittsburgh
AIDS Task Force. While forty is too

numerous to go through, just to let you
know downtown it is Tessero’s's
Restaurant, Dingbats, Pittsburgh's Fish
Market, and Steelhead Grill will all be
donating a portion of every dollar spent
tomorrow to the Pittsburgh AIDS Task
Force. Thank you very much.

The Chair:

Members of the American Diabetes
Association please come up. We have
David Donahue, the Area Executive
Director of the Mid Atlantic Region,
Nancy Gallagher, and Mary Coritcowski
with us from the American Diabetes
Association.

MR. O'CONNOR AND ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:

No. 1415 WHEREAS, nearly 16
million Americans have diabetes, a disease
with no cure that impairs the body's ability
to convert sugar into energy; and,

WHEREAS, diabetes is the sixth
leading cause of death by disease in the
United States; and

WHEREAS, in this year alone,
more than 798,000 Americans will be
diagnosed with the disease and 187,000
Americans will die from it; and,

WHEREAS, people whose
diabetes goes undiagnosed and untreated
are subject to any of its serious conditions,
such as blindness, heart disease, kidney
disease, stroke and log or foot amputation;
and,

WHEREAS, an increase in
community awareness of diabetes, its
human impact, and the American Diabetes

Association, may stimulate public action
in increasing research towards a cure, and
spur better treatments for people with
diabetes until that cure is found.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby encourage and
ask that every individual take the Diabetes
Risk Test. The Diabetes Risk Test is a
questionnaire that will be mailed to your
home when you call 1-888-DIABETES.
Please call today

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare March 23, 1999, as
“American Diabetes Alert Day" in the City
of Pittsburgh.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt the
resolution.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

I understand you want to say a few
words first and then we are going to show
you how easy it is to get a test. We have a
couple guinea pigs, you're looking at one.

Mr. Donahue:

Today is American Diabetes alert.
This is the 11th anniversary of this one-
day call to attention of this disease. The
big numbers that were sited in the
proclamation, as big as they sound if you
think of them in terms as one out of every
14 people in the general population wage a
daily fight against diabetes, that's about
87,000 people here in Pittsburgh and

466

Allegheny County. Tragically one out of
three of those about 37,000 are unaware of
it.

As part of our American Diabetes
Alert Activities today from ten am. to
2:00p.m. the American Diabetes
Association is partnering with UPMC
Health Systems to do free blood glucose
screening in the lobby of the City Council
Building. We are encouraging all of you
to take advantage of that opportunity as
you leave the session today.

Among our new guidelines are that
all people over the age of 45 be screened
for diabetes and be screened every three
years. And it’s a great opportunity and we
appreciate the cooperation of the City
Council to help us out with this project.

I would like to introduce, Dr. Mary
Coritcowksi, she is the Medical Director
of the Center for Diabetes and
Endocrinology at UPMC Health Systems
to share just a little bit more information
about this disease called diabetes.

Ms. Coritcowski:

Good moming, first. You all have
a lot of information about the numbers of
people with diabetes, 1 would like to call
your attention to the fact Pennsylvania is a
particularly hard hit state. 1/16th of all the
people in United States of America who
have diabetes resides in the State of
Pennsylvania. And as you heard from Mr.
O'Connor diabetes is a disorder that is
associated with complications such as eye
disease, kidney disease, nerve disease and
heart disease. Now this is a case of where
what you don't know can hurt you. As was
said, one out of every three people with
diabetes don't know they have it. And

ee
a 8 _SS

that's a problem because it gives the
complications a head start.

If you have diabetes and you find
out early these complications are
preventable. We would encourage all of
you to come and take the diabetes risk test.
Tf you are at risk, we can do a blood sugar
while you're here today and find out if you
have it and refer you for treatment. Thank
you.

I would like to thank the Council
for supporting this activity.

The Chair:

Nancy just gave me the risk test
and J'm at risk.

Ms. Gallagher:

We might read over some of these
Tisk factors just so we know what they are.
If your weight is above the weight
indicated on this chart. If you are over 65
years of age. If you are between 54 and 64
years of age, If you are a woman who had
who a baby of greater than 9 pounds and if
you have a sister or brother who has
diabetes or if you have a parent who has
diabetes. All of those have to be added up
and if you come up with a tally greater
than a certain amount, you’re at risk and
you in fact need to have your blood sugar
checked.

Valerie, while you are reading
through that, if you could go through that
and see where you fall. Then I will come
over and do yours next.

The Chair:

Valerie's not overweight. She's

under 45 and she is ok.

467

Ms. Gallagher:

Once you have gone through the
test in the brochure and once again that is
1-800-DIABETES number, all you have to
do is call 1-800-DIABETES and they will
send this brochure to your home.

And what we're going to do is after
that, if you come up with a higher score
then you need to have your blood sugar
checked. We're doing it today at the
William Pitt Student Union and also in the
lobby of this building.

The Chair:

Didn't even hurt. Thanks for your
help.
Ms. Gallagher:

The test is very simple. It just
takes a very short period of time.

Please come down to the

City-County building today and also to the
Pitt, the William Student Union. The
other thing is that there are six other sites
that are going to be throughout the spring
so if you are interested you can call
647-UPMC and they can tell you of a site
that you can go to that is near to your
home.

The Chair:

‘You will be doing that all day
today here and at Pitt?

Ms. Gallagher:

From ten to two today at Pitt
William Student Union and also in the

SSESea[alaqo*<Oa—N—

City County Building lobby. Your number
was very good Valerie.

The Chair:
Some to be read into the record.
MS. MCDONALD PRESENTS:

No. 1416 WHEREAS, on Tuesday,
March 23, 1999, the world renowned,
Count Basie Orchestra will give an
exclusive jazz performance at Schenley
High School located in Oakland; and

WHEREAS, the world famous
Count Basie Orchestra is under the
leadership of Conductor, Grover Mitchell;
and

WHEREAS, although Mr. Grover
Mitchell was born in Alabama, he was
raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and
attended Westinghouse High School.
Pittsburgh is where he was exposed to
some of the most explosive and influential
figures in jazz: Billy Eckstine, Billy
Strayhom, Ray Brown, Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines,
and Art Blakey, to name a few; and

WHEREAS, Grover Mitchell’s
distinguished career reads like ‘Who’s
Who’ in jazz, playing with the greatest
orchestras in the world: Lionel Hampton,
Duke Ellington and The Count Basie
Orchestra. His association with the Count
Basie Orchestra spans twenty-two years.
A relationship beginning as lead trombone
player and elevating with the ‘Count’ as
friend and companion.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Mr. Grover Mitchell for his commitment

468

and desire to educate our youth on the jazz
of yesterday and to share in the knowledge
in the jazz of today.

MS. MCDONALD AND MR. UDIN
PRESENT:

No. 1417 WHEREAS, on
Thursday, March 18, 1999, Freedom
Unlimited Inc. will honor Louis "HOP"
Kendrick, Director of Minority Business
Enterprise for the County of Allegheny;
and

WHEREAS, Hop is a graduate of
Fifth Avenue High School, he holds a
degree from the University of Social
Realities. He began his involvement in
politics as a teenager and he has remained
active for 20 years as a Democrat and 27
years as a Republican; and

WHEREAS, Hop Kendrick has
served as a detective for the District
Attomey’s Office of Allegheny County,
co-founder of the first Allegheny County
Narcotics Squad, as an Investigator of
Internal Affairs for the City of Pittsburgh
and for the Public Defender of Allegheny
County; and

WHEREAS, Hop Kendrick served
in the Korean War from 1952 to 1954,
when he was honorably discharges as a
Corporal; and

WHEREAS, Hop has been married
to Gloria B. Buice since 1954, he has three
grown daughters, one granddaughter and
one grandson; and

WHEREAS, Hop and his brother,
Milton Kendrick, Jr., took over the
trucking business their father, Milton
Kendrick Sr., founded in 1932 when their

———————
—— eee

father died and remained in business until
1987; and

WHEREAS, Louis Kendrick has
been a lifelong member of Carter Chapel
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and
has been active in the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People all
of his adult life.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh joins Freedom Unlimited
Incorporate in honoring Louis "HOP"
Kendrick for a lifetime of service to his
family, his church, politics, his country,
and to the Pittsburgh community.

MR. FERLO moved
resolution.

to adopt the

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. ONORATO AND
HERTZBERG PRESENT:

No. 1418 WHEREAS, Mrs. Evelyn
Neiser began her outstanding service to the
students, parents, staff and residents of
Pittsburgh as a member of the Pittsburgh
Board of Public Education in 1975; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Neiser was
appointed to the Pittsburgh Board of
Public Education on March 6, 1975 by the
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of
Allegheny County. She served until
December of 1976 when she was elected
in District 9; and

WHEREAS, she has served the
neighborhoods of Sheraden, Elliott,
Esplen, Chartiers, Crafton Heights,

469

Westgate, Broadhead, Observatory Hill,
Marshall-Shadeland, Perry-North, Woods
Run and Brighton Heights; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Neiser has
served on the School Affairs, Business
Affairs, Pupil Affairs, Public Affairs, and
Personnel committees with the Board of
Public Education; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Neiser served as
President of the Schoo] Board from 1976
to 1977 and 1* Vice President from 1975 -
1976; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Neiser serves
the residents of District 9 diligently,
making every effort to represent them to
the best of her ability.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh hereby congratulates and
commends Mrs. Evelyn Neiser for her
service to the Oliver High School
community and declares Friday, March 26,

MS. MCDONALD moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Thank you very much. Now move
to --

Mr. Ferlo:
Point of order. Mr. President, the

City Solicitor apparently, and I just read
this today, has offered an opinion which is

—————— ee
=e

a response to I believe Councilwoman
McDonald initially raised this issue about
a month ago. I asked for a legal opinion
because J was not aware of the change in
the state law. And if I understand this
correctly, it implies that we have an
obligation not only legally but I think there
is nothing inappropriate about this, I think
it would increase the level of citizen
participation at our meetings and public
notification. But implies that we need to
at some portion of each meeting that we
hold both the Standing Committee
Meeting of last Wednesday as well this
final legislative meeting that we need to
have some part of the agenda, I assume
towards the beginning of the meeting, an
opportunity for individuals to speak about
matters that are pending before us for final
action.

Now it is true that we did take a
preliminary discussion and vote on some
of the bills that are up today. I think based
on this opinion and my conversation with
Council's Solicitor here, Mr. Hertzberg, it
would seem appropriate that we need to
resolve this matter today, right now. I
would like to suggest that either we get the
Solicitor up here to offer a problementary
procedure suggestion or I would further
state based on my motion that we allow an
opportunity now for residents who may
have been in chambers today who want to
address an issue prior to our final action to
speak.

I would suggest that they be
allowed to speak and give their name and
address at the microphone and that we
establish some kind of democratic time
limit for those individuals to speak and
address Council. But for purposes of
discussion on procedure, I would like to
make this in the form of a motion that now

470

in changing our format for today's meeting
and in the future legislative meetings that
we allow an opportunity for residents to
speak in the beginning of the sessions
following proclamations prior to any final
action on the ordinances and resolutions.
And that the President do it based on
Roberts Rules of Order with a two or three
minute time limit.

I would like to make that in the
form of a motion.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

The Chair:
Second for discussion.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Mr. President, there maybe a lot of
ways that we can try to technically look
about getting around these new
amendments to the sunshine law. I don't
think that is what this should be all about.
We should be trying to comply with the
sunshine law.

What I think the amendments to
the sunshine what they are really trying to
say is at the beginning of every meeting
you should have public comments. The
comments are the same type we have been
having Wednesdays at the end. But the
desire is to have them -- the law says the
intention is to have them at the beginning
of the meetings, particularly so that there
will be public comment before any action
is taken on legislation. And as well as just
comments that we sometimes get that don't

involve pending _ legislation. But
particularly when there is pending
legislation.

I know that there are some
members of the public here today that I
think want to comment, maybe they don't.
But I think under the amendments of the
Sunshine Act we should start today to
comply with it and that's why I second the
motion and support doing this. I think
right now is as good as any at the end of
the proclamations to have it.

Ms. McDonald:

Yes. I will support that motion. I
do want to say to Council that due to a
cold that I caught, .I was not able to draft
the legislation I intended to draft to revise
the one paragraph in our rules of Council
which addresses, it was from 19 -- I don't
remember, it was from 1990 something. I
believe Jack Wagner was the President at
that time that the rules of Council were
adopted such that the provision at that time
for the Sunshine Act were incorporated in
our Standing Committee in terms of when
people could speak. It is in that paragraph
that it says that the people would be able
to speak or testify after the legislative,
excuse me the Standing Committee
Meeting.

What happened was it was not
really to raise such a legal issue as much as
a practical issue where we were in
Standing Committee a couple of weeks
ago and there was a gentleman there with a
baby. He had waited at least two and a
half to three hours to speak for a lousy
stinking three minutes. I didn’t think that
was very fair and it basically alerted me
why can't we let people who do come in at
ten o'clock in the morning speak and get it
over with and they can go on their
business? Why should they have to wait
around for three hours? Why should they
have to wait for three hours or so when it's

471

their right to speak? So it is like punishing
them for exercising their right to speak to
us. And that's why I had conveyed a
memorandum to Council why can't we do
this in the beginning instead of waiting
towards the end?

Then it was Councilman Ferlo who
had asked the Solicitor's Office for an
opinion where there was an amendment to
the Sunshine Act and you have that. In
fact I believe the Senate the actual state
legislation is attached. But it does bring
up the whole notion that that entire
paragraph needs to be rewritten. What I
wanted to do is not write this in a vacuum,
but to talk with all of you all. So we can
be on the same page in terms of how we
are going to revise that one rule of Council
to address every meeting and how we're
going to do it and what can be done and
what can't be done?

Mr. Ferlo:

My motion for today is to resolve
today's situation. I think between now and
the next meeting we should resolve what
Councilwoman McDonald speaks about
both the Standing Committee and the final
legislative meeting. But for purposes of
today and to make our appropriate actions
final and not be open for any consideration
of challenge and also to comply with the
spirit of law, which I think is a good way
to increase community participation.
That's the spirit in which I am offering the
suggestion.

Mr. Ricciardi:
Colleagues, I apologize. I didn't
hear much of the discussion but I think I

understand the jest. Let me just say the
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority we

a £§z§ §z§zz_DI_II__OOO:

allowed a contractor slash vendor to speak
before a vote. It was very helpful and
beneficial as a matter of fact the vendor
had raised some interesting questions and
concerns to the extent, Mr. President, that
we did not move. We did not have action.
We did not vote on the bill before us
because we thought that he had brought up
such important information. If he would
not have spoken before the bill, it was on
the agenda and you know, Mr. President,
on the authority once it makes the agenda
its usually a done deal and it usually
receives an affirmative amount of votes.

So again, I apologize colleagues, I
didn't hear what the resolution was before
us, but if we have any individuals that are
willing or would like to speak today I don't
have an objection to it. Thank you.

The Chair:

Actually I agree and we brought it
up yesterday. Myr. Udin and I having
crossed paths because he was out of town
and I was out of town. We had your
suggestion, Ms. McDonald, I believe in the
past like you say the gentleman had to wait
I think three hours to speak three minutes,
it really wasn't fair. I was concerned about
the Standing Committee, this meeting here
I mean, the Legislative Meeting that it
would pertain to action as the people here I
believe would want to speak to address an
issue coming in front of Council and not
just the normal I need my lot fixed. I don't
know if we can keep, again I need the legal
answer and I didn't -- it wasn't that clear
that people speaking today would have a
final word before we took a final vote and
possibly Wednesday whether it be
moming or afternoon could be a general
topic and 90% of the topics were general
and weren't specific to legislation.

472

That's the only thing I would like to
coordinate with all of you. But certainly
today I think it is very appropriate and
anyone who wants to speak certainly
would be speaking I believe on an issue at
hand before we have a vote.

Mr. Hertzberg:

It is pretty clear that either they are
permitted to speak on matters of concem
or official action.

The Chair:

It is before every meeting and that
would include any post agenda, any
hearings.

Mr. Ferlo:

My motion is on the floor. I think
it is clear. I would also suggest that we
proceed with my motion as amended and
as seconded by Mr. Hertzberg. But that
between now and the next meeting, the
President meet with colleagues and the
Law Department we further clarify this
and actually come up with appropriate
language to modify Council's rules and
bylaws.

But for purposes of this meeting I
think we should comply with both the
spirit and legally and moral spirit of the
expanded sunshine progress.

The Chair:

We will do that today. Normally I
believe we would keep our normal
schedule for tomorrow. But by next week
we should meet with the Law Department
to have a specific agenda and on each
agenda, time, whatever.

Ms. McDonald:

1 would want though to make sure
that no matter what, that we hold meetings
of order and that it’s reasonable and
feasible. That it is not a free for all. There
are ways of doing that. Back in '93 I
believe there was a suggestion by the
Solicitor Office to have a sign in sheet for
people who come in so we know who
wants to speak. Who is out there in the
audience just to listen, who really wants to
testify and to allow them that opportunity
to speak? But a sign in sheet and to allow
a certain -- you don't have to have -- in
other words here is Standing Committee
we have three hours of discussion, you
think I want to hear three hours of
testimony too? To me that's a separate
Public Hearing all together, but there is a
way to do that where you designate a
certain amount of time for people to speak
especially if it is done in the beginning of
our Standing Committee Sessions.

Allocate a certain amount of time
or certain number of speakers and if it gets
too lengthy we can always according to the
memorandum hold that at another time,
but it has to be prior to any action. So
there are ways of doing it.

Mr. Ferlo:

It would have been nice if the state
legislators would include their two bodies
in this requirement because if there is
anyone that needs Sunshined and ability
for people to speak it is the State Senate
and the Pennsylvania House of
Representatives.

The Chair:

With that said, second, all in favor.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

We will allow two minutes for
anyone who wants to address City Council
on any issue. We have a podium and a
timer. There is a podium.

Ms. Brose:

My name is Aggie Brose, I reside
at 1442 Simona Drive, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania 15201. I am here today in
the capacity as the Chair for the Vacant
Property Work Groups. It is under the
umbrella of the Pittsburgh Community
Reinvestment Group. I apologize I don't
have the number of the legislation but I am
sure you are all aware of it. It's the issue
of a bid process where a neighborhood
community group has followed the process
we put in place for the community
organizations through the Vacant Property
Work Group and the property has full
financing in place to develop it. It is in the
historic Dutch Town area, it is part of a
large housing development plan. And it
when it came to the end of the day and the
bid process and we are working on that
with the Mayor's Office. Unfortunately it
is happening too slow to waive the bid.
There was a higher bidder and evidently
he's come in with his legal attomey to say
the Council is bound to deliver this
property to him because he's the highest
bidder.

I am sure by now you all have the
issue of the Brew House in front of you.
That has set a precedent. The Council
absolutely and as some Council has asked
for the legal ability to vote on this. And
all we're asking with great respect of our

Council today is that you have the power
and right to determine the greater good on
this property. And this organization, the
North Side Leadership Conference, that
will be the developer of the property for
the neighborhood groups has a track
record, has financing in place.

I just fee] bad that there are two
sets of standards in this city to redevelop
our neighborhood that is in great need of
capital investment and a strategic plan that
we as neighborhood groups must have
financing in place to be able to put the
property in our name. Other developers
can come in, I have them in my
neighborhood, where the city has sold
property. I could take you on a tour of
today that is now in worse condition than
when they sold it to them. It remains a
slum in my neighborhood and this is a
great fear that we all face within our
communities.

We're just trying very hard as
neighborhood groups to rebuild our
neighborhoods. And I know that a lot of
accusations have been made at community
leaders over this issue that I feel is very
unfair. I respect Council to the utmost. I
have hope you have enough information
and I think you all got a copy of the Brew
House results where it tells you here that if
it's the greater good to the community,
Council can absolutely give it to the lower
bidder.

Treally thank you for your time and
this new policy that you put into place.
Thank you very much.

Mr. Cohen:

I did not get a copy of the paper
she is referring to.

474

Mr. Ferlo:

Brew House has nothing to do with
the issues that we're addressing today.

The Chair:
Any other speaker?
Ms. Rodriquez Kraus:

Marcia Rodrequez Kraus, I reside
at 212 Marsonia Street, Pittsburgh 15214.
Iam also the staff person for the Fineview
Citizens Council as well as being a
resident of the neighborhood. As with
Aggie Brose's situation, we too have a
project in the same condition. It's been a
four-year over all project that the Council
has been working on which encompasses
$1.68 million. We have financing in
place. We have plans, land view studies
everything that was required of the
Council in order to prove the feasibility of
this project.

I can't really speak for the higher
bidder I don't know them personally.
Basically all I do know is that they are out
of state absentee landlords. At this point
we don’t know of whether if or how they
would propose to develop this project on
Jay Street. Thank you.

Ms. Eldridge:

Good moming. My name is
Margaret Eldridge (phonetic), I live at
1800 Belleau Street in the Fineview area
of Pittsburgh on the North Side. I ama
22-year resident there. I have seen my
neighborhood go down, it is now on its
way back up again. We have wonderful
plans for the neighborhood. We're bidding

a 0 0 0800000

for a property on Jay Street. We plan to
put two homes on it and regardless of the
bid 1 think we deserve the right to make
our neighborhood whole again. Thank
you.

Ms. Traff:

Hello, my name is Lynn Traff
(phonetic) and I live at 3340 Perrysville
Avenue. I reside in the Observatory Hill
section of the neighborhood. We have
been working for seven years on 292 to
298 Watson Boulevard. That's a horrible
apartment building that was foreclosed
upon three times and it was the scene of
drive by drug dealing. It is a magnet for
all sorts of loitering, kids have been in
there and basically have been destroying it.
The city really hasn't gotten any taxes due
to this particular property and Observatory
Hill Inc., our community group has wished
to purchase this property and tum it into
elderly housing, which is something our
neighborhood really, really needs.

We really urge Council to allow
our neighborhood group to be able to do
that. Thank you.

Ms. Glorahue:

Good moming. My name is Lynn
Glorahue (phonetic). I live at 420
Lockhart Street in East Allegheny in
Pittsburgh's North Side, the zip code is
15212. I am here specifically about a
property that's right on my street a block
away from where I live that has been
vacant for the last four years. Our
community Council put together with
some six other houses initially in a big
package really at the behest of Mayor
Murphy who told us that we shouldn't just
try to fix up one house but we should get a

475

critical mass and really try to improve our
whole neighborhood not just a little spot
here and there. So we put together a
package of seven places that obviously
needed to have something to fix them up
and find owners for them.

We ran into a couple logjams with
two on Lockhart Street, which is getting
improved. Like since I lived there the last
seven years, we really have decreased the
number of boarded up buildings there and
people are starting to be a little bit more
interested in our neighborhood. Actually it
might be a place for a person to come and
make some money on a property finally,
which hasn't been the case before.

But anyway our community
Council needs to have the power to find a
place that needs to be fixed up, put a
package of financing together and make
agreements with the city that we will be
able to get hold of those properties and go
ahead and fix them up and find people
who will live in them and pay their taxes.
That's what we would just like the city’s
cooperation in our efforts to do that.

Ms. Burns:

Barbara Bums. I live at 530 Avery
Street, Pittsburgh 15212. I am also the
staff person of the Vacant Property
Working Group. I want you to know that
this is an issue very near and dear to my
heart.

I have great respect for community
groups across the city who work tirelessly
to try to eliminate blight and one of the
strategies that we utilize is the treasurer
sale. It does in fact hold people
accountable. And prior to this city selling
it's tax liens, it was very much a revenue

generating mechanism. We believe that
that was short sited that the issue here is
really to remove blight as well as tax
delinquency from our communities.

The issue that I would like to speak
to and I think you need to read this
decision because we have had differing
opinions and obviously we don't agree
with your law department. You did take a
higher road in my view with the Duquesne
Brewery. If you look at page four, | will
read it. The controlling issue is whether
the legislature intended to compel the city
to utilize a procedure for disposing of
properties acquired at the treasurer sale
that is likely to produce the highest priced
sales price or whether the legislature
intended to permit the city to dispose of
property acquired at the treasurer sale in a
manner that also takes into account the
interest and the needs of the community
even though such a disposal does not
necessarily produce the highest sales price.

It is absolutely disheartening to
neighborhood leaders as well as residents
to seek property sold by the city and have
the blight continue. You have an
opportunity, in fact you have an obligation,
to help stop this kind of crap. In my
neighborhood I get real emotional, talking
about this. The house on Lockhart Street,
in particular the man who wants to
purchase this is tax delinquent. It's a fact.
He bought a building in Polish Hill that
was tax delinquent. 1 commend him for
that, but when he purchased that property
he assumed its debt. He should pay it here
or at Capital Assets. But since he owned
the building he became tax delinquent on
his own. He did not pay his "98 taxes, he
did not pay his 99 taxes, he didn't come
like many people in this city and make a
payment plan.

476

Now because he wasn't delinquent
at the time he submitted a bid that is
supposed to be moot point. It is not moot.
It is important. People in this city who try
to buy a side yard that some times takes
forever. As we know they have to be re-
certified all the time by real estate that they
are in good standing not tax delinquent,
community groups have set in place with
the city high standards of performance,
financing and that we too will not be tax
delinquent.

We have rose to that occasion. I
think it's a good standard and some little
technicality a person wasn't tax delinquent
at the time they placed a bid. You have
not sold this property to date. Hold him to
the same standard that you would hold
some nice little old lady for the house too.
You have the power to do it, you ought to
exercise it or your going to see blight
continue in my neighborhood and in other
neighborhoods. Your smarter than all that.

Mr. Manyon:

Council, my name is William
Manyon (phonetic), I am an attorney with
offices at 505 Court Place. I just want to
respond to Ms. Bums. The property in
question was bid on over a year ago. The
person had zero tax debt at the time. He
should have been in the property while he
still had zero tax debt. This dragged on a
long time because of pressure from who
knows where except that the community
group kept telling us that the pressure
originated with them. Who it went
through at the city we're not going to say,
but it originated with them according to
their own statements.

The man bought property on Polish

ee
See

Hill. He's renovated property on Polish
Hill. He is in the midst of renovating one
of them that's a major, major renovation.
The other one is already completely
renovated and back on the tax rules and
yes there was tax debt paid.

To say he didn't pay ‘98 taxes is
not true. To say he still owes some ‘98
taxes is true. He has paid in tax and fees
he's paid over 90% of what is owed and he
still has if you consider '99 in there
together he's paid at least 80% of what
owes. If that's not a good faith effort then
the bar is too high.

He's definitely not a slumlord.
He's definitely adding to the city. What is
being done is unfair and there is a hidden
agenda that I have all told you about
previously. I am not going into it now.
Thank you.

Ms. Watworth:

Good moming. My name is
Delores Watworth (phonetic) and I am
with the Fineview Citizen Council. I was
born and raised in Fineview, so I am going
to tell you my age, 69 years. I have seen
Fineview come and go and I have seen it
come slum. I have seen it be proved and
about six years ago when we did Fineview
Crest One, it did such an impact on our
neighborhood, we have all kinds of people
now that want to come up and live there.
Now we're doing Fineview Crest 2, it is a
$1.6 million with the URA and we want
the property on Jay Street, it is part of
what we want, we want to rebuild.

It is a beautiful section of our
neighborhood where people could come
and live and enjoy the view of the city. It
will bring in taxes for you. It will bring in

477

better families in Fineview. What we're
trying to do is get family owned people
there not renters, not landlords that are in
Florida who don't even know who lives in
that property. I know who lives in that
property. I see it all the time. | have their
kids up in the playground.

You need to consider that Fineview
needs to have homeowner people up there.
We need to beautify our neighborhoods.
We need to make it drug free and all that.
We can't do that if we can't have the
property that we need for our $1.6 million.
Please take into consideration that we are
and we want to help the city bring people
back to the city but we can't do that if we
have slum landlords.

Mr. Fatler:

I guess J arrived just in time. I am
Mark Fatler (phonetic). I am here
representing the Allegheny West Civic
Council. We don't have a property in the
sale as I recall. But J am here in support of
the issue. It seems to me that Council has
a couple of questions. One, does it have
the authority under the City Charter to
accept or refuse a sale? I think it is very
clear that because you have to vote on this
and it takes action by the Mayor that you
have the authority and in fact the
obligation to review the sale.

The second question is on what
criteria you exercise that authority? It
seems to me that there is nothing limiting
in any of the materials I have heard or any
of the arguments that I have heard that
limit you to making the choice solely on
the issue of price. In effect it seems to me
that you have the obligation to make a
choice based on what ultimately produces
the best result for the city as a whole.

——
a

What produces the best common good?
And in this case you have a choice
between property without a development
plan, a buyer who does not have a
development plan, does not have financing
and the non-profit agency which was
required to produce those things before
bidding. You also have a potential buyer
with a tract record in that respect and
another buyer who has a tract record of tax
delinquency and no track record of
developing the properties purchased
through the city as of yet.

You have the power and the
obligation to make the choice based upon
what produces the greatest good. And I
suggest to you that in this instance that is
to exercise it on behalf of selecting the
bidder with the likelihood of producing
positive development. Thank you.

The Chair:

Deputy Mayor Cox did you wish to
address Council?

Mr. Ferlo:

There is a property today for final
action for Allegheny West also.

Mr. Fatler:
Oh, I am fortunate I guess.
Mr. Ferlo:

So, do you want us to delay that
too and go back to public bidding?

Mr. Fatler:

Yes. If whatever works best for
everybody, Allegheny West --

478

The Chair:
You are both out of order.
Mr. Cox:

I simply want to say that the
neighborhood was offered the opportunity
to do this through directed sale through
URA. It was their decision to go to public
bid. We complied with their wishes in this
matter. So that's how we are at this
process.

I think I am suggesting to the
neighborhoods that in the future they
should take the directed sale alternative if
they want to control for development.
Even though it does take longer and it is
slightly more complicated, but please
understand that this just didn't happen
because the administration went ahead
without consulting with the neighborhood.
Thank you.

Mr. Ferlo:

1am personally upset about a lot of
disinformation that's been explained and
spread by some of my representatives.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Can I ask for a point of order, if
there is no objection by you? Should we

discuss this bill-- 1 recommend that we
wait for the bills to come up.
Mr. Ferlo:

I want to respond to people who
spoke. We have discussion at the
Wednesday committee in the same format.

First of all, if you review every

ne
Eee

action of this legislative body at least the
11 years I have been here, I think you can
say that this Council has gone out of its
way each and every time that I recall to
show good faith and do what we need to
do to be partners with the community
based groups. We have done that on
individual issues. We do that each year
during the annual budget deliberations and
the like. We try to be strong partners and
everybody and myself included has
tremendous respect.

I have done whatever I can do to
show that both by legislative actions on
my part, committing resources and the
like. I am very mad because of
disinformation ~- campaign, where
misleading information has been given for
instance in the Polish Hill community,
completely inappropriate information in
Lawrenceville. I have gotten letters that
say that 1 should vote today to block the
sale of the Polish Falcons that came from
the Lawrenceville Development
Corporation. We have nothing up here
today involving the transaction of the
Polish Falcons. I can speak at length about
that, but I am going to get past that right
now,

I resent the fact that Council is
being put in the middle here when really
many of these groups since they are so --
especially the leaders who are so close
with the Murphy administration any ways.
Because | think what we have here is more
Councilmatic district politics for election
than people being sincere about the issues
here. That is just my own opinion.

We have asked explicitly I don't
know how many times I tried to ask it over
the last three weeks involving Lockhart
Street, I raised the issue this past week

4719

involving Jay Street as well. And unless
the Law Department wants to change their
tune or the Murphy Administration
representatives here, we have been told
legally whether we like it or not that when
there is a public auction bid and that is
what we are presented with, the final
action of this transaction. This issue to me
legally has nothing to do with the example
of the Brew House. It's a completely
different issue, which this format doesn't
provide me a lot of time to explain the
unique differences.

But I resent the fact that we're
being put in the middle. J don't understand
why the Mayor's Office with all these
community policy people that they have,
and by the way I don't know really what
any of those policy people do? I have
been in office for a number of years, I
don't think, I can't tell you one time a
Mayor policy person whatever those staff
people are called have ever called me to
intervene or to sit down. In fact I just had
to call them the other day to ask them
about an operation clean sweep for
Highland Park. My office wasn't notified
to help assist in the organizing and I can
repeat that in many instances.

I am a little bit upset that we're
being proposed here as the bad guy's when
we have been doing nothing but trying to
be supportive of these groups. If there is
any way that we can do a directed sale and
to be a partner in this, I am anxious to do
that. What I am saying is that we have one
thing being clearly stated by the Mayor's
Office and the Law Department. I resent
this kind of last stitch organizing effort
when it's being done based on
disinformation, improper information and
I think for mixed motives to be quite
honest with you.

SS OO OOTTTET_TEEES

Mr. Udin:

Point of procedure. I would like to
move that as a Rule of Council we will
after we hear public hearing at a regular
meeting on a bill that we will be debating
later in the morning when that bill comes
before Council, that we will defer
discussion by Council members until that
bill is properly introduced.

MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

There is no further discussion, we
will now move to presentation of papers.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

No. 1419 Resolution Providing for
the issuance of a warrant in favor of Frank
J. Zottola Construction, Inc. in the amount
of $15,499.24 for delay claim costs
associated with the Municipal Courts
Access Road project; and providing for the
payment of the costs thereof.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.
MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

No. 1420 Resolution ADOPTING
OFFICIAL SEWAGE FACILITIES PLAN
FOR STEELERS STADIUM
DEVELOPMENT in the 22" Ward of the
City of Pittsburgh. ---PRESENTED BY
MR. HERTZBERG & MR. RICCIARDD

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Public Works, Water &
Environmental Services.

480

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

No. 1421 Resolution Approving
Execution of a Contract For Disposition of
Land By and Between the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
and the UPMC Health System, or a related
entity to be formed, for the sale of Parcel
E-ib, Subdistrict II, and Parcels F-5 thm
12, F-15b and F-16, Subdistricts II and II],
plus road right of way and park area, (Part
of Block 29J Lot 8) in the Sixteenth Ward
of the City of Pittsburgh in Redevelopment
Area No. 55, Carson Street, Council
District No. 3 (construction of sports
medicine campus). --(PRESENTED BY
MS. MCDONALD & MR. HERTZBERG)

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Also,

No. 1422 Resolution Authorizing a
Cooperation Agreement or Agreements

with the Urban Redevelopment Authority
of Pittsburgh providing for the transfer to
URA of $670,000.00 for the Allequippa
Terrace Project (Council District 6). ---
(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD &
MR. HERTZBERG)

No. 1423 Resolution Approving
Execution of a Contract For Disposition of
Land By and Between the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
and the Pittsburgh Economic and
Industrial Development Corporation, for
the sale of Parcel E-1d, Subdistrict II, (Part
of Block 29J Lot 8) in the Sixteenth Ward
of the City of Pittsburgh in Redevelopment
Area No, 55, Carson Street, Council
District No. 3 (construction of biomedical
incubator facility). ---(PRESENTED BY
MS. MCDONALD & MR. HERTZBERG)

Which were read and referred to the
Economic

Committee on Housing,
Development & Promotion.

MR ONORATO PRESENTED:

No. 1424 Resolution Approving a
Conditional Use exception under Section
993.01(a)A(4) of the Pittsburgh Code,
Title Nine, Zoning, Article V, Chapter 993
to James and William Rudolph for
authorization to demolish a residential
structure and replace it with a parking area
with a maximum of 12 parking stalls to be
located at 5608 Wilkins Avenue on
property zoned “R2” Two-Family
Residence District, 14" Ward.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Planning, Zoning & Land
Use.

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

48)

No. 1425 Resolution Providing for
the issuance of a $3,003.00 warrant in
favor of Demetrius Waldon, 1437 Nixon
Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15233, in settlement
of a claim in which claimant’s vehicle was
in the City Tow Pound when items were
taken from his vehicle on November 29,
1998.

No. 1426 Resolution Providing for
the issuance of a $3,256.00 warrant in
favor of Gregory Rossiter, 322 Kramer
Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15211, in settlement
of a claim in which claimant’s sidewalk
and front porch were damaged when a City
Public Works truck backed onto his
property July 24, 1998.

No. 1427 Resolution authorizing
and directing the Mayor to issue and the
City Controller to countersign a warrant in
the amount of Seventeen Thousand Two
Hundred Fifty Dollars and Ninety-two
cents ($17,250.92) to the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania representing the final
payment required for unclaimed funds for
the year 1990 pursuant to the provisions of
Deposition of Abandoned and Unclaimed
Property Act, Act of August 9, 1971 P.L
74,

No. 1428 Resolution authorizing
and directing the Mayor to issue and the
City Controller to countersign a warrant in
the amount of Six Thousand Eight
Hundred Seventy Dollars and Seventy
cents ($6,870.70) to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania representing the initial
payment required for unclaimed funds for
the year 1991 pursuant to the provisions of
Deposition of Abandoned and Unclaimed
Property Act, Act of August 9, 1971, P.L.
7A.

SSS OOS

No. 1429 Resolution AMENDING
RESOLUTION No. 47, Item D, effective
February 18, 1999 which authorized the
sale of a vacant lot, 100.22’ x 87.81’,
located at 2604 Arlington Avenue, 16”
Ward, Block 13 M, Lot 170, to Betty
Wasick to correct the purchase price from
$1,000.00 to correctly read $750.00.

No. 1430 Resolution PROVIDING
for conveyance by the City of Pittsburgh of
certain property, under Act No. 171 of
1984, entitled, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.
COUNCIL DISTRICT #1

No. 1431 Resolution PROVIDING
for the filing of a petition or petitions for
the sale of certain property or properties,
known as Lien Excluded Properties
acquired at tax sales, in accordance with
Act No. 171 of 1984, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.
COUNCIL DISTRICT #1

No. 1432 Resolution PROVIDING
for the filing of a petition or petitions for
the sale of certain property or properties,
known as Lien Excluded Properties
acquired at tax sales, in accordance with
Act No. 171 of 1984, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.
COUNCIL DISTRICT #1
Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

The Chair:

Is there any unfinished business to
come in front of Council? Hearing none,
move to Committee Chair Reports.

482

CHAIR REPORTS
Mr. Udin:

Thank you, Mr. President. An
outline of my report is being distributed to
Council presently. I would begin with the
reminder to Council of a memo that was
received about a month ago by Council
informing Council that the city had been
notified that we would be receiving $763
thousand in Community Development
Block Grant funds in excess of what was
anticipated during the budget time. And
the Mayor had also included a proposal for
how that $763,000 might be dispensed.

We asked at the time that Council
members review the Mayor's proposal and
also develop some proposals of our own in
response. I have not received, with the
exception of Councilman Ferlo, I am not
aware of any proposal by Council
members for how the $763,000 should be
expended, whether or not we accept the
Mayor's proposal or if we have an
alternative proposal?

Mr. Ferlo has introduced
legislation which we will be reviewing I
think either tomorrow or next Wednesday
that deals with the 10% that is usually
allocated between Council and the Mayor's
Office as ULO's. That would take off
$76,000 of it but the balance of the
amount, $690,000 is still undetermined
and we will need to reach some consensus
on the part of Council members as to the
use of those additional funds. So it will be
helpful, perhaps I can have a meeting with
the President and we can figure out a way
to review the Mayor's proposal and get
some consensus from Council.

Secondly, by the way a copy of the

memorandum that we sent out relative to
the CDBG funds is attached in this report.
It is dated today because that's the way the
computer kicks out new memos, but it was
sent out a month ago.

Second issue has to do with the
McNulty Financial Report. The McNuity
Financial Report. On the 19th of March
the Post Gazette printed a story about a
$3 million revenue windfall that was
coming into the city. It was an unofficial
report that was provided to the media by
whom I don't know. In any event it was
misleading because it was not a part of a
full report of the 1998 financial activity. It
was only an interim revenue report. We
don't know what expenses will have to be
charged against that three million dollars
and it is not one that has been reviewed by
the auditor and is part of the CAFR.

The CAFR which is produced in
May is the report that reflects the official
financial condition of the city for 1998 and
anything produced preliminary beforehand
is inappropriate I think to be published as
an official financial report of the city. And
we just have a, it just reminds me,
Mr. President, of the continuing problem
that we have of feeding information to the
media that is a unauthorized and premature
and it continues to serve as a problem.

None the less, I would also remind
colleagues that we need to find a way to
develop some proposals within Council
and between the Council and the
administration on the use of the fund
balance. We had some discussion about
this fund balance during the budget period.
I think we had reached some agreement
about how the fund balance might not be
used in the 1999 budget but we never
tesolved with any finality what should

483

happen with the fund balance in 1999 or
the year 2000 and beyond.

T know that there have been
proposals for example to say that the fund
balance should be used to generate other
recurring revenues. If that will be the
standard that we use, we need to start
developing some proposals about how we
think the fund balance should be used to
generate those recurring revenues. But it
seems to me that it is not a wise use of the
fund balance to just let it sit there with no
one really coming up with any finite
proposals about how it should be used. It's
an opportunity that is being wasted.

The monthly general ledger
summaries to the budget Controller’s
Office according to the Budget Controller
are still not being satisfactorily received.
It is not yet clear to me what the problem
is because the Finance Department is
satisfied that the reports that it receives are
sufficient for it's uses. But our Budget
Director is not satisfied that the reports
that he is receiving are sufficient for his
uses so we continue to work with the
Controllers Office to try to format the
reports to Council so that they are useful
and that they inform us. If they are too
detailed and two bulky no member is
going to read 300 page general ledger
reports. So they have to be formatted in a
way that is useful and we're still working
on that.

There is an outstanding problem
that continues with the trust fund balances.
As you all know we have a number of trust
funds. A large number of trust funds.
Some of the trust funds are included in the
budget; some of the trust funds are not
included in the budget. We have a
situation in the last few weeks where there

ee
oe

have been some transfers from trust funds
for unbudgeted items. That's a problem.
If we're going to be using the trust fund
during the course of the year, then we need
to anticipate that use during the budget and
it needs to be a part of the budget. We
can't present a budget and then come back
later on and introduce expenditures out of
a trust fund that was not budgeted.

Another part of that problem is that
we are still having a difficult time getting a
final inventory of the balance of all trust
funds. Part of the problem is because we
have so many trust funds. Part of the
problem is also because we are still
working on the Peoplesoft problem to
enable our capacity to produce in an
instance because we should be able to get
that in an instant to produce reports that
reflect all of the trust funds that exist and
all of the balances that are in all of the
trust funds. We still don't have the ability
to get that and we ought to continue and
we will continue to press the staff in
charge of the Peoplesoft system to produce
that kind of information to Council.

Which brings us to the Peoplesoft
problem, my favorite topic. As you recall
the Mayor's Office and Council and the
Controller's Office agreed on a Peoplesoft
Trust Fund that would be a fund that
would be set aside to pay for staff who
would be professionally trained in
Peoplesoft. They would be assigned to
only work on Peoplesoft; in other words
they would not be working on other
elements or aspects within the Controllers
Office. But because we want to get this
Peoplesoft on line and operating correctly,
we wanted to provide the funds that were
necessary to do it but get the assurances
from the Controller's Office that these
people are going to be professionally hired

484

with professional qualifications and that
they would be exclusively working on
Peoplesoft.

So we have made a significant
amount of progress in that regard. We
have been meeting with the Controller's
Office; we have developed the job
description. We have developed the staff
structure for how the Peoplesoft operation
will be staffed. The manager of the
Peoplesoft system will be a professionally
trained and knowledgeable Peoplesoft
manager both in terms of the accounting
procedures as well as the Peoplesoft
software technology. So we are making
some progress with that. It is slow but it is
moving forward and we have good
cooperation between the administration,
our office and the Controllers Office.

The tax restructuring committee is
continuing to meet and has planned an
institute on politics that will attract
legislators from the region as well as from
the city, as well as business and academic
experts to continue to develop an analysis
of the city's tax structure and proposals for
tax reform that benefits the City of
Pittsburgh. And that is compatible with
the region so that we can get the political
support that we need to be able to get the
proposals passed.

1 would also just mention the
President's breakfast and very helpful
activity that I am sure the President will
Teport on himself, relative to working with
the School Board and trips to Harrisburg
to make sure that Council's perspective on
the city priorities and agenda is being seen
after. I thank the President for his
leadership in that matter.

Relative to the discussion that we

S=S=_"'e8wjw=jaeae@eooowsS_S_ ll

have been having last week and today
regarding the treasurer sales of delinquent
tax properties and the land reserve and
transferring properties rather by direct sale
to the URA or by bid. I have been having
an ongoing conversation as many members
of Council, certainly Councilman Onorato
has been contributing greatly to this as
well, to examine what the city's policies
are and where the pitfalls and loopholes
are or policy gaps. I should say, because
we send different messages at different
times and I think we need to close the gaps
in policy so that everyone is clear. The
buyers, the individual buyers, the real
estate market, the community development
groups that we have been encouraging and
funding to develop these properties we
need to identify the gaps, to close them
and have a policy that everyone is clear on.
I don't think that exists right now.

Finally, I would just mention a
request from the Finance Department to
warn Council, I guess we can call it a
warning, to advise Council that the street
resurfacing amendment as passed took
funds from the Equipment Leasing
Authority. And, Council should be aware,
according to the Finance Department, that
that transfer of funds out of the equipment
leasing will in fact prevent the city from
the purchase of needed garbage trucks and
street sweepers and some of the city
cleanliness intentions that may have
maybe effected by that interpretation by
the administration that they will not be
able to purchase garbage trucks and street
Sweepers as a result of that transfer. Just
information that Council members should
be aware of. Thank you, Mr. President.

The Chair:

Thank you.

485

Mr. Ricciardi:

I would like to tell all colleagues
especially the Finance Chair, 1 thought that
was an excellent report. Very detailed and
I thank Mr. Udin for it.

1 am very pleased that he also
mentioned regarding the purchase of
equipment in the future by the Equipment
Leasing Authority, ELA, and I want to
thank all my colleagues. It was part of the
record, but once again I am going to make
it a part of the record. When the transfer,
when we decided to go off the original, we
will call it Plan A and go to Plan B and
decided to take the funding from other
areas, I had made sure it was part of the
record. I noticed Mr. Udin did not
mention that, so I thank him for his work
with the Finance Department.

But the fire truck, the pilot
program that is going to the happen in the
Southside Slopes at a cost of $200
thousand, if all my colleagues remember, I
made sure that was not part, that would
remain intact in the legislation that we
approved from the ELA. It appears that it
has remained because Mr. Udin through
his conversation with the Finance
Department mentioned refuse trucks and
street sweepers. ] think they are all needed
but I am very pleased that he did not
mention that pumper. Because as you
know we have had some tragic fires in the
Southside Slopes because of the narrow
conditions of the roads and because of the
grade of the some of the hillsides. We're
going out for different specifications and
Mr. Costa has been doing a very fine job
and we are going to have a smaller
pumper.

eee

So once again, Mr. President, at
your indulgence I want to make sure that is
part of the record that this transfer might
have affected other equipment but did not
effect the pumper. It appears that that is
true to date correct, Mr. Udin, they did not
mention the pumper in your conversation
with the Finance Department?

Mr. Udin:
Not to this date.
Mr. Ricciardi:

Also, I want to thank Mr. Diven
because it has also come to my attention
there might be another plan that Mr. Diven
has been working very diligently on.
Maybe the pumper can be paid for by
another trust fund thus allowing other
monies to be used for sweepers. I don't
want to in any way take away from
Mr. Diven’s thunder, but I am aware that
he's working on some ideas and that's okay
with me too, Mr. Diven, as long as the
pumper remains intact. Thank you.

Mr. Onorato:

Thank you, Mr, President. Again, I
also want to thank Councilman Udin for a
good report. A lot of interesting items. I
just want to comment on one and that is
the street resurfacing issue at the end that
he talked about. And I want to set the
record straight not for Mr. Udin's point of
view but for the administration's point of
view, We heard that the Finance
Department is sending signals over, which
I would describe as possible threats of
losing garbage trucks and sweepers. But I
want to make this very clear. Three and a
half, four and a half weeks ago, whenever
it was, when we were all complaining how

486

bad the streets were, I threw an
amendment forward to get the discussion
started. I talked with colleagues; I made
many changes to the amendment based on
your comments. I talked with the
community groups and | gave several of
them individually my word that the
amendment would not touch CDBG
dollars which it does not. I even met with
the administration, Deputy Mayor Cox and
I and a few others sat down and tried to
work out some kind of a compromise. I
was even at the end of a scathing editorial
by the Post Gazette saying that I was
irresponsible. Where I was taking the
money from even though, _ their
recommendation at the end of the editorial
was why don't I sit down with the
administration and colleagues, which had
already happened.

IfI received a call I could have told
them that, but I was not privy to giving my
comments to the editorial. Albeit, and I
am_a big boy and I can take the criticism
but I have a letter in my hand dated
March 8th, today is March 23. This is on
the Mayor's letterhead and it is signed by
the Executive Secretary Tom Cox.

Dear Councilman Onorato,
pursuant to our meeting in response to
Council Resolution 1357, the Mayor
would like to propose the following
amendment by substitution. I want to
point out that as a courtesy I made that
amendment by _ substitution. The
substitution was very clear. Take a
$1,750,000 out of capital equipment
acquisition, take $250,000 out of
Engineering and Construction both of
them are bond money and take the
additional two million dollars from the
increase to the fund balance from the 1998
financial statements which would be

—Neo09aaoaSSSS

confirmed by the CAFR. As a courtesy in
working with those meetings, I made that
friendly amendment and colleagues you
supported it. We passed that amendment
for street paving.

To somehow come back now and
say I am just warning all of you if this
slays the way it is you're not getting a
garbage truck and you are not getting a
street sweeper is absurd. The way I] look at
it is, it is not this amendment that's going
to stop a garbage truck or street sweeper
being paid, because we are only touching
$8.9 million of the bond money. There is
a total of $30 million in bond money. The
way I look at is Nine-Mile Run is stopping
the garbage trucks, the Hot and Metal
Bridge is stopping the garbage trucks.
These downtown developments are
stopping the garbage trucks. I will pick
out 20 million dollars of bond money line
item by line item if they want me to. Why
is asphalt the only line item that has to
supply garbage trucks and street sweepers?

We are under funded, we were
extremely under funded, even with the
amendment that passed we are still about
four million short what we should be
spending on street paving. 1 will not
retreat from this amendment that passed. I
will not be part of any attack on the street
resurfacing account, it is already still too
low and what is in there stays in there.

If garbage trucks and sweepers
cannot be purchased because of this
reduction, I say let's take it from bond
money out of other accounts or let's talk
about the fund balance. But do not touch
Street resurfacing. I will do everything I
can to fight any attack on_ street
resurfacing, and I will put my colleagues
on notice during the budget season, I plan

487

on coming back with an amendment if
Street resurfacing does not hit twelve
million dollars in bond money for the year
2000.

The City residents have been
crying to have their streets repaved. The
people that have been paying the tax in
this town have waited long enough. I liked
downtown development, I like growing the
city, I supported all those plans. But no
longer at the expense of the average citizen
who works hard every day and just wants
to get home without throwing their back
out going back and forth to work. Maybe
that's that strategy that's really at work
here. If we make the roads so bad we can
stop the people leaving the city cause
they're still leaving. They're sick of paying
higher taxes, they're sick of not getting
service for what they pay and it is about
time we refocus on what city govemment
is all about. That's the maintenance of our
streets, being able to pickup garbage and
public safety.

I refuse to attack anyone of those
line items any more to balance a
structurally unfunded budget. There is 20
million dollars still on the table that's
allocated to other accounts. Maybe we
better wake up sooner or later and say that
some of these downtown development
projects better go it on their own. We can't
put in that kind of public financing any
more not at the expense of our streets, not
at the expense of Public Works. I won't be
part of it. I am proud that you guys all
supported, or the majority supported the
street resurfacing and I hope that we can
go to our residents and do the streets the
right way and put the proper amount of
funding in place.
The Chair:

EEE ——————————eEeeeee

Thank you. As far as the -- I will
meet with the equipment leasing. I believe
they were supposed to meet and come up
with some altematives. There are other
alternatives besides cutting out street
sweepers or garbage cans, garbage trucks.
I gave them an option yesterday to look at
as far as leasing the equipment, prolonging
it. So I believe there is middle ground that

we don't have to sacrifice needed
equipment. It’s certainly something to
look at.

Mr. Udin, one question on the
Peoplesoft. You mentioned people are in
place. Is there money for those people in
the budget?

Mr. Udin:

There are funds that are in place.
There is some discussion however that the
Controller might need some additional
funds. We're reviewing those proposals,
but in our budget we included money for
the initial staff structure of the Peoplesoft
trust fund. So the people are not in place
but the job descriptions and the structure
and the positions are in place. The people
will be hired soon.

The Chair:

I would challenge the management
there to get the people in place, if we have
done our part putting the money there.

Mr. Onorato:

On that point, Mr. President, if we
could also have another breakdown of the
last four years the capital money that was
spent on computerization of the city.
Everything from the upgrading to the
so-called Y2K problem because we have a

488

Y99 problem let alone Y2K problem. I
don't think we should be just throwing any
more money into that account until some
one can show us that the computers can at
least be tuned on and operated properly.

The Chair:

I certainly agree. Everyone on
Council will certainly agree with that.

One last question for Mr. Udin.
We have talked about these trust funds. Is
there any way to get a handle on it so that
next budget, by next budget we can
address those whether they need to be in
place? | believe, I know Mr. Ferlo fought
those from the day I came here that a lot of
them were hidden agendas so that no one
sees it and then all of a sudden the money
is there for whatever special interest
reasons they are needed.

Mr. Udin:

Tam confident that we will have a
handle on it by the time the budget
discussion rolls around. Scott Kunka has
been like a pit bull on this. And I am
confident that we will have the
information. It is not being-- there is
nobody resisting giving us the information,
it's the technical capacity to produce the
information that is the problem.

The Chair:

Very important that we get a
handle on it. Thank you for that
leadership. Thank you for the report.

I will jump in very briefly.
Catching up with our initiative meeting
with the School Board, City Council and
the legislators. We took a small group to

eGV=q—0— ee

Harrisburg to lobby for funding. Chuck
Kolling actually arranged the meetings. I
thought it was very successful. Mr. Diven
accompanied me as well as the two Deputy
Mayors. Dale ‘Frederick ~_—tthe
Superintendent of the Pittsburgh Public
Schools and Ron Suber the President of
the School Board.

Our three initiatives were one to
find magistrates money and request it
again. You know we had been cut out of
our budget not only for this year but for
next year. We lobbied for that. I can't say
we were successful yet, but certainly met
with the leadership of both parties,
republican and democrats. They certainly
heard us; they were very courteous to our
needs. We looked at that and other
possible potential ways Harrisburg could
help the city.

We also met with almost everyone
in our Allegheny County Legislators and
State Senators. They were very helpful.
Probably the key issue though I think
especially as our neighborhood groups are
here, education is probably the most
important anyone buys a home in this city.
We were there representing all Council
members to support our public schools.
The two main initiatives were Conley
Technical Institute had been shorted again
three million dollars. Everyone,
Republican and Democrat alike, was very
positive to putting that money back into
the budget.

You know the Governor all though
he has done a lot of good things somehow
the education part I believe is terribly
lacking and probably the most important
thing to our budgets and I hope everyone
pays attention. The School Board, don't
forget, has a higher budget; everyone pays

more tax to the School Board than they do
the city. They have been cut. The special
education at one time was 63% funded by
the state. Now it is down to 30%. And the
special education cost has risen to seventy
million dollars. So we're looking at
changing, we're requesting to change that
so that we can at least shoot for half which
would mean about $15 million for our
schools and our children to maintain the
very challenging special ed. programs that
we have.

We can be very proud of our
special education programs. We are
helping so many youngsters but it is also
not just a city urban issue any more, I
believe all of the legislators are starting to
see it in their neighborhoods, their
districts, no matter where you are, suburbs,
rural or urban. So it is something that I
think was very highly accepted on both
again by the Democrats and the
Republicans. So it was a very worthwhile
trip. I will let Mr. Diven comment.

Before I do though, | think it's very
important. I know Mr. Onorato is trying to
make it. I would like to try to set up and
the smaller the group probably the better
interaction of two or three of us at a time
going up whether we go each quarter and
different people with different agendas. I
think going with the School Board was
very important to show I think education is
probably the most important thing to keep
people in our city. I can speak for hours
on it, Iam sure all of you could.

But we want to, even if we
disagree with some of the things they may
say or do, we certainly support the highest
quality of education for our children. I
think this is a good way to do it both
together and bringing our meeting before

ee
SS ETS

hand with our delegation because again I
didn't see any hesitation to support these
initiatives and I was very positive
especially on the school end.

Mr. Diven:

Just I will keep it brief 1 know
because of the hour. But I would like to
thank you for taking the leadership in this
issue. I thought in Harrisburg we received
a very positive response from a lot of the
House and Senate leadership that we met
with. I think it was good for Council to go
up there and present a unified front with
the School Board. Because after last years
stealth legislation it's important to get
across to the legislators who might for
political or personal reasons, have
differences with the administration not to
let that be something that would hold us
accountable for such a large hole in our
budget with the magistrates court.

I think it was a great first step.
Obviously we are going to probably need
to take more trips up to Harrisburg and
increase more lines of communication.
But I think the response was fantastic and I
think that it gave us the opportunity to
present our needs. I think when its comes
time for the state to sit down and start to
iron out their budget, they're going to
know what is important from the City of
Pittsburgh’s perspective to fight for in that
budget. It couldn't happen without your
leadership and all of Council's support and
the breakfast meetings that we have been

holding leading up to this trip to
Harrisburg.
The Chair:

Thank you. Any questions?

Otherwise move to reports of committee.

490

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1433:

Report of the Committee on Finance and
Budget for March 17, 1999, transmitting
sundry of resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1360:

Resolution extending the term
of existence of the Public Auditorium
Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny
County, term to expire 50 years from
the date of approval.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1361:

Resolution authorization for the
Controller to release 1996 Pre-
Encumbrances outstanding in the
Mayor’s Office that are longer needed.
Releasing these old pre-encumbrances
will resolve outstanding _pre-
encumbrances that are currently in the
Peoplesoft System for the Mayor’s
Office.

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1373:

a SS SEO

Resolution providing for the
issuance of a warrant in favor of Tony
Pampena Corporation in the amount of
$106,760.66 in payment of an Emergency
Contract for the Rehabilitation of the
Flowers Avenue Retaining Wall; and
providing for the payment of the cost
thereof. (PRESENTED BY MR. FERLO).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1378:

Resolution authorizing the Citizen
Police Review Board to enter into a
Contract or Contracts for the hiring of
counsel and consultants to assist in the
representation of the Citizen Police review
Board at a cost not to exceed $45,000.00

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1379:

(a) 507 Lincoin Avenue, 12"
Ward, Block 125B, Lot 84, being
purchased by Nile Publicity Group, Inc.
Two story frame house situated on a lot
containing an area of 2,380 sq. ft.
$2,500.00. Intended Use: Rental Unit.
(Council District 9).

(b) 34 Brahm Street, 24" Ward,
Block 47N, Lot 103, being purchased by

491

Thomas J. & Debra Krawezak. Vacant lot
containing an area of 2,720 sq. ft,
$100.00. Intended Use: Additional yard
space. (Council District 1).

(c) 425 Jay Street, 25" Ward,
Block 23D, Lot 25, being purchased by
Jack R. & Merilynn Sell. Vacant tot
containing an area of 7,687 sq. ft,
$10,388.57. Intended Use: Additional
yard space. (Council District 1).

(d) 143 Lecky Avenue, 27" Ward,
Block 75M, Lot 337, being purchased by
Stephen K. Grivnow. 2.5 sty. fra. Hse.
Situated on a lot containing an area of
2,787 sq. ft., $1,500.00. Intended Use:
Personal Residence. (Council District 1).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1380:

(a) 512 Lockhart Street, 23",
Ward, Block 8D, Lot 164, being purchased
by Stephen Mesich. Two story brick
house situated on a lot containing, 2,229
sq. ft. Intended Use: Personal Residence.
(Council District 1).

The Chair:
You have heard the reading and

title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes, thank you, Mr. President and
colleagues. Mr. President, Bill Number
1360 deals with extending the life of the
Public Auditorium Authority and
Allegheny County. Obviously it is another
component of Plan B and J have stated my
concems and opposition in the past to Plan
B. That is not my concern today however,
colleagues.

My concem is one of residency
requirements. One that many of us have
been very vocal! on in the past. If I could
just tell you a thirty second story, presently
we have an employee with the Pittsburgh
Water and Sewer Authority that is
adamantly opposing and fighting the
tesidency requirement of the Pittsburgh
Water and Sewer Authority. I have
directed our Solicitor to be very adamant
in her approach to defend the residency
requirement. Matter of fact, we're in court
of over that matter.

It's come to my attention and I have
no reason to disbelieve the information
that has been given to me sometime this
moming, I have shared that with our
colleague, Mr. Dan Cohen, who sits on the
Public Auditorium Authority and who I
believe will research the matter. But to
date I cannot vote for this for two reasons.
1 believe the residency requirement at the
Public Auditorium Authority and
Allegheny County is not being adhered to.
Matter of fact, if you just look at the
legislation, colleagues, it says Public
Auditorium Authority of Pittsburgh and
Allegheny County, it does not say
Washington County.

It's come to my attention and I
believe the information that has been

492

brought forward that there are two high
ranking officials, noi just two people who
come in on the weekends and maybe do
some work, but two high ranking officials,
the Project Executive and the Chief
Financial Officer. There is reason to
believe that these two individuals live in
Washington County. I believe if that's true
that there need -- that that issue needs to
be addressed. I believe number one, that
we to have a residency requirement of the
Public Auditorium Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. And I

-would like to --

The Chair:

Can I interrupt? Are you talking
boards members or employees?

Mr. Ricciardi:

Employees, sir. I would like to
compliment Mr. Ferlo on this, I think Mr.
Ferlo has been very active in the past if
one looks over the minutes both of the
Housing and Parking Authority he's
always spoken to this. So here is my
concern, colleagues, if we do have a
residency requirement, number one it is
not being adhered to. If we do not have an
Allegheny County/City of Pittsburgh
residency requirement at the Auditorium
Authority, one should be immediately
drafted.

Now obviously if the bill before us
is to extend the life of the Authority, I am
not sure if it is prudent to move on this bill
at this moment. Because I think a
residency requirement needs to be drafted.
But I believe we have one. These are two
high-ranking officials. If my information
is incorrect, I will be the first to apologize;
however, if my information is correct I

believe that the | Commissioners,
Mr. Cranmer, Mr. Dawida, and Mayor
Tom Murphy, have not been watching the
store. Thank you.

Mr. Udin:
On a different subject.
Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. The bill
before us is a bill to extend the life of the
Auditorium Authority. And the reason for
that is because the bonds that are being
issued for Plan B have a certain life and
we want to make sure that the Auditorium
Authority, which is a creature of state law
has a life that is not shorter than those
bonds for obvious reasons. Otherwise it
would put us into financial trouble.

I would ask Council certainly to
vote for this bill which has nothing to do
with residency requirements. But that
having been said, Councilman Ricciardi
brought this up to my attention about 20
minutes ago. I will certainly be looking
into it. I was not aware of the information
that he provided to me. We just put into
place recently an NBE/WBE requirement.
I do not know if there is a residency
requirement at the Auditorium Authority, I
will check into it, I certainly have
supported residency requirements here for
the City of Pittsburgh. And I would like to
report back to Council once I have looked
into this issue.

Mr. Hertzberg:

All right I am going to vote for this
also. I think it is a separate issue but it is a
good issue that needs to be taken up not
Just with this authority but with all county

493

government. My understanding is that
there is no residency requirement for
anyone in county government other than
perhaps the elected officials that must
teside in the county. I don't think there is a
requirement for any county employees or
any county authorities at ali. Any
residency requirement whatsoever. I think
that's a separate issue from our vote on
extending the life of this authority.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Iam comfortable with Mr. Cohen
looking into it.

The Chair:

Can we amend it that at least we
say that in there?

Mr. Cohen:

Mr. President, what I would like to
ask is give me an opportunity if you would
to check into it to see whether there is a
current residency requirement at the
Auditorium Authority? I don't believe
there is, but if not, we should certainly
move ahead with one and report back to
Council.

I would be against adding an
amendment to a completely separate bill.

The Chair:

We would need the
Commissioners’ approval too I guess.

Mr. Ferlo:

I think you should ask Dr. Wecht
to take this issue up.

SS OOOO

I think it should be a political
issue. I think people that are running -- I
wasn't saying that in a flip way. I think
that the people who are running for County
Executive should address this issue of
residency. There are pros and cons on
each side when you look at the residency
issue as a countywide requirement. I think
it's correct that you do not have to be a
resident within the county to work for the
county and its authorities. I think it's an
issue that Dr. Wecht and other people
running should address.

The Chair:

Just for my __ information,
Mr. Ricciardi, can we along with the
Commissioners put that in later a
residency requirement?

Mr. Cohen:

I think the Auditorium Authority
itself can put that into place. Of course,
we would want to have the
Commissioners’ approval and the Mayor's
approval but the Auditorium Authority is a
legal entity that could put that into place.

Mr. Udin:

Relative to the tax delinquent
property sales issue. I would like to urge
us all to stop this collision course that the
discussion has been taking in recent weeks
and step back and try earnestly to find a
way for all of us to win. I am not sure that
we have explored all of the possibilities
that can allow all of us to win, the city
taxpayers, the community development
groups as well as the rights any individual
may have to purchase tax delinquent

property.

494

If we continue to try to win
one-sided, have a one sided victory, we all
lose I think. There are some unanswered
questions, some are legal, some are policy.
There is nothing in this legislation the bills
that are in some controversy that is time
limited. We have the time to slow down
and look at what it is that we are doing.
We don't, I don't think that the essence of
what is going on here is that anyone either
the individual buyer or the community
development groups or the city, is
deliberately trying to mislead anyone.

People have been given
information, which they have been acting
on as they best understand the information.
Sometimes that kind of communication
can be contradictory. We need to slow
down. We need to try to -- we need to
back up. We need to try to find a way to
resolve these issues and put everyone on
the winning page.

Mr. Onorato:

That's fine and good. I will
continue to do it. I have been doing that
for seven and a half years. I am going to
make a few statements now. On Bill 1380,
which seems to be the controversial bill,
this bill has been held now for about a
year. And I have been dealing with this
issue and it has been very, very difficult
for me because there has been a lot of I say
mistakes made early on. And it frustrates
me because I think a lot of the parties are
innocent and that are a lot of parties are
also getting hurt here because of
accusations and the comments that have
been made that get worse every day that go
by and every week that goes by.

It is really difficult for me because
I spent almost my entire career on Council

going after problem properties, coming to
a head with the famous Mrs. Ola Gatos
case. And ] am willing to do whatever it
takes here. I bet if you check the record
that I have the most motions to delete
properties on any given Wednesday from
any colleague. I don't have the numbers
here but I guarantee it I do. Because I
know how many I delete as they come by.
I am the one who consistently questions
any time you see why is it being purchased
and the definition is for investment
purposes that we find out who the
purchaser is and we immediately find out
if they have any problems with existing
properties. I am the one that sponsored
and we all passed legislation that required
the city to take any bid money on an
individual that purchases that currently
owes us money on any other property
within the City of Pittsburgh.

I am also the one that had to call
the police after I went after Ms. Gatos and
found her on my property who knows what
she was doing on Super Bow] Sunday. I
have worked for years with community
groups to do housing. Foscamp
(phonetic), Phineas Street, East Allegheny,
Wickline, Fineview, I can go on, and go
on, and go on the North Side and
throughout. I work closely with the
community groups every year during the
capital budget and I am glad I do that
because they do a great job.

But the issue in front of me today
and what 1 am struggling with is that
somewhere along the line the city put this
out for bid for whatever reason. We're
hearing that the community was going
through the URA and decided not to do
that for certain reasons and that then it was
going out to public bid. We found out last
week that there is a different notice

requirement depending on if you are
selling to the URA versus if you are
selling to the public. That has to be
addressed eventually. But the problem
that I am struggling with nght now is that
the city did put it out for bid and
somebody came in as the high bidder. At
that time and according to all the records
and inspections that ] have asked the city
to make, he was not delinquent at the time
of the bid.

Currently you heard that he's
delinquent and that is absolutely true. He
owes about two to three thousand dollars
from 1998 and 1999 on property up in the
Polish Hill area. But in the mean time to
make the picture whole because I have to
be fair here, and believe me I have -- I am
not here doing the bidding for the guy that
won the bid because he has been out
badmouthing me around town for a year. I
have no reason to defend the individual.
But he bought a property that had about
30,000 in back taxes due to capital assets
because we sold them in the last seven
months, made two payments, one of
15,000 and one of $5,000 capital assets to
bring down those back taxes. But he did
let his 1998 and 1999 taxes become
delinquent and that is a concern of mine.
Even though that does not fall into the
definition of the resolution that we say we
will not sell to anyone that has delinquent
taxes at the time of the bid, I think the
issue has to be addressed today in some
format.

I have an amendment that I do
want to discuss but I think this amendment
should probably apply to all bills now that
we sell to. We should not just apply it to
this individual. I want to add on Bill 1380
Tam going to present an amendment which
is in front of you, but if you notice it is

EES

stapled and there are three amendments.
They are all the same wording for Bill
1379, 1380 and 1381. It is to add Section
2 that I think what we should do here is
even if we purchaser gets down to the
closing date or our approval date or even
after our approval date that we put in some
type of clause that would read and I am
open for friendly amendments here, that a
purchaser has 30 days to become current
or enter into an appropriate payment plan
for delinquent taxes for all property owned
by the purchaser in the City of Pittsburgh.
Failure to meet this requirement makes his
conveyance void.

But the reason, what we have to try
to work out here is, if I am not mistaken, I
thought that we switched the payment
plans only to owner occupied individuals.
So depending on who is buying the
property, the option would be to pay and to
become current within 30 days if you are
an investor. But 30 days or a possible
appropriate payment plan if you are owner
occupied if you are buying the property or
the property that you are in I mean that is
delinquent. These are the issues that have
to be addressed here.

Unfortunately a lot of tempers
flared and a lot of things are happening on
this case. I will talk to the Law
Department over and over again and I
being told that on one hand you can't reject
this one just for the sake of rejecting it. I
would have no problem stopping a sale of
any individual that is ignoring the process
or ignoring the city codes and putting
blight on here. This individual is fairly
new to the city. He has bought his
property less than a year ago. And I don't
know he might tum out to be the worst
slum landlord or tun out to be the best
investment. I don't know.

496

But if we are going to reconsider
and rethink of how we sell properties and
change the procedure, we have to do it for
everybody or do it for no body. We
definitely have to change the procedure
where if community development
corporations have good plans in which
they do, they should not have to use the
process where it comes to Council and we
have to reject it if they get out bid. That is
a terrible precedent to set of a way to set
public policy. This should be addressed
on the front end. It should never go out to
public bid so we're not faced with these
lawsuits.

There is no doubt in my mind if it
gets rejected, there will be a lawsuit and it
will be tied up again. But the bottom line
there is it is not the right way to do public
business. I don't know how we get out of
this one from here. If we don't approve it
today I don't see how you reject it without
avoiding the lawsuit rightfully so the way I
read it. Or you recommit every single bill
doing with conveyances today and address
these issues all at once.

At that point I am going to put the
amendment forward for all three bills,
1379, 1380, and 1381 as read previously. I
make a motion to amend to add Section 2
to the wording in front of you in writing.
MR. FERLO seconded the motion.

The Chair:
Any discussion on the amendment?

Mr. Ferlo:

The amendment and the two bills.

The Chair:

Any discussion on the bill? You
want to vote on the amendment?

Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ricciardi:

I will be brief. 1 don't think
anyone, no one in the City of Pittsburgh
could question or challenge Mr. Onorato's
commitment and hard work on behalf of
neighborhoods especially quality of life
issues and-really overlooking the sale of
properties in the City of Pittsburgh.

With that said, let me just say I
think I understand the frustration and
anger and probably the hurt of many
community activists, volunteers and
community groups in the North Side
because I went through a_ similar
circumstance in the Southside of
Pittsburgh. I am going to be very careful
on what I say because we were very
successful regarding going through the
court system and that also included up to
the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. And ]
want to make sure the case is not
reopened. But basically the Masloff
administration put out a bid, it was the
highest bidder, I wasn't pleased with the
individual and the family that came
forward and I had the City of Pittsburgh
reject it.

With that said, let me just say that I
understand the letter of the law. The letter
of the law basically states and I don't have
it in front of me but that all taxes need to
be paid up, all taxes need to be -- there are
no back taxes can be owed at the time of
the bid. That's the letter of the law. But
we understand the spirit of the law. The

497

spirit of the law basically we were saying
that when we sell property that that
individual or that corporation or that
business needs to be up on all their taxes
and that's not the case in this incident.

It's been stated by colleagues, it has
been stated by the administration and I
even believe it has been stated by the
lawyer, the Counselor for the man that
liked the property. So yes maybe he
adheres to the letter of the law but we
know what the spirit of the law was. So I
was hoping that we would to be perfectly
frank with because I don't know the history
of this. I don't know all the work that
Mr. Onorato has put in for two years. Last
night I did a lot of reading on this
including what was put forward by
Counselor Manyon who I believe
represents the individual in question. But I
would hope that we would recommit and
we could spend some more time on it.
Without that recommittal though, I am
going to go with the spirit of the law, and I
won't be able to approve this today.

Mr. Ferlo:

First of all the Brew House to me
has nothing to do with the actual factual
issues that we are dealing with today. The
Brew House we had an over zealous
Finance Director, Mr. Hailer, who let out a
request for proposal, with no Council
authorization. When he came to us by way
of a resolution, to give it to one particular
development group we decided we did not
like that that it was in the best interest of
the community to direct that property back
to the Urban Redevelopment Authority for
a development plan. We thought that that
was the highest and best use and most
supportive of the neighborhood's agenda.
That's the way I remember those factual

8 8 Cc,

matters.

Now I am extremely upset setting
aside my abrupt statements made earlier
and I apologize for being subjective in
some way. 1 am upset at what the
administration has put us in today. I am
very upset about either the factual matters
because | have asked the same series of
questions over three meetings and if at
different times 1 have gotten different
responses from lawyers _regarding
questions 1 have requested. Now, I don't
know the owners involved. I had a
conversation with this message guy I think
a couple of years ago when he first came
to town after he bought the Polish Falcons
building. I wished him well. He was
apparently when he had bought the
building there was some element of
cooperation with the Polish Hill Civic
Group. I conveyed to the treasurer at the
time to please work with this gentleman so
we could get these back taxes paid, he
talked about renovating the building.

Since that time as far as I am
concerned the building has deteriorated. 1
have reported him to building inspection.
I was only aware these past two weeks that
he actually acquired or had another
relationship by way of a resolution with
Polish Hill on another property on
Downing Street and the like. Now, I am
upset because the administration needs to
dog these properties and we both have an
obligation, this Council has an obligation,
the administration, the Mayor himself on
down has an obligation to work with
community development groups. I feel not
only myself individually but collectively
we as a legislative body have tried to do
that each and every time we sit around that
table as well as the annual budget
deliberations.

498

IT am upset because either factually
the administration let things go by or the
community group had a change of heart
after they were given one information
about a request to have these properties go
to the directed sale. Now having said that,
if the community group in Fineview has a
development plan that assembles a number
of lots including this disputed lot that is up
for final action today on Jay Street, and if
there is a way for us to give
reconsideration regardless of whatever the
legal ramifications are, and make that lot
be part of this development agenda, if that
has a higher and better purpose to meet the
concems of the community then I want to
find a way to do that.

I resent the fact that I have been put
in this position for the last three weeks
where and I think Councilman Onorato is
upset rightfully so because we are getting
conflicting information. The same goes
with the Lockhart Street situation. Now
for a year and a half we had another guy
come in here to the Council Chambers
trying to get a resolution that he was trying
to purchase a house. I believe since that
time I think he and his family actually are
intending to move into the house on
Lockhart Street and fix it up at least that is
what is being conveyed to us at the
Wednesday's session. But the same holds
true, if the East Allegheny group has a
higher and better plan that involves a
multiple number of properties with houses,
including this disputed bill that is up
today, I would prefer to make sure that by
whatever means necessary within the
constraints of the law that we find a way to
direct that as part of the -- because we are
going to get more bang for the buck.

So I am in favor of that. What I am

ESESE_V—?_"_—”—6=—S=S00 SSS

upse! about though is because of the way
this is being done. You know the Law
Department is I think disjointed from the
rest of the Murphy body and that is what I
think is happening today. That is why I
feel very upset not only personally and
subjectively and I apologize for the
audience and my colleagues for being
personal objective. I should rise above
that but I am upset because we are put into
this situation when we are all supposed to
be working along a common goal.

So as far as I am concemed, I am
throwing the ball back to the Murphy
court. J am not voting for these bills
today. If there is a way that there can be a
directed sale notwithstanding the law, then
I am voting in favor of doing that. So if
these come up for a bill today, a vote, Iam
voting no. As far as I am concerned send
it back to the Murphy administration to
figure out.

MR. UDIN moved to recommit.
The Chair:

I basically want to agree with Mr.
Ferlo. There is a motion to recommit.

MR. UDIN moved to recommit Bill 1379,
Bill 1380, and Bili 1381.

MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ferlo:

As a courtesy could we have the
Honorable Solicitor here tomorrow,
Solicitor Morrow and the Honorable

Solicitor from the Urban Redevelopment
Authority and they should not come to the

table unless they are going to give clear
concise unequivocal direct answers to our
questions.

The Chair:

I think you're right. I will reference
to Councilman Onorato who has worked
very hard on this. We have been getting
different answers.

Mr. Ferlo:

He's being put into a bad situation.
am upset about that too. It is not fair to
our colleague, Councilman Onorato either,

The Chair:

That was my basic point. I think it
is very important that we get the right
answers tomorrow. We don't have
different groups calling us with different
hearsay. We need the facts if this
gentleman has paid, if there is a better
Property available, if there can be better
use, Can we substitute this property for
another property for this gentleman?

Also, I was under the impression
most of them should be preferenced to
homeowner occupier. I think we have to
be very careful whether it be this
gentleman or someone else who is going
to land bank and buy all over the city even
if he is a very good developer, same as a
side yard. We always want the neighbor to
have the side yard and that is the intention
of it. A lot of the questions that come,
who is going to-- is some developer
sneaking something in.

I think it's very important and I
would urge if it is not in here first
preference goes to homeownership

—V—lleeeeee

whether someone develops and sells it or
CDC does it, or private individual. So I
think it's very important we have the facts
tomorrow and hopefully the Law
Department addresses that and again does
not put us especially Councilman Onorato
in such a bad position. I don't think it's
fair to anyone.

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Udin
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ricciardi voted no on Bill 1360)
Bills have received the legally

required number of votes and have passed

finally.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1434:

Report of the Committee on Housing,

Economic Development and Promotion

for March 17, 1999, transmitting one

resolution to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

500

Bill No. 1377:

Resolution approving Execution of
2 Contract For Disposition of Land By and
Between the Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh and the
International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers, Local Union No. 5, for the sale
of Parcel E-]a (Part of Block 29J Lot 8) in
the Sixteenth Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh in Redevelopment Area No. 55,
Carson Street, Council District No. 3
(construction of office _ building,
apprenticeship training facility and
conference center).

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, any discussion on the
bills?

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in I have favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.
The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

eee ee

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. COHEN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1435:

Report of the Committee on Lands,
Buildings, and Procurement for March 17,
1999, transmitting one resolution to
Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 1372:

Resolution providing for the
leasing of space located at Highland and
Rippey Streets, Pittsburgh, PA Council
District #9, 11" Ward (land to be
improved by HOME DEPT U.S.A., INC.
for a Home Improvement Center), from
HOME DEPOT U.S.A., INC., for the
purpose of establishing a Community
Oriented Police mini-station. The lease
term will be for 3 years and renewable
annually subject to an annual appropriation
provided by City Council. Yearly rental
cost to the City of Pittsburgh is $1.00 plus
utilities, The City shall assume
responsibility for the utilities, as they will
be metered in the City of Pittsburgh’s
name.

Which was read.
Also,
The Chair:
You have heard the reading and

title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

501

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills,
vote aye when your names are called; all
those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ferlo voted no.)
Bills have received the legally

required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1436:
Report of the Committee on Engineering
and Construction for March 17, 1999,
transmitting two resolutions to Council.
Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1374:

Resolution amending Resolution
No. 144, effective April 2, 1998, entitled
“Providing for a Contract or Contracts, or
use of existing Contracts in connection

with the Grant Street Maintenance
Program; and providing for the payment of

the cost thereof,” by increasing the total
project allocation by $75,000.00 from
$152,500.00 to $227,500.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1375:

Resolution providing for a
Contract or Contracts, or use of existing
Contracts and for the purchase of
materials, equipment and supplies in
connection with the construction of a new
playground at Friendship Academy; at a
cost not to exceed $60,000.00.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. I want
to thank my colleagues for their support
for this authorization for money. It is not
new money it has already been authorized.
But this is actually moving it to be spent
on the Friendship Community Playground.

My office is working with the
Friendship Preservation Group and the
Friendship Development Associates,
Friendship School and a playground task
force has been working literally for the last
two to three years on this new playground.
Jam happy to say that the community has
come up with money for it. The city has,
the state has. It really is a combined effort.
We have had many meetings about it and

we're putting a cooperation agreement
together in our office that is going to be
signed by all the major departments in this
city. And hopefully we will have a
playground built by the community
actually all though smaller along the lines
of Councilman Ferlo set many years ago
with the Super Playground, it will be built
by the community in late July of this year.
I want to thank colleagues for their support
and look forward to their being there on
that day.

The Chair:

At the Friendship School, the old
school?

Mr. Cohen:
That's correct.
Mr. Ferlo:

Tam abstaining on this bill. I want
to make it clear I am abstaining only
because I disagree with the location of the
construction of the playground.

The Chair:

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.
Mr. Ricciardi:

I have a question, Mr. President.
For your indulgence, but Mr. Ferlo said he
is abstaining because he doesn't agree with

the location? Is the community on board
with the location, Mr. Ferlo, are they also

IEE ETNONOCO OEE

in objection?
Mr. Ferlo:

The community is not voting
today, Jim Ferlo is voting. 1 don't happen
to agree.

Mr. Ricciardi:

IT mean-- who the

district?

represents

Mr. Cohen:
Ido.
Mr. Ricciardi:

I apologize, Mr. Cohen, | thought
this was part of Mr. Ferlo’s --
Mr. Cohen:

Councilman Ferlo obviously is
entitled to his opinion. This has gone
through a community process, a long
community process. That location, which
is right in the front of Friendship School,
is supported by the school, by the PTO, by
the community and by the two
neighborhood groups that represent that
community.

The Chair:
How about the kids?
Mr, Cohen:

And the kids, they will be there so
will my own.

Mr. Ferlo:

Nothing I said implied other than

that. I just do not agree with the location.
The Chair:
Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres’t)

(Mr. Ferlo abstained on Bill 1375)

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and has passed
finally.

The Chair:

Under motions and resolutions.

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

No. 1437 WHEREAS, _ the
Pittsburgh Civic Garden Center maintains
its principle place of business and
conducts its principal activities in the City
of Pittsburgh; and,

WHEREAS, the Applicant is
organized and operated exclusively for
educational purposes, and received a tax
exempt status under the provisions of
101(6) of the Internal Revenue Code; and,

WHEREAS, the applicant desires
to operate certain small games of chance
and/or conduct raffles to generate funds to

finance its operations and further its
purpose; and,

WHEREAS, under the Local
Options Small Games of Chance Act, as
amended, the applicant must procure a
license from the Treasurer of the County
of Allegheny; and,

WHEREAS, the Act provides that
any non-profit organization, not affiliated
with a national or state association, must
procure a Resolution from the governing
body of the municipality in which the
association conducts its principal
activities, affirming its status as a civic/or

service association within the
comprehension of the Act; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED that the Mayor and City
Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby
declare the Pittsburgh Civic Garden Center
a civic and/or service organization within
the context of the Local Options Small
Games of Chance Act, as amended.

The Chair:
Motion to approve.

MR. FERLO moved to adopt.
MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

I would like to announce there will
be a Post Agenda tomorrow the
twenty-fourth at 2:00 p.m. concerning the

discussion of street sweeping.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes. Thank you, colleagues.
Colleagues, several weeks ago with all of
your support we passed a resolution and I
am going to take a moment to read it. It
was directing the Public Safety Director,
the Pittsburgh Police Chief, the Housing
Authority Police Chief, the Housing
Authority Director, the Youth Policy
Coordinator to forward to Pittsburgh City
Council within ten working days a report
of actions taken to date addressing the
Tecent shootings and violence between
youth in the Hill Top communities in
Council District Three. The report shall
include any future community preventive
Measures such as community out reach
and awareness programming. That was
passed on, I believe presented March 3rd,
passed on March 12th and unfortunately,
colleagues, the report has not been
forwarded to us.

The reason I bring this up is it
appears that violence and shootings
continue to escalate in some of my Hill
Top communities, Mr. President. Now the
problem is in the past it was with those
that were involved with illegal activities.
Now it has spilled over to just kids that are
doing the right thing. To such an extent
that in the past under the initiative that was
brought forward by you, Mr. President,
Mr. O'Connor, when it comes to our
community enrichment programs a great
idea and we all commend you for that.

I have picked = Knoxville
community for the community enrichment
program, Mr. President. The reason for
that, the Knoxville community the
neighborhood does not have any city
facilities such as the Southside and other
neighborhoods. And now there are
discussions we might have to close that
community enrichment program because

eaea6N3N3N336—ahqo—0—0

of the fights, because of the random
shootings that are occurring. People are
being paralyzed, death has occurred
between young people, the fights, the very
vicious violent fights that just occurred
several days ago in the parking lot. Well it
first started in the community enrichment
program and it spilled over.

Colleagues, I want to be honest
with you, my initial reaction was to get
tough. My initial reaction was to say that a
few bad individuals, bad young people
were not going to take away activities for
all people. But then I had to think this out.
I didn't want to take a tough, tough
position and then let a young person get
hurt, paralyzed or maybe even killed and
then have that in my conscience. I have
asked the Director, the very able Director
Duane Ashley with Parks and Recreation
to meet with our police officers, to meet
with our COP officers, to meet with the
Principal of the Knoxville School who to
be honest with you Mr. President, believes
that we should close eight weeks early.
That's his feeling because he doesn't
believe we could properly protect those
young individuals. Those young people
that are coming to the community
enrichment program to enjoy themselves
and to better themselves.

Again, it would be great for me to
take this grandstanding and try to get
tough, but I can't have this on my
conscience. So I just want to let you know
that I have really put this decision in the
hands of Duane Ashley. He needs to come
before us and give me the best advise. But
at the same time this resolution that we
passed wasn't just paperwork. I need to
know from the administration on a public
safety level what are they doing to protect
those young people that are doing the right

505

thing? What are they doing to protect the
law-abiding citizens in several of the
communities, in the Hill Top communities
that I represent? What are they doing to be
Proactive with police work? And at the
same time what preventive measures are
they doing? What preventive measures are
we doing to reach out to those young
people that are on the fence that are on the
edge?

Because I will tell you what I
would like do to those shooters and that is
to break their hands. And I mean that.
Severe punishment needs -- a small group
of people are terrorizing those individuals
that are doing the right thing. Isn't that
sad, Mr. President? A small group of
individuals are terrorizing neighborhoods.
They should have their hands broken. We
should demand severe punishment from
our judges. These people should be put a
way. Put a way for years, put a way for
decades. That would send the right
message.

But once again J am being honest
with the Knoxville © Community,
Beltzhoover Community, Saint Claire
Village that this decision to the community
enrichment program, I needed to put this
in the hands of Duane Ashley. He needs
to make the decision if we can continue
and if we could provide safety. We have
done it all. We have had COP Officers,
we have had transportation. We have had
city police there. We have had the School
Board Police there. One gentleman who
works for us, and God Bless him, I can’t
remember his last name, he put himself at
tisk. He put himself in front of two
individuals and he took the punches.

Can you imagine that a city
employee doing that in order to protect a

very young person? I mean fear went
through. We had a bunch of young ladies,
girls swimming in the pool they heard
about the fight, they heard about their
retaliation that was going to happen that
evening. It was very fearful. We have put
out letters asking parents to bring their
kids to the community enrichment
program, to pick them up. And I have
asked the administration to forward me a
report, Mr. President, and we didn't
receive it.

This report wasn't just something I
put together. It wasn't rhetoric, it wasn't
just a bunch of words, it was something
serious. I need to know what the
administration is doing? We're part of the
legislative process. We're not the
administration. So I know this is going to
be redundancy, but I am going to say it one
more time, Duane Ashley has a big
decision to make. I am going to live by
that decision.

Iam going to work very diligently
with the police officers to make sure that
the communities receive decent support,
protection and I am going to -- that's why I
am doing this publicly. I am going to put
on the pressure to the administration to
forward this report maybe in five more
working days. Let them have five more
working days and I am going to be there at
every court hearing. 1 am going to be there
April 7 against the vandals that have done
graffiti in the Bates Street Corridor asking
for severe punishment. Listen to what I
am saying, severe punishment.

I am going to be there for every
individual that is caught that is going to be
brought forward in front of a judge or in
front of a magistrate on the Hill Top
communities and I am going to demand

506

severe punishment. If we don't receive it,
the same thing I did with that judge when I
think that he gave that million-dollar
settlement to the gentleman on the
motorcycle. 1 embarrassed that judge
publicly; same thing I will do with any
other magistrate or judge who does not
deal with this problem severely. Thank
you colleagues.

The Chair:

I would like to follow up on that. 1
have lived in the city all my life, I drive a
car. Any time at night, any where in this
city, I ride a bike, I walk. If there is ever a
place that I am afraid to go, I will leave
this city.

I just paid for my house and I ain't
leaving. 1 think you need us, the Mayor,
we should go up there tomorrow. It's not
just about community enrichment, imagine
the people that might live next to door to
these so call hoodlums whoever they
maybe. They're probably living in terror
and fear.

That's unacceptable. So I hope Mr.
Ashley comes up and tell us what he
needs. And that community whoever
those community leaders are get behind it
and the leaders of this community get
behind not just community enrichment but
that whole area. There is not one area in
this place I have ever been afraid to walk
or drive and it certainly includes
Knoxville. I have an aunt that lives not
very far from there. That never should
happen in this city. If it ever does, take all
this downtown money and start hiring 500
more cops and put them on every corner.

Mr. Ricciardi:

For the record, the 30th Ward

SSS OTTO

Block Watch is at the upper Knoxville
Block Watch is having a meeting this
evening. So for the record, Mr. President,
you are right. There are some very brave,
strong individuals that are meeting
publicly to address issues such as this. I
thank you for that support, Mr. President.

Mr. Udin:

I just want to I promised the
Director of Genera] Services and the staff
who maintain the elevators that when the
conditions improved, I would be just as
vocal about their improvement as I have
been criticizing about their need to be
improved. And I have to say that the
department has responded and they have
responded consistently, I think the
elevators are much cleaner than they have
been in the past. I thank all the staff
members in the department, Mr. Costa, the
Department Director.

I would also take the opportunity,
Mr. President, to again thank Councilman
Ferlo for the suggestion that he devised in
separating the elevators between the city
side and the county side. We received a
memo recently from General Services
indicating that that plan will be extended
because it's working, because it made
sense. My waiting time to come up to the
fifth floor has been shortened
tremendously. As far as I am concerned it
was a very good idea and I want to thank
again Mr. Ferlo for putting it forward and
pushing the issue.

The Chair:

That is the idea of the century. It
teally works.

Mr. Ricciardi:

The city side works, the county
side needs improvement.

Ms. McDonald:

As far as the elevators are
concerned, I had suggested to Director
Costa. This idea has been bantered about
for years my understanding. Councilman
Ferlo brought it around many years ago.
And I know that previously before
Director Costa came on board that the
county was indeed approached shortly
after I was on Council but there was not
any receptivity towards that idea. So I am
glad that we continued to pursue this idea
and thanks for Councilman Ferlo for
bringing it up many years ago probably
before we were on Council.

But one thing about the elevators, I
had asked Director Costa to look into
placing signs on the elevator particularly
on our side, the city side, for the sign
actually is what I saw in another building.
I forget what building I was in. But it said
that the Surgeon General, the heart
somebody says it is good for your heart if
you are on the second floor to take the
steps. If you are coming down one flight,
take the steps. Some times you know
oiling up those joints a little bit helps.
And I am very health conscience and I had
asked Director Costa to look into the type
of signs and the wording that is used. It
doesn't intimidate or doesn't it's not very
punitive type of wording but it does
suggest that if you are on the second floor
or between two and three, four and five
take the steps. It is good for your joints. It
is good for your legs it is good for your
heart.

I think as that we have elevators

—— eee

now that only go from one to five at least
two of them do, that there would be more
of encouragement to tell people it is easier
you have your own elevators but come on.
So it is just basically looking out for the
welfare of others. I have seen these signs
in other buildings. One thing that we're
doing with the elevators. I am personally
tired of talking about elevators now not
much as asphalt though.

For the Citizen Police Academy
that's been around now for about a year or
two, it’s very successful. There was a
meeting convened by Mr. Simmons with
the Pennsylvania Human Relations
Commission in conjunction with the
Charles Morrison of our Human Relations
Commission of Pittsburgh as well as the
representative from the US Justice
Department. There was a meeting held in
East Liberty out of that meeting there were
some other ideas that were tossed about
from brochures to handouts to people that
would about if the police stops you this is
what you should do, dos and don'ts. So
that there would be more effective police
and citizen communication and rapport.

But the other thing that I had
notion to Detective Ophelia Coleman,
Cookie Coleman, is to be able to cablecast
and tape the Citizen Police Academy
sessions. There is only a cap of so many
people that they can take. It is very
popular and many people that live on the
perimeter of the city as well as those that
have crazy schedules cannot commit to
every Wednesday from six to nine for 12
weeks that’s a long time. So I think that
out of these sessions comes out a wealth of
information for the general community. A
wealth of information. And considering
some of the stuff that we see on Channel
17, I would rather be able to put much

- more information on our cablecasting on

our channel to educate the community.

So I have talked with Director Guy
Costa and I will be following up with a
memorandum as well as some form he
says, he says the office has it and he says
we will work out the money. But in the
future there will be people from the Cable
Bureau that will go to the Citizens Police
Academy on Wednesday and tape the
sessions. That will be taped and then it
will be shown on Channel 17 at whatever
times we will all work out the logistics of
course. You know, Mike, I will be
working with you on that because that
directly falls under your committee. But I
think it would help, it would help if we
would cablecast those sessions. It's a
learning experience. It's something that I
would like to learn myself but I don't have
three hours every Wednesday either. So
that's something that will be put into
motion.

The Chair:

T would like to comment on--
Ms. McDonald, I just would like to
comment on the Civilian classes. I wonder
if it is possible again I agree with you. I
have been to a few of them. But I
certainly don't have the time to go 11
weeks if some of them because I know
they are very excited once they go through
it, if some of them could volunteer to go to
the schools and maybe be part of the, again
I don’t know what grade you start at, ninth
grade or whatever, addressing issues like
that. Coming from a civilian who just —- I
think it would broaden everybody's
perspective of both sides of the issues.

Mr. Ferlo:

———o—o_eoOr—eooo lee

Mr. President, I know the hour is
fate and I will be under five minutes, but J
have four separate brief points.

First of all, I want to thank Director
Costa for responding to my comments
made last week regarding the motorcycle,
police motorcycle situation. I had spoken
about Harley Davidson offering a proposal
to take our '97 motorcycles and equally
give us a brand new motorcycle no
questions asked. I believe he's exploring
that within the state statutes of competitive
bidding and all that.

But if we can do that, I would ask
that we consider doing that. It seems like
at least on the surface that it’s a great idea.
And J want to thank Director Costa for
both the spirit of cooperative bidding and
competitive bidding but also that this
might be a good deal for the city. I would
ask him to give us a formal report when he
reaches some conclusion.

Secondly, I do have yet another
Easter party for kids in my Council
District. Kids are welcome to come eight
years and under this coming Saturday at
noon at Saint Karen's Parish. In the
tecreation hall, at Saint Karen's Saint
Matthews Parish is in the 10th ward
Lawrenceville, but again it is for all the
kids from the neighborhoods that I
represent. I look forward to seeing all the
kids and the parents. We have magicians
and all kinds of things planned for this
event. It will be a real fun party.

Secondly, I would ask the Clerk to
send a letter to the members regarding
updating all of us on the information kiosk
that we have been working on. I want to
thank Linda Johnson-Wasler, Clerk and
Mr. Mascio and yourself, Mr. President,

509

this will be a great high technology 1 will
call it that, information technology kiosk
that Council has already appropriated
money for. It will be in the lobby before
you reach the elevators or in that area there
generally.

It is going to be a great opportunity
for an inner active just by touch tone
television, the public and residents in the
city and those others who pass through the
lobby will get a great idea of what city
government is all about. It will have a
wealth of information including even
being able to print out public meeting
notices and tax forms and other things that
we have planned. So it is going to be a
great thing and I want to thank you for
your leadership and cooperation with me
and the staff in trying to facilitate this. I
am very excited about it. Ihope it is going
to be up and running very shortly.

Thirdly, Mr. President, I was have
honored this past weekend to be founder
and a convener of a new national
organization that is now called the U.S.
Cuba Sister cities Association. This past
weekend in this Council Chambers
beginning Friday evening we were
welcomed by some 13 different cities
around the United States who came to
Pittsburgh to help found this national
organization.

In the interest of time I would like
to have the record reflect the delegates that
came.

From Cuban
Washington, DC
Felix Wilson
Eugenio Martinez
Jorge Luis Bernaza

Interests Section,

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oOo oo eee

Conference Participants
Lisa Valanti
Pittsburgh-Matanzas

Ricardo Gonzalez
Madison-Camaguey
Madison, WI 53704

Jill Shinault
Mobile-Habana

John Dowlin
Philadelphia-Santiago

Clare Weaver
San Francisco

Robert Schaefer
President Mobile-Havana
Alabama

Jack Hopkins
President Bloomington-Santa Clara
Bloomington, IN 47401

Katherine Hopkins
Bloomington-Santa Clara

Jane Jackson
President, Oakland Santiago

Peggy Edwards
WILPF
Valencia, CA 91355

Ivania del Pozo
Canfield, OH 44406

Milton Sanchez-Parodi
Youngstown, OH

Alberto Jones
Palm Coast, FL 32137

Delvis Femandez

510

Washington, DC 20002

Norine Femandez
Hayward, CA 94541

Marilyn McKenna
Chicago, IL 60657

Brenda Smith
Global Links

Max Brandt
University of Pittsburgh
Semester-at-Sea

There were many Pittsburghers
here as well and other delegates but we
had 13 cities represented and Pittsburgh is
kind of in the leadership on this. We are
very pleased that the next week or so we
are going to see a national sports game of
the Cuban National Baseball team playing
the Baltimore Orioles this coming week in
Havana as well the Baltimore Orioles will
be traveling to Baltimore in early May to
have a baseball game there. And, as the
colleagues know I am working with the
Pittsburgh Pirates to see if we can't get a
Cuban exhibition game in the new
baseball only park, PNC Park, in a year
and a half when it opens.

Again, this is not a political
ideological organization, this is sister city
organization trying to build on the good
experiences of our local folks involved
with the Pittsburgh Matanzas coalition,
our sister city.

We also had representatives from
the University of Pittsburgh, the Semester-
at-Sea, not since the Bay of Pigs has
Habana seen so many American's land on
their shores. A Semester-at-Sea seen some
650 students left the boat and spent three

SSS OTTO

days in Havana at the University and they
had signing of a twinning agreement
between the University of Pittsburgh and
the University in Havana Cuba. So it is a
very exciting period. It is a period of a
tremendous change.

We have a lot to learn from the
Cuban's and we have a lot to offer the
Cuban people. And that is the spirit in
which the Sister City Association, which
was founded here this past weekend in
Pittsburgh will be all about and in the
future I will keep everybody apprised.
They were very impressed, Mr. President,
with all of our flags.

With that, I just wanted to thank all
of the colleagues for letting us use the
chambers this weekend. It was a great
opportunity and a special thanks to the
clerk staff for their help in facilitating the
conference this weekend. Thank you, Mr.
President.

The Chair:

I just received a very brief memo
that Omiya our sister city in Japan will be
coming in May. So I certainly hope we
can really treat them half as well as they
treated us when we went.

Ms. McDonald:

I was just curious when we talk
about Japan, | just heard that in Tokyo that
the government has approved the use of
Viagra for men, but they have still not
approved the use of birth control pills for
women. So I have some questions. I was
little ticked off coming into work to hear
that information. I don't like that.

Like I said, I am not a profound

feminist, but when it comes to women's
rights and equal rights, you will reap my
wrath if it is not done fairly. So I have
questions for Japan.

The Chair:

I thought you were going to bring
up I just read they are exploring Viagra for
women.

With that said, next week is
Passover and Easter, so we will be having
our meetings Monday and Tuesday the
29th and 30th.

Again, I would like a motion to
approve the minutes.

MR. FERLO moved to approve the
minutes.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.

MR. FERLO moved to adjourn the
meeting,

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

And on the motion made by Mr.
Ferlo, the meeting adjourned.

MUNICIPAL RECORD

SSS
Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
ert AE UN OF Piso urg

VOL. CXXXIIT

March 29, 1999

No. 13

Municipal Record

ONE-HUNDRED
THIRTIETH COUNCIL

BOB O'CONNOR an President
LINDA M. JOHNSON-WASLER ....City Clerk
JOHN R. MASCIO -s.ressnee Deputy City Clerk

Pittsburgh, PA

Monday, March 29, 1999

PRESENT:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato

Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Hertzberg Mr. Udin

Ms. McDonald Mr. O’Connor
(Pres't)

ABSENT:

Mr. Ferlo

The Chair:

All please rise for the pledge of
allegiance and remain standing for a
moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the world.

We have with us Sava Demanski
who is in the third grade at St. Bede’s and
she is nine years old today. She is with her
brother Dylan who is in the first grade at

Saint Bede's, he is six half years old.
They are accompanied by their father,
Stewart, and their grandmother, Helen
Shields, which is the mother of my
assistant, Doug Shields. And also we have
Emily Bums who is in the third grade at
Saint Bede's and Emily is nine years old.
She's accompanied by her mother, Linda.
Needless to say they are in my Council
District.

I understand St. Bede is all
watching you, your grades. So let's do a
good job all right.

Sava and Dylan Demanski and Emily
Burns:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
Justice for all.

The Chair:

Also with regret I have to
announce remember in your prayers the
death of Paul Ziminski, Jr. he is the
nephew of Councilman Jim Ferlo, passed
away in New York over the weekend. The
Councilman has asked in lieu of flowers
Tequested contributions to be made to the
Make A Wish Foundation in Syracuse,
New York. Paul was only 19 years old.

Also remember in your prayers a
young girl Amanda Kunka (phonetic) from
Greenfield just had a heart transplant on
Friday in Children’s Hospital. I know the

ee
a NNN

news media said today she is in critical
condition, but her mother just called and
said she is doing well and she is out of bed
already. So our prayers are with both
families. Thank you.

We have a flag for you of our
country and city.

PRESENTATIONS

Tracy Stufft, please come up.
She's from Family Resources. Thanks for
coming over, Family Resources is a very
important part of Pittsburgh and I want to
read this resolution and thank Tracy for
coming down.

MR. O'CONNOR AND ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
No. 1438 WHEREAS, Family

Resources was formed in 1986 as the
result of a merger between the Pittsburgh
Association for the Improvement of the
Poor and the Child Abuse Prevention
Center; and,

‘WHEREAS, the mission of Family
Resources is to prevent and treat child
abuse by strengthening families and
neighborhoods; and,

WHEREAS, child abuse is
behavior directed toward children that
results in harm or injury or that seriously
interferes with normal child development;
and,

WHEREAS, each year, there are 2
million victims of child abuse and neglect
in the United States; and,

WHEREAS, in communities
around the country, April is observed as

513

Child Abuse Prevention Month in an effort
lo raise awareness about abuse, promote
non-violent discipline and good
communication between parents, children,
and inform families about community
resources; and,

WHEREAS, Family Resources and
its partners in Child Abuse Prevention
Month are distributing 60,000 Blue
Ribbons to promote child abuse
awareness; and,

WHEREAS, the goal of Child
Abuse Prevention Month 1999 in Western
Pennsylvania is to create caring for kids,
which will include an Awards Dinner on
April 27" with honorary dinner co-
chairpersons Kaye & Bill Cowher, Peggy
Finnegan and Michael Donnelly; and,

WHEREAS, the 1999 Child Abuse
Prevention Month Honorees are:

The Giant Eagle Corporation

Bayer Corporation

Mr. Charles B. Jarrett, Jr, Esq.
(Plowman, Spiegel & Lewis)

Judy Cohen, MD and Anthony
Mannarino, PhD

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend
Family Resources for their dedication and
commitment to families and children; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare April 1999, "Child
Abuse Prevention Month” in the City of
Pittsburgh.

MR. COHEN moved
resolution.

to adopt the

rr
SSS NSS

MR.
motion.

HERTZBERG _ seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Tracy, you want to tell us, a lot of
things going on this month.

Ms. Stufft:

Thank you very much for the
proclamation. As Bob O'Connor said
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
and Family Resources along with our
partners in the county and city are
celebrating this month by distributing the
blue ribbons, which we ask you to wear all
throughout the month of April. If you
have children take them to the Pittsburgh
Zoo and on Thursdays with their blue
ribbon they will receive $2 off.

We have the awards dinner that
Bob mentioned. We have the walk for
families on April 10", which we ask you
all to come out to North Park and walk for
families. And many other activities that
encourage the prevention of child abuse
and family activities to encourage families
to be with their children.

We thank you for joining us in this
effort to prevent child abuse.

The Chair:

We have two to be read into the
tecord.

MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:

514

No. 1439 WHEREAS, during the
weekend of March 26" through March
28", 1999, competitors from around the
country will hit the mats at the A. J.
Palumbo Center in a three day battle for
the title of National High School
Wrestling Champion and,

WHEREAS, the championship has
been an annual event in Pittsburgh since
1989 and,

WHEREAS, this event draws top
athletes from schools across the United
States and is open to high school seniors
who have qualified as state finalists at
their home tournament within the last four
years and,

WHEREAS, the winner in each of
the fourteen weight classes will be named
National High School Champion and,

WHEREAS, the National High
School Wrestling Championships have
had numerous Olympic team members as
their alumni.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby welcome the
National High School Wrestling
Championship competition to our city.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare March 26-28", 1999
"National High School Wrestling
Championship Weekend” in the city of
Pittsburgh.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.

6=NTlma——eeeoee lee

Which motion prevailed.
MR. UDIN PRESENTS:

No. 1440 WHEREAS, the Islamic
Council of Greater Pittsburgh are blessed
with individuals dedicated to improve the
greater welfare of the general community
and enhance the quality of their religious
life in the Pittsburgh area and;

WHEREAS, AL-Hajj _ signifies
religious pilgrims completing the fifth
pillar of Al-Islam and;

WHEREAS, these pilgrims in
completing their religious rites will
distribute food to those citizens who are
less fortunate.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh declares March 27 and 28,
1999 as Eid Adha Weekend in the City of
Pittsburgh.

MR. UDIN moved to adopt the resolution.
MR. COHEN seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.

MR. O'CONNOR
MEMBERS PRESENT:

AND ALL

No. 1441 WHEREAS, Parkinson's
Disease is a chronic, progressive
neurodegenerative disorder affecting as
many as 1.5 million Americans and about
14,000 Southwestem Pennsylvanian's;
and,

WHEREAS, the Greater Pittsburgh
Chapter of the National Parkinson

SIS

Foundation and its President, Jim Cordy, a
50 year old Parkinson patient is actively
seeking new members and support for
Parkinson Disease research funding; and

WHEREAS, the two main goals of
the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter is to
increase the public's awareness of
Parkinson Disease and to raise funds for
tesearch to find a cure; and,

WHEREAS, there are 15
Parkinson Disease support groups in the
area, the newest one is located in Squirrel
Hill to serve Pittsburgh's East End
neighborhoods, and additional support
groups are planned to serve the needs of
residents throughout the city; and,

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania
Black Conference on Higher Education

further achieves its mission through
education, research, training and
publication.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh commends Jim Cordy for his
effort and initiative to create the Greater
Pittsburgh Chapter of the National
Parkinson Foundation and extends its
thanks and appreciation to all of those who
are working to support those afflicted with
Parkinson Disease and devoting their time
and energy to raise funds to find a cure;
and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
support the important mission of the
Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the National
Parkinson Foundation and_ recognizes
April as "Parkinson's Awareness Month"
in the City of Pittsburgh.

aNlxzwnaaee

MR. ONORATO moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

At this time we will let any
speakers who want to address Council for
two minutes? Please state your name and
address for the record, please.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr. Ayoob:

My mame is Tom Ayoob,
A-Y-O-0-B, My address of residence is
3088 Beechwood Boulevard, Pittsburgh
15217. I am here to speak to you this
moring regarding two items of
legislation. Bill Numbers 1379 and 1380
and specifically I represent two Citizen
Councils, I represent the East Allegheny
Community Council and I represent the
Fineview Citizens Council.

With regard to Bill Number 1379 it
contemplates the sale of property
identified as 4250 Jay Street. And I would
like to provide to Council my
understanding of the law here in
Pennsylvania with regard to Council's role
on the sale of the transaction.

As you know the Fineview
Citizens Council has spent dollars, time
and energy in the pursuit of taking what
had been a 15-year-old dilapidated old
piece of property and placing it back on
the taxing roles. This process began by the
initiation of the treasurer sale by obtaining
the proper title commitment and by
proving the financial wherewithal and the

interest and the desire to fund the project
to renovate the property. As a result of all
of this, the property was placed for public
bid and it was a sealed bid and
unfortunately and ultimately the Citizens
Council was not the high bidder for the
property.

However, the Council's has in its
discretion and I have a number of sources
of authority to support this the ability to
Teject bids. In fact, if you take a look at
the applicable law in the area and the
applicable law is sited as the Second Class
City Treasurer Sale and Collection Act,
you will see, and I have copies for the
members of Council here today. There is a
provision that provides that the treasurer
has the ability to enact legislation or rules
and regulations governing that.

Specifically and I will pass this to
you through my assistant here, Section 27
and -- if I may be permitted since 1 am
addressing two pieces of legislation.

The Chair:
I will give you two more minutes.
Mr. Ayoob:

The regulations say the treasurer is
authorized to promulgate regulations to aid
in the administration of this act which
regulations shall have the force and effect
of law. The regulations, specifically the
rules and procedures for purchasing
property in the Make Us An Offer
Program, state that the City of Pittsburgh
retains the right to reject any bid after
having stated the reasons for objection.
All purchasers must be approved to
purchase and all sales are subject to the
approval of the Mayor and City Council.
And I would like to also disseminate these

provisions to you.

Finally, in a recent decision that
was upheld by the common wealth court in
1 guess what is known as the Myland
(phonetic) case Judge Wettick (phonetic)
specifically said that the city has the ability
to have the property bid or placed out for
public bid. But I am going to quote
because the city is permitted to condition
the property sale on securing approval of
the Mayor and City Council. The city and
the Council can reject any and all bids if
they wish to do so. And that case that you
are all familiar with and if you need me to
disseminate that ] also can.

Finally with regard to the Lockhart
property. In addition to the provisions that
give Council the ability to reject any and
all bids, there is a provision that requires
that the successful person bidding on the
property also have with regard to the other
properties that they own all their taxes
current. They also to have all violations of
the building code and zoning ordinance
rectified. That's with regard to the
property specifically located at 512
Lockhart and in this instance the
successful bidder, a gentleman by the
name of Stephen Mesich.

It has been brought to my attention
and there are others here today that will
point it out to the Council is in violation of
the requirement of the city code because
there are other delinquent tax properties
that he owns. So you as a Council have a
right and I want to re-emphasize that to
reject the first bid or any and all bids if you
wish to do so. Thank you.

Ms. Cain:

Good moming, my name is

Candace Cain. the President of the
Fineview Citizens Council. 1 am here this
moming with at least 15 residents who I
ask to stand now. Thank you.

In November of '98 the Fineview
Citizens Council presented a plan for
development in Fineview to the Urban
Redevelopment Authority. We were
successful and at that time the Urban
Redevelopment Authority allowed us to
have a loan from the Pittsburgh Housing
Construction Fund of $221,000 for this
project. It also allowed us a grant from
that same Pittsburgh Housing Construction
Fund of $360 thousand and we have a
Community Development Investment
Fund Grant of $150,000 and we have
alone from PNC of $810,000. We have a
grant from the PNC of $20,000. We have
another grant from PPND of $30,000.

This was not put together without a
tremendous amount of work from our
consultants as well as the residents of
Fineview. This lot is extremely important
to this development. It is essentially
Fineview's only level vacant lot. It is key
to the development because it is less costly
to build on this. Plus the two houses are
key to removing some blight in the
neighborhood and as a whole improving a
main corridor in Fineview plus the
outlying areas.

I ask that the Council reject the
bids and help the neighborhood groups in
amaze department in this city and help us
find a clear way. You have the ability to
do it and I ask you to do it. Thank you.

Mr. Onorato:

I have, Candace, if you could
explain those numbers you rattled off all

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See

those different loans and grants they were
for this Fineview development that
included J have been hearing what 12
properties?

Ms. Cain:

That's right. Councilman, we have
ten new properties that are going to be
built and two properties that will be
renovated. As a part of these ten new
properties many dilapidated houses are
going to be removed that are right on our
bus way, right on our corridor. The total
financial package is $1,648,000.

Mr. Onorato:

Now when you were dealing with
the URA getting loans and grants, the
proposal you brought forward did it
include these 12 properties?

Ms. Cain:
Yes it did.

Mr. Onorato:

It included the vacant lot that's up
to day?

Ms. Cain:

That's right. It was a written
proposal and the Jay Street lot was
included in that proposal.

Mr. Onorato:

The URA saw that when you
applied for this money?

Ms. Cain:

518

Yes they did. This property has
been with us and we have been planning
on it and putting it in written proposals to
many city departments.

Mr. Onorato:

So when you brought that to the
URA at that point in time, that was
property that was owned by the city that
you identified this lot? And obviously
they thought your plan was at least a good
plan because they gave you this money
based on these 12 properties right?

Ms. Cain:

Yes. That is right. Not only that,
Councilman, we recently got approval
from the Zoning Board to build the two
houses on the Jay Street lot, that is the
Fineview Citizens Council got that
approval from the Zoning Board.

Mr. Onorato:

If you build these what would be
your plan to put them to get people in
there? Just put them up for sale?

Ms. Cain:

Yes. These houses can be sold to
any person. of any level of income.
However, the Fineview Citizens Counci!
has a commitment to recruit low and
moderate income people for these houses
and there are special mortgages available
for such individuals. We especially are
encouraging Public Housing tenants to
come and try for the ability to purchase
these houses. We recruit friends and
neighbors but also for putting them up to
public so the public can know. As you
know the North Side is going to be a very

ee
aS ESS

exciting place to live.
Mr. Onorato:

Another thing, when you got the
money from PNC Bank on the private site
now, did you present the same plan to
PNC Bank?

Ms. Cain:

I believe so. They knew that the
Jay Street lot was going to be in the plan
and they are granting us this loan based on
that.

Mr. Onorato:

And any time during _ this
discussion was the City of Pittsburgh's
Real Estate Department involved when
you were putting together the plan with the
URA and PNC, did they know that this lot
was part of this proposal?

Ms. Cain:

I can't tell you specifically that.
My impression is, Councilman, that the
city departments have been aware of this
development and the lots that we have
been working on for years. I know that we
get city funding for the Fineview Citizens
Council for a staff person just to work on
housing.

Mr. Onorato:

One final question. Other than this
piece of land that is in front of us now on
Jay Street, are the other properties under
control of the Fineview or are they still

coming forward?

Ms. Cain:

I believe most of them are. There
maybe another vacant lot or two vacant
lots that might be not in Fineview's
control, but they apparently are no
problem.

Mr. Onorato:

So the majority of them right now
Fineview has control of them?

Ms. Cain:

Right. That is right. We own them
and in fact demolition is being conducted
right now by the Fineview Citizen's
Council on some of the blighted
properties.

Mr. Onorato:
Thank you.
Ms. Kraus:

Good moming. My name is
Marsha Kraus. | am the Fineview Citizens
Council staff person. I have a prepared
document if you will indulge me.

I am here to discuss what is
commonly known as the Fineview Crest
Two project and why the Council should
reconsider the vote on accepting the
highest bid on the Jay Street property. I
am not here to cast dispersions or negative
points of view on a highest bidder. Rather
J am here to convince you why Fineview
Citizens Council should be awarded this
property.

This project actually started over
ten years ago with Fineview Crest One
which was built on property which had
little or no tax base for the city. Today

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8 8 Oy

these 12 properties bring in approximately
$1,275 per year, per lot or over $15,000
total in city taxes. This does not include
county taxes and additional revenues for
water and sewer. All the residents in
Fineview Crest One are overwhelmingly in
favor of Fineview Crest Two completion
for the following reasons.

One, it increases or at the very least

maintains current property values.
Beautifies the neighborhood by
eliminating blight. Provides

homeownership through the use of various
housing programs. And adds ethnic and
monetary neighborhood diversity. Just to
mention a few. In addition, all the
Fineview Crest One residents work within
city limits and the majority actually work
in downtown Pittsburgh further supporting
its revitalization.

Completed in 1992 all 12
properties of Fineview Crest One are sold
prior to completion. This demonstrates the
desire for new homes close to downtown
there by finalizing the decision to continue
this trend with Fineview Crest Two. In the
interim we demolished 220 Belleau Street
and completely renovated 218 Belleau,
which added another 1200 to the tax roles,
water and sewer.

These 13 houses over their 30 year
mortgage period will generate the City of
Pittsburgh roughly a half million dollars in
taxes alone with the addition of Fineview
Crest Two. We would generate $1 million
in taxes alone over the same period of
time. I do have a listing of properties of
neighbors who willingly gave up their
right to surrounding property in order to
accommodate Fineview Crest Phase Two.
They are 1702 and 04 Sandusky; 204, 214,
216 and 218 Bellean, 1705, 1713, and

1800 Meadville.

In addition. this project eliminates
two unsightly and unmaintained paper
streets, Veronica Way and Catoma Rear.
Because of the previously mentioned
reasons, not just Jay Street but a large
portion of Fineview is effected. Should
you not vote in favor of Fineview, we will
loose the predevelopment money and
grants and loans of $150,000 and the $1.68
million and Fineview development will
cease as opposed to receiving ten thousand
doliars for an undeveloped lot.

Prior to a final decision on this
issue we implore you to take a tour of the
development site nothing we can say will
impact your decision as an onsite visit.
Thank you for your time and willingness
to hear our voices and concems.

Ms. Burns:

Barbara Bums, East Allegheny
Community Council, Vacant Property
Working Group, 530 Avery Street,
Pittsburgh, 15212.

I just want to clarify for Council
the information about the taxes that
Mr. Mesich -- This is conceming the
property on Lockhart Street. To the best
of my knowledge he is tax delinquent. We
want to I think you best should certify this
stuff but we do know that he went in on
three/nine of '99 and paid off what was
owed at Capital Assets. I understand he
has paid some back taxes on the Polish
Falcon but still has 1997, 1998 is due
around the comer and they're outstanding.

We just want you to -- I want to be
very clear that we have done the best we
can to find out from public records what

a ————————
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this man owns or not. I think most
important to us is that in both cases the
two properties this man has acquired in
this city both for a dollar he has hasn't
managed to step to the table and to pay
whatever obligations he has in a timely
fashion. You will see in the packet there I
drove up on Sunday because I am usually
on my way to Chatham College, that was
my route, went through Polish Hill quite a
bit.

If you look at the Polish Falcon,
and you see the retaining wall that is just
on the sidewalk. What concerns me most
is that the community has entrusted this
man with a very important building to
their community and it is as blighting as
our building on Lockhart Street. I have
seen no substantial reason to think that this
man understands the obligation of
maintaining property.

The other property on Downing
Street which he got tax fiee,
unencumbered for a dollar, he has
managed to rent out but hasn't managed to
pay his '98 or 1999 taxes to the city. We
think these are indications of what is to
come on Lockhart Street. Our community
has fought very long and hard to remove
longstanding blighted properties. Yes it's
one building but if it was next to your
home on your block, in your neighborhood
one building matters. It is how we rebuilt
our community one little house at a time.
It is significant to us and it was part of a
seven-unit project that took out
longstanding nuisance properties, property
owners that we have chased around the
block literally for over a decade.

This was our hope to see the
private market begin to function and Mr.
Mesich had an opportunity to participate in

that. We would have required him to
demonstrate some financial capabilities as
well as timeliness in how that would be
conducted. I don't think this man is
interested in it. I think Council has the
power and the authority in which to reject
all bids. I suggest you do this. We need to
go back and fix this problem.

Mr. Udin:

Did you say that the public record
indicates he is tax delinquent on 1997
taxes?

Ms. Burns:

On the different properties, when
he got the 310 Downing property and
Polish Hill is here to also testify, he
obviously is their problem too. He got that
property for a dollar through a donation, a
sales agreement with their Community
Council. They paid all the taxes. He
managed the to rent it out. As his attorney
testified here, I guess he thinks he has until
October or November of this year to
decide if he is going to owner occupy it.
He has not paid according to our records
the city taxes for that property and of
course the county taxes are not due yet but
they are still outstanding.

Mr. Udin:

My questions is the year. Is there
any tax owing for 1997 by this person?

Ms. Burns:

Not on that property. On the

Polish Falcon.

Mr. Udin:

Any property?
Ms. Burns:

Oh yes.

Mr. Udin:

From 1997?
Ms. Burns:

Yes.

Mr. Udin:

What property does he owe taxes

on for '97?
Ms. Burns:

The Polish Faicon.
Mr. Udin:

Okay. Thank you.
Ms. Burns:

He owes 1997, 1998 and 1999
county taxes to our knowledge on the
Polish Falcon and he owes the city 1998
and '99 taxes on the Polish Falcon.

Absolutely. Let him waltz in here and
show some receipts.

Ms. Walgrish:

Good morning. My name is
Sharon Walgrish (phonetic) from the
Polish Hill Civic Association. Iam here to
talk to you about the 512 Lockhart. And
first of all Mr. Mesich bought the Polish
Falcons on Polish Hill for a dollar plus he
agreed to pay all the back taxes which
obviously he has not. He also agreed to

3522

renovate the building, which as of Friday
his building permits have been revoked
and legal has been filed on him.

The building inspector has tried to
get into see the building. He won't let him
get in to see the building. He will not take
care of any of the problems at hand. He
had also purchased 310 Downing Street
from the Civic Association for a dollar
with a donation to the Association. In the
deed there was a restriction put that it
would be owner occupied within a year.
To date it is not. He also stated that he
took care of the code violations. There are
many fire violations in that building. To
date he has not filed for a building permit
but he has rented the building out, both
apartments.

We don't feel that this gentleman
should be allowed to go into other
communities and do the same thing to
them. Obviously he has become quite a
problem for us and will continue. I think
he needs to be stopped. And I think
Council is where it needs to come into
play. I would appreciate if you would vote
no to selling this man another property in
this city. Thank you.

Mr. Udin:

Questions. When was the -- what
is the date of the Downing Street?

Ms, Walgrish:

The Downing Street was sold to
him on November 30th of '98. Falcons
was sold to him in March 30th of ‘98.

Mr. Udin:

You said in the Downing Street
sale he had provisions in the deed to be

owner occupied within a year. Within a
year of what date?

Ms. Walgrish:

From November 30th of '98 to
November 30th of ‘99. It's stipulated.

Mr. Udin:
He's not yet in violation of that.
Ms. Walgrish:

No.
Thank you.

Not until November 30th.

Mr. Masterson:

Mark Masterson, 200 Waldorf
Street, Pittsburgh 15214. We are
managing the projects for Fineview

Citizen Council and the East Allegheny
Community Council at the North Side
Leadership Conference. Neither of these
properties would -- the city would have
never moved on these properties to put
them into the treasurer sale if it hadn't been
for the hard work of the neighborhood
volunteers to indicate why these properties
were problems.

We have put together strategic
plans with the neighborhood organizations
to identify key properties that will make
the difference in the neighborhood. As
you heard there is $1.68 million
committed to the Fineview Crest Two
Project. Meaning if we had this property,
we would be starting construction within
30 days. PNC Bank and the URA are in
the ball game on this. URA approved this
at their board meeting several months ago.
PNC Bank is to the point do we have this
property or not? We're fearful if we don't

have this property the project blows up and
we are going to loose the opportunity for
these 12 houses in the neighborhood that
they have been working for the past three
years on.

To the 512 Lockhart project, that
was a project that has financing in place.
URA approved it and the National City
Bank is the construction lender on that
project. We were doing this project trying
to do it with no grants from funds from
anyone, from the URA or any foundations.
We were told we would be able to get
these properties from the city. We were
acquiring three blighted properties on
major corridors privately. We have
expended funds and now the Community
Council is at risk of default because of this
issue. Getting beyond those facts of the
case and how and also the Community
Council has been working on this property
since 1994. To get this thing taken care of
and it has been a problem for at least that
long.

If you will allow just one more
comment. This is not about whether the
bidder is a good or bad person. This is a
about the ability to get the properties back
on the tax roles in the highest and best
manner and that the city gets the long term
tax benefits of getting these things back on
the treasurer sale. With the 512 Lockhart
Property you have an organization that is
interested and has gotten _ financial
commitments to do these properties. Has
a tack record of tuming 15 or 20
properties over the past five years in the
similar situation around and getting the
blight eliminated and getting them back on
the tax roles and getting home owners in
them. It has done everything that we have
been asked to do as far as getting the
commitments and doing the things that we

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need to do.

With the other party that is
interested in this property there is a
question as to timeliness. Whether or not
he will have the financial wherewithal to
do it based on some of his delinquencies
with the city and the county and has no
track record or has a questionable track
record at best. It’s up to Council from
what Mr. Ayoob has said and we have
discussed this with him. You have the
right to reject any and all bids and we
would ask that you do so in this case.

Mr. Udin:

As the manager for the two
community organizations property
development management, was it your
organization that advised the community
based organizations to go to the treasure
sale route rather than URA directed sale
toute?

Mr. Masterson:

We were told by folks at the Law
and Finance Department that there were
going to be objectors and that there was a
choice to make -- --

Mr. Udin:
Objectors to what?
Mr. Masterson:

Objectors to the treasurers sale to
the URA Directed sale. It does not protect
at that once someone comes in and says I
am an objector meaning I want to be a
bidder on the property too. Unless it is in
an urban renewal area where the URA has
eminent domain ability it means nothing.

524

You will wind up either bidding this at
Common Pleas Court and at that point in
time we had requested that this go to
sealed bid so it would come before
Council that had the right to reject any and
all bids.

Mr. Udin:

So the answer to my question is
yes?

Mr. Masterson:

Yes. On the advice of the City
Law and Finance Department.

The Chair:
Any other speakers?
Please state your name

address.
Mr. English:

and

Gary English, 1504 Fairmont
Street, 15221. Good morning. I am here
to speak on two issues. First Council
wishes to address the gun safety issue in
the very near future. If this is truly a safety
issue we contact members in the state
legislature, however you plan to sue the
gun manufacturers by pursuing this in the
courtrooms. The motifs are clear this is
more about money than it is about safety.
1 am hopeful that the recent state proposal
will block such lawsuits and that you will
Teconsider your action.

The second issue deals with
Councilman Onorato. I saw your plan to
sell the relics of Three Rivers Stadium as a
means to raise revenue for a proposed
Tecreation fund. The fund’s purpose is to
build additional recreational facilities for

youth and to hire additional staff, to keep
the school facilities open during the
evenings.

On it's face one might believe this
is a good idea but we first must look at the
overall picture of the liabilities created of
both past and present.

During the 1999 budget hearings,
the city had a projected budget shortfall of
$28 million developing new ball games for
our youth will also increase the
maintenance cost to an already financially
strapped city. Judging by comments made
by this Council on the current condition of
these venues, the city cannot take care of
existing responsibilities let alone adding
more.

Councilman Onorato has this
jaundice view that the stadium auction is
quote found money. Personally I thought
that the money was never lost but the
priorities were never found. The thought
of raising a projected $10 million has
elected officials crawling out of the
woodwork. Steve Leeper, Executive
Director of the Stadium Authority, would
like to use some of these funds to offset
the demolition costs. It appears that
Mr. Leeper has forgotten the details of
Plan B including -- one minute extension
please.

The Chair:

Please summarize.
Mr. English:

It appears Mr. Leeper has forgotten
the details of Plan B including the site

acquisition and preparation _cost.
Additionally, one should remember that

Three Rivers Stadium has a current debt
remaining at $34.6 million, which is
equivalent to the original construction
costs from 1970. A prudent use of the
stadium auction would direct those funds
to retire the stadium debt.

Mr. Onorato feels that the auction
is worthy and will be successful because
quote it the history of the building. Well I
got something in the newspaper last week.
They wish to commemorate Three Rivers
Stadium. You can spend about $55 and
own your own stadium for a mere $55.
Councilman’s comments give more
credence to my original proposal to save
Three Rivers Stadium as a_ historic
landmark, after all the citizens did not
approve Plan A or B. Thank you.

Mr. Onorato:

Mr. President, just since this
gentleman is speaking on the record with a
camera rolling, I would just like to get his
facts straight. The actual bill that passed
last week with the approval of Council
specifically stated that the money could be
used to reduce the debt or the cost of
demolition and go back into reducing the
public expenditures because of the
discussion that came forward. There is no
set plan on how to use the money. It is
definitely up for debate and discussion.

There are two parts of the bill.
One is that we have the auction to raise the
money, but we left it open for how to
spend the money. And his proposal to use
it to write down the debt is one of those
proposals. So for the public listening there
is no plan or approval by this Council or
anybody, to spend the money in any one
particular way.

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Mr. English:
Councilman, you did talk about
this recreation fund as one of the

proposals?
Mr. Onorato:

I did. And I thought it was
interesting that you only pointed out the
parts that would put certain people in a bad
light, instead of the whole picture. But
that is okay, you are allowed to advocate
the way you want. I just wanted to give
everybody all the information because I
believe if you put all the information out
people will have a better understanding
instead of a slanted view the way you
presented it, but that is fine.

Mr. English:

If you wish --
The Chair:

We're not going to debate the issue.
Mr. Udin:

Point of order. Mr. President, as a
matter of procedure, for the public, let it be
known that we are recently hearing
members of the public in the front part of
the Council legislative meetings pursuant
to recent changes in the State Sunshine
law which requires us to have public
comment before action is taken. That
public comment does not provide the right
for a back and forth conversation. So as a
matter of procedure 1 would suggest that
henceforth unless a Councilman directs a
question to a member of the public who
has made a comment and requests a
response that no responses beyond their

comment be entertained.
The Chair:

We're not going to get into a
debate.

Mr. English:

You already set a precedence with
the previous speakers.

Mr. Udin:

Point of order. Do we need to put
this in the form of a vote?

Mr. English:

Because of the setting of that
precedent --

The Chair:

Please summarize we're not going
to debate each issue here.

Mr. English:

The last comment is, if we're going
to put all the cards on the table I would
like to see this body address the recent
NFL proposal of having loans for stadiums
and this wound up being hidden until after
Pian B was passed. I would like to see a
recall on that vote in this state house.
Thank you.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Point of order.
you a resident of the city?

Mr. English, are

Mr. English:

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aS OO,

It is a well-known fact that I am
not a resident of the city. But I live in the
highest property tax community in the
county, and when city government wants
opposing legislation that effects me
personally I feel that I have the ability for
redress. Thank you.

Mr. Hertzberg:

All right. Do you own property in
the city or do you have a business in the
city?

Mr. English:

The answer is neither to those
questions. But again I will refer to
comment that when this body of
government acts on legislation that would
effect us personally I feel that I have
redress.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Just a point of order is neither the
former Sunshine Act nor its amendments
require us to have the public speak. It is
residents and taxpayers who pay the city
taxes.

Mr. English:

I pay taxes here. Because of the
1% sales tax imposed by this body.

The Chair:

All right. Let's move on we have a
lengthy agenda and I believe we will have
-- Mr. Hertzberg and Ms. McDonald you
have resolutions concerning these matters
that we brought forward. I think you are
introducing them today. So, I hope we can
discuss it at that time.

527

We will now move to presentation
of papers.

MR. COHEN PRESENTED:

No. 1442 Resolution Authorizing
and Directing the Office of the Mayor to
operate the City of Pittsburgh Growth
Initiative Fund, dedicated to attracting jobs
and businesses to the City of Pittsburgh. —
~(SPONSORED BY MR. COHEN)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Housing, Economic
Development & Promotion.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

No. 1443 Resolution adopting an
Official Sewage Facilities Plan providing
for sewage services adequate to prevent
contamination of waters and/or
environmental health hazards with sewage
wastes, and to revise said plan whenever it
is necessary to meet the sewage disposal
needs of the municipality.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Engineering and
Construction.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to suspend
Rule 8 by providing for consideration of
the bill only until or after the 8th calendar
day following the meeting in which the bill
was introduced so the bill will be on the
agenda this Tuesday.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

ST OOSCNSOON SS

No. 1444 Resolution Amending the
Rules of Council, Rule IV (c) and VI (c), in
compliance with the 1998 amendment to
the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act.
(SPONSORED BY MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Also,

No. 1445 Resolution Granting unto
The University of Pittsburgh, 124
Cathedral of Learning, 4200 Fifth Avenue,
Pittsburgh, PA 15260, their successors
and assigns, the privilege and license to
construct, maintain and use at their own
cost and expense, a steam line on Lytton
Avenue, electric, telecommunication and
chilled water lines on Tennyson Avenue
and chilled water lines on Fifth Avenue.

No. 1446 Resolution Granting unto
Cupka’s Café II, Inc., 2314 E. Carson
Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203, the
privilege and license to construct, maintain
and use at their own cost and expense, a
sidewalk café on a portion of the sidewalk
at 2314 E. Carson Street in the 16" Ward,
3 Council District of the City of
Pittsburgh.

No. 1447 Resolution Granting
unto David and Patricia Wolf, 5801

528

Marlborough Avenue, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania 15217, their successors and
assigns, an encroachment to construct,
maintain and use at their own cost and
expense, a wall and fence on a portion of
the right-of-way of Murray Avenue in the
14” Ward, 5” Council District of the City
of Pittsburgh.

No. 1448 Resolution Accepting the
dedication of certain property along
Penelope Street, a portion of Lot and
Block 15-A-120, between a 12’ Unnamed
Way and Spahrgrove Street in the 19"
Ward, 2 Council District, City of
Pittsburgh.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Public Works, Water &
Environmental Services.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

No. 1449 Resolution amending the
Rules of Council, VI, to comply with
Pennsylvania Act 93 of 1998, recent
amendments to the Sunshine Act, for
procedures for public comment.
(SPONSORED BY MS. MCDONALD)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MS. MCDONALD moved to suspend
Rule 8 by providing for consideration of
the bill only until or after the 8th calendar
day following the meeting in which the bill
was introduced so the bill will be on the
agenda this Tuesday.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.

——ooooaaaeeeee ee

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

No. 1450 Resolution Providing for
the denial of the addition of the property
located at 2500-2700 East Carson Street
(north side), portions of Block and Lot
Number 029-J-008, in the 17" Ward, City
of Pittsburgh, to the existing East Carson
Street Historic District, under Section 513
of Chapter 1007 of the Code of Ordinances.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Planning, Zoning & Land
Use.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

No. 1451 Resolution providing for
an Agreement or Agreements with various
community organizations for
operational/administrative expenses,
maintenance, purchase of equipment;
and/or minor rehabilitation of
neighborhood facilities for the benefit of
the residents of the City of Pittsburgh, at a
cost not to exceed $102,500.00 in the
Department of Parks and Recreation.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Parks, Recreation & Youth
Policy.

MR. RICCIARDI moved to suspend
Rule 8 by providing for consideration of
the bill only until or after the 8th calendar
day following the meeting in which the bill
was introduced so the bill will be on the
agenda this Tuesday.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

529

No. 1452 An Ordinance amending
the Pittsburgh Code, Title One,
Administrative, Article XI, Personnel.
Chapter 181, General Provisions, Section
181.09, Advance of Expenses, by deleting
“City Treasurer.”

No. 1453 Resolution Providing for
the issuance of a warrant in the sum of
$15,000 to USX Corporation and
Bethlehm Steel Corporation c/o Barry J.
Trilling, Esquire, Pepper Hamilton &
Scheetz, LLP, 50" Floor One Mellon Bank
Center, 500 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA
15219-2502, in full and final settlement of
the action filed at C.A. 96-1240 alleging
the release of hazardous substances from a
landfill located in Elizabeth Township.

No. 1454 Resolution amending
Resolution No. 779, effective January 1,
1999, entitled, “Making appropriations to
pay the expenses of conducting the public
business of the City of Pittsburgh and for
meeting the debt charges thereof for the
year,” by making certain corrections.

No. 1455 Resolution amending
Resolution No. 780, effective January 1,
1999, entitled, “Fixing the number of
officers and employees of the City of
Pittsburgh, and the rate of compensation
thereof, and setting minimum levels for
designated positions,” by making certain
corrections.

No. 1456 Resolution Providing for
the advertisement for proposals and to
award and enter into an agreement(s),
professional service agreement(s), and/or
contract(s) or use existing agreement(s),
professional service agreement(s), and/or
contract(s) for Information Systems
Modernization to include upgrades to the
City's existing information system

OO ———————
infrastructure for the Year 2000 LTV Stee] Company, Inc.’s former Coke

Compliance in conjunction with all City and By-Products facility and the
Departments and applications for the Irvine/Second Avenue commercial corridor
purchase of equipment, supplies, in Hazelwood and, furthermore, to develop
communication, hardware, software, strategies for the possible acquisition of the
training, professional services, and LTV property by the URA. —
maintenance. The amount will not exceed (SPONSORED BY MR. O°CONNOR &

Eight Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand MR. HERTZBERG)
Dollars ($875,000.00).

Which was read and referred to the

No. 1457 Resolution Providing for Committee on Planning, Zoning & Land
the advertisement for proposals and to Use.
award and enter into an agreement(s),
professional. service agreement(s), and/or No. 1459 Communication from
contract(s) or use existing agreement(s) Tom Flaherty, City Controller, submitting a
and/or contract(s) to maintain and develop Performance Audit: Wayfinder Signage
numerous Public Safety applications for the Program II: Expenditure Report, dated

bureaus of Police, Fire, and EMS in March, 1999.
conjunction with Y2K and the Copsmore

Program for any and all expenses Which was read, received and filed.

associated with the purchase of computer

equipment, software, communications The Chair:

equipment, analysis, design, development,

programming, professional services, and Motion to receive and file.

maintenance in conjunction with the

feasibility, development, enhancement or MR. HERTZBERG moved to receive

implementation of the Mobile Data and file.

Terminals, New Computer Aided Dispatch

System, and Imaging Application and MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.

Copsmore95 and 96 Programs as they relate

to Public Safety Applications. The amount Which motion prevailed.

of this request will not exceed Three

Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars The Chair:

($375,000.00). Now move to unfinished business.
Is there any unfinished business to come in

Which were read and referred to the front of Council?

Committee on Finance and Budget.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:

Mr. Hertzberg:
No, 1458 Resolution Authorizing

and directing the Director of Planning, in Thank you, Mr. President. If you
conjunction with the Urban Redevelopment recall Deputy Mayor Sal Sirabella asked us
Authority of Pittsburgh, to develop a at a meeting a few weeks ago if we would
comprehensive redevelopment plan for the be involved in Operations Summits. I have

530

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8 8 8 Oe:

been working with all the Council to try to
get the ball rolling on that and in fact it
looks like that will start either the third or
fourth week in April.

We will have Operations Summit
meetings. They will be held at 9:30 on the
days when the Standing Committees
Meeting starts at ten. They will involve
Deputy Mayor Sal Sirabella and our
Departments of Public Works, Parks and
Recreation, Engineering and Construction
and General Services. And the Deputy
Mayor will be submitting an agenda for
each of those, they will occur on a monthly
basis. And I have one other item of
unfinished business if there —

Mr. Ricciardi:

Same issue. I think it is a great
idea to put forward by Deputy Mayor Sal
Sirabella and that is also being helped
logistically by the public chairperson,
Mr. Alan Hertzberg. If I can just you
recall several months ago before the snow
came I had to raise the issue to make sure
that everything was properly ready and at
that particular time we did run into some
problems. But I would hope one of the
first things we address on operations to
Mr. Sirabella and Mr. Hertzberg in Public
Works is vacant lots. I think we should be
planning ahead of time.

Istill recall the Mayor's budget had
zero and this Council came forward by
initiatives by Mr. Hertzberg and others and
put some monies into it but I think we're
way short what we have done in the past
years. So, Mr. Hertzberg maybe the first
thing we can have on the agenda for the
first meeting is how much money is
available to do three taxing bodies?
Property owned by all three taxing bodies.
Property owned by the City of Pittsburgh

and property owned by the URA and
maybe work with CitySource and Ralph
Kraszewski and see what we have done in
the past and what we forecast to do in the
future? I think we are going to becoming
up short. I think the same amount of calls
we received in the past about snow and ice
Temoval is the same amount of calls we're
going to be receiving about vacant lots not
being properly cleared of debris and
shrubbery. So maybe we could plan ahead
of time. I think this is a great idea put
forward by Mr.'s Hertzberg and Sirabella.

Mr. Hertzberg:

That would be fine. The difference
on these meetings compared with anything
that Council calls is of course is that the
administration will set the agenda. But
you're certainly welcome to communicate
that to Mr. Sirabella. I think that’s a good
topic and one of the ideas of these
Operations Summits is when a new
initiative or some new legislation is going
to be introduced, to try to inform us in
advance. So we can start to get a feel for
what's happening when there are going to
be changes. Or I think it's a very good
opportunity on an issue like vacant lots or
even swimming pool operations before
we're in the midst of the season to try to
get a handle on the operations of these
different items.

The Chair:

When will the first meeting be?
Do you have it scheduled yet?

Mr. Hertzberg:

It is either the first or third week of
April.

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On another topic. J want to remind
everyone tomorrow Councilwoman
McDonald and I called for a Post Agenda
concerning the Federal Empowerment
Zone effort that we made in this region
and that we failed at.

I would ask everyone to take a
look, you should have received a packet
from the URA from I guess it came from
Edward Henry at the URA; it's a pretty
thick packet. It is very interesting. I had
an opportunity to review it this moming.

We have received RSVP's from
Congressman Ron Klink and also from
Congressman Bill Coyne. They will be
here tomorrow at two. It is a cablecast
Post Agenda meeting.

Again, please take a look at this. I
think there is some very interesting
statements in here including something

that is somewhat critical of our
application. A believe that there was
probably not enough community

participation in that it seemed to be a top
down kind of application rather than
having a lot of grassroots participation in
the process. And that may or may not be
correct, but that's how the people that
analyzed this application felt from what
they could see from what documentation
was presented and that was a critical error
where we lost a lot of points.

If you get a chance, please try to
review this and we can be prepared to ask
the Congressmen and anyone else that
comes here about the Empowerment Zone
application and its failure.

The Chair:

Is the Mayor's Office and the

332

administration invited?
Mr. Hertzberg:

To my
President.

knowledge, yes, Mr.

The Chair:

I think they play a key role in this.
Thank you.

Any thing else under unfinished
business? Move to Committee Chair
Reports.

CHAIR REPORTS
Ms. McDonald:

Thank you, Mr. President. Some
items of information and in addition to the
Post Agenda that Councilman Hertzberg
will be chairing tomorrow. There will also
be a cablecast Post Agenda meeting
scheduled for Wednesday, March 31st at
ten am. in City Council chambers to
discuss all the financial opportunities that
are forward to NBE and WBE firms. This
Post Agenda why it is coming out of a
meeting with the African American
Business Round table in which there was

discussion on financial _ assistance
opportunities from the Keystone
Opportunity Fund to other funding

sources. If it was confusing to members of
the Round Table it definitely is confusing
to others out there.

So I am convening this so it would
give the public an opportunity to
understand all the opportunities that are
out there, how they differ, how these
Opportunities can be accessed. So there
are a number of people invited and there

SS ee

will be handouts. So I invite the public if
you are interested in finding out about
financial assistance opportunities, you can
either tune in or you can come to Council
chambers.

Mr. Ricciardi:
Who are the invitees?
Ms. McDonald:

The URA, Dr. Mulugetta Birra,
Commissioner Mike Dawida, who recently
announced a two million -- I am not even
going to go into the county, not with you
Gene. You're going to touch it. Tom Cox
with the Mayor's Office in charge of
development, our City Law Department,
the Black Contractors Association,
Mr. Clarence Curry who oversees the Plan
B oversight, Phil Petite, the Keystone

Minority Capital Fund, SBA, the
Allegheny County NBE/WBE,
Mr. Kendrick, Hop Kendrick, Steve

Leeper, Dorris Carson Williams with the
African American Chamber of Commerce,
Lawrence Adams Hunt with Pittsburgh
Regional Minority Purchasing Council,
and Sharon Williams with Minority
Enterprise Corporation, and most parties
here will have information.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I just want to thank Ms. McDonald
for coming forward with that, Mr.
O'Connor. Not just so the public better
understands the process of participation
and how to become part of this system but
also for Council members. I will be
perfectly honest with all of you; I am
becoming confused because we're having
so many different committees that have
sprung up, very fine committees. We have

533

so many different bodies, governmental
bodies, involved. Volunteers and others
and I am a little confused on how to plug
people into the system.

I think what this is going to do, Ms.
McDonald, just see what our goal is. See
what our mission is. See what resources
are out there. See who is part of the
wheel, where are the spokes where are the
cogs and try to work together. So I am
looking forward to this just to inform
myself.

Ms. McDonald:

I am too, Councilman, because
again I am still not clear and I am hoping
that everyone will be clear after this.
Thank you.

The Chair:
When is the date of that?

Ms. McDonald:

This Wednesday, March 31, at ten
a.m.

The Chair:

Is it televised?
Ms. McDonald:

Yes.

Mr. Dennis Davin of the URA had
briefed me on some of the development
that possibly are highlighted under
Housing Economic Development and
Promotion. Just briefly, Aliquippa Terrace
most of the units are 15% completed. The
remaining units to close in May.

—_—_—eroOoOoeoeleleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Crawford Square 35% completion
in this phase three and three units are
under construction or completed for sale.

At Pennly Park there is a
20% completion so far under phase one.
Phase two is not yet determined as to
projected completion date.

Bedford Dwellings defining phase
one area to begin the expansion of the
redevelopment plan. Acquisitions to begin
in late 1999 construction to begin in mid
2000.

The farmers market currently there
are 55 residents who are transitionally
housed in Allegheny Center to be placed in
the new senior citizen facility. That new
facility is to be completed in early 2000.
Other residents have been given vouchers
or what have you to relocate in other
residence.

Construction is to begin in mid
March, kind of late we're already towards
the end of March. North Side properties
this is interesting and this is a hot topic. I
will read it and then comment. There are
333 units scattered throughout the North
Side. These areas include the
communities of Califomia, Kirkbride,
Brighton Road, Central North Side and
Perry South. Many of these residents have
been in their houses for 20 to 25 years.
The units are owned by Mistick and the
HUD project based rental assistance is
expiring. This is a yearly thing for them it
has to be renewed. I believe they want to
get out of this ordeal.

The Residents Council has hired
National Housing Trust to develop a plan
for the transfer of ownership and

534

rehabilitation of these units. There are
approximately three organizations that
have a very good track record of managing
rental assistance housing and there is a
proposal and a push by Councilman Udin
for home ownership. But again the
Residents Council has hired NHT to look
into ownership, rehabilitation and transfer
of this property from Mistick.

The plan will include some
demolition, conversion to home ownership
and affordable rental. The URA recently
approved a loan to the North Side
Leadership Conference to contract with
NHT. This along with Federal American
Properties, my favorite family people, and
the Hope Six Developments is considered
one of the top priorities for the city in
terms of affordable housing. There was a
$45,000 I don't know the contract but
allocation given to the North Side
Leadership Conference to develop this
plan.

South Side Works. The URA
authorized exclusive -- ] am just reading it
Gene, exclusive negotiations with
Continental Communities to develop
approximately 300 market rate apartment
units on the former LTV site. A late
summer construction start is planned on
the Southside Works Project.

Mellon Street, I am sure if
Councilman Ferlo were here he would
comment since he's been on top of this and
very concemed. Right now next Tuesday,
they will be closing -- the URA will be
closing on the last unit so there will be
total acquisition of the Mellon Street
townhouses and the demolition will be
within the next two weeks. They will be
demolished.

See

Councilman Ferlo so that you
know has had a commitment from the
URA to have a party to celebrate all of
this, for only Ferlo. So there will be a
demolition party within about two weeks.
Tam invited.

South Shore, Federal American
Properties, my favorite people. They are --
lam just going to read this. Working with
the community builders to develop a plan
to purchase the general partnership interest
of Federal American in the three ungodly
high rises and low rises in East Liberty.
There is a total of 644 units within Liberty
Park East Mall and Penn Center. The
URA is working on a plan to revise the
Salvation Army proposal for homeless
housing at this site. This along with the
North Side properties in Hope Six
Developments is considered one of the top
priorities for the city in terms of affordable
housing. It is an entire plan that the city,
the administration is undertaking to
address affordable housing and they will
be meeting with Council members on a
plan within approximately or after about
two months and that should be interesting,
very interesting for all of us.

But to keep you up-to-date, the
Salvation Army -- and I would have to say
accolade to them have been very
responsive to the community in terms of
their concern about having such a
delinquent awful landlord such as Federal
American Properties to be able to give to
them and lease seventy God awful
townhouses for homeless people and only
have $5,000 to renovate those townhouses.
It concentrates 70 people who need social
service intervention right in the mix of
other situations where there also needs to
be social intervention.

535

Not a good mix for East Liberty
whatsoever, so I am pleased to see that
Salvation Amy is working with the
community and with the URA working
with the community. We're going to find
some scattered sites and the Salvation
Amny is going to apply for phase two with
HUD and that will be a modification of
phase one to rethink that. We're pushing
for scattered sites because it is better for
those people instead of being focused in
on another project so to speak.

And downtown housing there is a
plan for conversion for 911 Penn Avenue
right in the cultural district and into 123
Market Rate Apartment units. There will
be foundations contributing to this so there
will be private monies. But they're also
going to ask for tax increment financing.
Mr. Davin is going to be working with
Mr. Birru to convene the TIF committee so
that we are already functioning when this
kind of thing comes up so Council is clear
on why the tax increment financing.
Basically that's all. I am open to
questions.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes, thank you very much. Ms.
McDonald's opening remarks touched
upon some very high profile projects in the
City of Pittsburgh and I thank her for
bringing that forward. But there are other
successes and I am very pleased with the
efforts of Mayor Tom Murphy, Executive
Secretary Tom Cox, our very fine and able
Director of the URA Dr. Birr and Charles
Reeves.

Mr. O'Connor, as you know
because you have been there several times
with me up in the Allentown
neighborhood. We have been very

—E|E]]>lESe > SSS

successful with our million-dollar hostile
that is literally sold out. Weekend by
weekend and I think we're on hopefully
towards our 50th or 60th country that is
being represented, our drug store. We
have been able to recruit a very fine
upscale restaurant, Lafamilia (phonetic) by
Davio in Allentown. Dr. Birr and Cox
and Ms. McDonald and yourself Mr.
O'Connor are helping me with some
additional funding for the Allentown area,
our street face and our public improvement
of which the community is having
fundraisers and pitching in a lot of dollars.
I think we are going to be very successful
with that.

So I just want to say I realize there
is a lot of high profile projects that occur
in the City of Pittsburgh but 1 hope
Tesidents realize that we have a lot of other
successes to be told. I am very happy with
Charles Reeves and Dr. Birru and I hope
they continue their fine work on the
Warrington Business Corridor, the
Allentown neighborhood. After that, I
look forward with help on the Arlington
Avenue in the Arlington neighborhood. I
want to thank everyone involved.

The Chair:

Thank you especially for all your
activities up there and leadership.

Mr. Udin:

Yes. I want to thank
Councilwoman McDonald for her report
and also for her insight in kind of ringing
the clarion call for what I consider to be a
crises that will soon be at our front door
regarding affordable housing for very low
income people within the City of
Pittsburgh.

336

Unbeknownst to many people, the
Republicans in Congress are radically
changing the way this nation houses it's
poor. It is sending out regulations to
Housing Authorities across the country,
certainly including Pittsburgh, that is
requiring and forcing Housing Authorities
to make a cost estimate. A cost and
analysis of the Public Housing, the huge
high density Public Housing Projects that
have been built since the Second World
War that they have not maintained.

Now at the tum of the millenium
they're saying if these buildings and
communities which we have ignored for
50 years, if it is more cost effective to
voucher out all of these communities with
Section 8 vouchers and you don't have the
money to renovate these buildings. And
you can't use our money then you have
required to just give Section 8 to all the
residents. Let them fend for themselves
where ever they can find a landlord willing
to take Section 8 housing. We conceive
from the resistance of communities in
Allegheny County how difficult it is going
to be for residents who are trying to find a
home with a Section 8 voucher to find a
home. It is going to become increasingly
more problematic as the numbers of
people who require affordable, low income
housing to find places to live.

In addition to that, there is
something called the Project Base Section
8 that Councilwoman McDonald referred
to. This is more omeriest than the
individual family with Section 8. This is a
situation where a whole high rise might be
under a so-called Project Base Section 8
situation and the private owner like a
Mistick or like a community builder or
some of the others would decide they don't

re
eae eae

want to be in this deal any more. They're
ready to get out of the Project Base
Section Eight contract with HUD. What
happens to all of those peoples that are
living in those high rises? Or in the case
of North Side properties it was 333
different individual properties, which
Mistick has been maintaining for I think
almost 20 years now. And now Mistick is
deciding they don't want to be in this
contract with HUD any more. The people
who are in these communities are left
having to defend for themselves.

Unfortunately because Project Base
Section Eight houses resulted from a
contract between HUD and the private
owner, it bypassed the Housing Authority
so the Housing Authority has no
administrative jurisdiction over these large
section eight communities. The City of
Pittsburgh has nobody in place to respond
to the needs of these communities except
the Housing Authority, which doesn't have
any jurisdiction in it. So a lot of people
are being left without knowing where to go
and the city's housing policy is inadequate
I think to respond to the coming needs
over the next five or ten years,
Ms. McDonald, of affordable housing for
the very low income residents of this city.

There is the Urban Redevelopment
Authority that has a piece of the action,
Housing Authority has a piece of the
action, the local HUD office has a piece of
the action, the City Planning has a piece of
the action. Eloise Hirsh in Planning has
been trying to convene a meeting of all of
these participants to try to get ready for
this oncoming problem. But in terms of
city policy we are not ready to meet what
is right around the corner. I would urge all
Council colleagues who have concern
about decent, safe and sanitary housing for

the low income we had better get on this
issue before it becomes more of a crises
than it already is.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes, same issue. Thank you. Mr.
Udin is definitely looking at the bigger
picture and maybe this calls for either a
post agenda or maybe some meetings
between the administration, authorities and
Council members. But I would like to
take two snapshots of that picture. One
was the affordable subsidized housing that
this body supported, that I supported in the
South Side area that I think is going to be
just a marvelous project that is going to
look good. We are going to have fine
residents there and it is going to definitely
help those that are looking for affordable
housing.

The other is and I am very pleased
with the input that we have received from
Director Lowe of the Housing Authority,
the Tenants Councils, Tenant Council's of
Arlington Heights, Housing Community,
the leadership of the Arlington
Community and the neighbors. What has
occurred there is that the Arlington
neighborhood and Arlington Heights
neighborhood came together and realized
with the demolition of many, many units,
and with the availability of the vouchers
that there will be X number of individual
families looking for housing in the
immediate neighborhood and it just
worked out marvelously. There was no
friction, there was definitely a feeling of
friendship and a feeling of that we're all
city residents and everyone should have a
decent place to live.

Director Lowe has called me
numerous times to attend some other

se
a ee

meetings that he has scheduled for the
future. I missed the last one. | think he is
doing just a fine job. I am not sure what |
can add to it. I guess what 1 am saying is
Mr. Udin raises a good picture -- raises
good issues for the bigger picture. But I
want you to note if you look at two
snapshots, 1 am very, very proud of
residents in the South Side. We're going
to be helping those that need affordable
housing and very, very proud of the
Arlington neighborhood who really just
opened up their arms and took in so many
people that were looking for affordable
housing. As a matter of fact even helping
with the landlords to help pinpoint which
houses were available. So, Mr. Udin, I
don't take away from the bigger picture
there, but I think it was very important for
me to show those two items what is
occurring in South Pittsburgh
neighborhoods. Thank you.

The Chair:

Mr. Udin, can I ask you a question?
I know Terrace Village has been for years
large grants have come in and when I drive
through I usually go by Pitt and I see part
of it I don't usually drive all the way in. Is
that money being spent and remember that
whole area was supposed to be renovated?

Mr. Udin:

Fortunately, Pittsburgh has two
large grants called, actually three, called
Hope Six. And the Terrace Village
community is included in one of the in fact
the largest of the Hope Six grants. If you
look at Manchester and the revitalization
that has occurred in Manchester and
Crawford Square that's the hope that we
can corivert these large communities like
Terrace Village to become communities

like Manchester so that when you drive
through it you cannot visibly recognize it
as low income housing. But Terrace
Village is included, Bedford Dwelling is
included, and Manchester is included.

The Chair:

So the Hope Six money is still
there and being used?

Mr. Udin:
Yes.
The Chair:

I would ask you to maybe call a
post agenda and update everyone in the
near future what is going on there.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. I don't want to rain on
everyone’s parade, but my experience in
Broadhead Manor and this has already
happened in Council District Two. I think
this was probably the first housing
authority community where this whole
new policy was implemented and it wasn't
well maintained at the time and flunked all
the federal tests and therefore the decision
was made that it was to be demolished.
About four hundred units in fact were
demolished.

I think the tenants that had to be
relocated were totally unprepared to be
relocated. I think the neighborhoods
where a lot of them ended up were totally
unprepared for the tenants. Maybe the
Housing Authority has learned a lesson
from that experience and maybe everyone
in local government has, it's a very
difficult process and there is a lot of

ESO

potential for some extreme tension in our
neighborhoods as a result of the
implementation of these policies.

I think every single one of our
departments needs to get on top of it and
work on it. Our Planning Department, our
Human Relations Commission needs to be
on top of the situation. It’s across the
boards kind of problems that needs to be
addressed with these new housing policies.
And you look at what happened to the
community in Broadhead Manor and with
all these communities you're starting with
a number of units. If you are going to
rebuild the community, the ultimate
number that rebuilt, they are always less. I
mean the result so far is that the Housing
Authority itself has been downsized in the
number of units it manages. Probably the
point we’re now and maybe Mr. Udin can
give us the figure. But I think they’re only
50 or 75% of what they were four years
ago with the number of units that they now
manage.

So the result is, yeah there are
plenty of people that have to go elsewhere
for housing. Where are they going? What
are they doing? We need to work on that
and make it smooth, As Mr. Udin
mentioned in the opening part of his
remarks, what about the rest of the county?
The city traditionally has bom the
responsibility for low income people and
that's just not right. You come up with a
need for 100 units outside of the city, boy
we have got lawsuits in federal court being
appealed at all levels. A hundred units is
too much for the communities outside the
city. So I think we all need to regionally
deal with this problem and it is a problem.

Mr. Udin:

Councilwoman McDonald has
become the new housing committee chair
just in time.

Ms. McDonald:

I don't have kind words for many
communities who decide they want to
annex or fight in court the fact that people
who are low income shouldn’t live
alongside them. J don't want to hear it and
I am just very intolerant. 1 just kind of
keep quite and keep on top of things, but
thank you Councilman Udin it is
wonderful being here at this time.

The Chair:

I believe it's time maybe between
the both of you we have a post agenda to
update us on what is going on. Not only
for what we call housing communities,
former projects as they're going out,
whether they're working off welfare which
may sound good positive in some cases,
but what happens to the future poor?
Where do they go? You hear about we are
always going to have poor underprivileged
people so, what is our plans for them in
the future?

Ms. McDonald on the -- you may
have mentioned it, Washington Boulevard
the veterans, is that the Mellon or is that
something, how is that?

Ms. McDonald:
The veterans place --

The Chair:

They were tearing them down the
old drive-in there,

Ms. McDonald:

ee
a 8 SS

The Jewish War Veterans. Yeah,
that is already in the process of demolition.
If you drive down Washington Boulevard
you will see that there is already
movement a foot in terms of preparing the
site, for preparing the units for
rehabilitation. | Again that project is
undertaken by the Jewish War Veterans
and it will not be solely -- people say is it
just going to be for Jewish War Veterans.
No it is going to be open, but they are
going to focus on veterans who do need
housing, who need assistance, who do
need some type of intervention to get back
on their feet.

They paid their dues, they did what
a lot of people do not, are not forced to do,
and we cannot ignore them. That's why
this project is important because they need
to be taken care of too. It's going to
revitalize that area because again that you
talk about blight that was blight right there
and that is a main thoroughfare. 1 applaud
the efforts to try to renovate. It differs
totally from the whole concept of the
Proposal on Federal American Properties
for 70 homeless or what would be best to
say transitional family project is different
but that's going.

The Chair:

I would like you to get us a target
date, when that will be complete. Because
just thinking about driving up Washington
Boulevard with a new bicycle park, the
new police station with this done and I
understand there are four comers the
restaurant, the two new BP's or gas
stations, that's becoming quite a nice
entrance to that end of the city.

I want to commend you and

540

congratulate you on the Home Depot dash
Vento's groundbreaking, you, Mr. Ferlo,
the Mayor and I think all Council members
who were very much behind this initiative.
I believe again from all the things in the
city, 1 think that may be the best one. I

think it really help surround all those areas

and I know IJ did have a request if Vento's
could have a sign too like coming soon
like Home Depot, I am sure you can
arrange that with the URA.

Ms. McDonald:

Is that a request?
The Chair:

Yes.
Ms. McDonald:

A Vento's sign coming soon. I will
look into this, but thank you very much for
those kind remarks. Thank you for your
presence Councilman Hertzberg. Thank
you for your presence there as board
member of the URA to enjoy the
festivities and applaud the administration
for their vision, for their tenacity in
pushing East Liberty and for their
continued tenacity in helping this East
Liberty region grow.

The Chair:

Thank you. Again, I failed to
thank the URA, Mr.Birru and Mr.
Hertzberg I think again thank you very
much. | think that is going to change that
whole East End.

Now
committee.

move to reports of

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REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MR. UDIN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1460:

Report of the Committee on Finance and
Budget for March 24, 1999 transmitting
one ordinance and sundry of resolutions to
Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an.affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1402:

Resolution authorizing and
directing the solicitor of the City of
Pittsburgh to enter into a legal agreement
with the Stadium Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh for the purpose of selling
various fixtures currently located in Three
Rivers Stadium with the proceeds to
benefit various youth athletic funds. —
(SPONSORED BY MR. ONORATO)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1403:

Resolution repealing Resolution
No. 770, approved December 30, 1998,
providing for the transfer of the aggregate
amount of $10,164.90 from various codes
to Salaries, Regular Employees, Account
511000, Fund 1000, Organization
510000, Subclass 010, Year 1998.
(PRESENTED BY MR. RICCIARDI).

Which was read.

Also,

Bill No. 1404:

An Ordinance Amending the
Pittsburgh Code; Title Two “Fiscal”;
Article IX, “Property Taxes”; Chapter
263, “Real Property Tax and Exemption”,
Section 263.22 “Participation In The
Property Tax Relief Program” paragraphs
(a) and (b), by increasing the maximum
income limit for participation in the
Property Tax Relief Program and setting
standards for certification; and Section
263.23 “City Treasurer Duties” paragraph
(b), by clarifying filing requirements.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1405:

Resolution authorizing the Mayor
and the City Solicitor to enter into an
agreement or agreements for the hiring of
counsel and consultants to assist in the
representation of the City of Pittsburgh
for outside legal counsel and consultants
at a cost not to exceed $50,000 (Fifty
Thousand Dollars), chargeable to and
payable from Organization 108000,
Account 526100, Sub Class 150, Fund
1000, Professional Services, Department
of Law.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1379:
Resolution providing for
conveyance by the City of Pittsburgh of

certain property, under Act No. 171 of
1984, entitled, “Second Class City

aes eee

Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

(a) 507 Lincoln Avenue, 12”
Ward, Block 125B, Lot 84, being
purchased by Nile Publicity Group, Inc.
Two story frame house situated on a lot
containing an area of 2,380 sq. ft,
$2,500.00. Intended Use: Rental Unit.
(Council District 9),

(b) 34 Brahm Street, 24° Ward,
Block 47N, Lot 103, being purchased by
Thomas J, & Debra Krawezak. Vacant lot
containing an area of 2,720 sq. ft.
$100.00. Intended Use: Additional yard
space. (Council District 1).

(c) 425 Jay Street, 25" Ward,
Block 23D, Lot 25, being purchased by
Jack R. & Merilynn Sell. Vacant lot
containing an area of 7,687 sq. ft,
$10,388.57. Intended Use: Additional
yard space, (Council District 1).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1380:

542

(a) 512 Lockhart Street, 23°,
Ward, Block 8D, Lot 164, being purchased
by Stephen Mesich. Two story brick
house situated on a lot containing, 2,229
sq. ft. Intended Use: Personal Residence.
(Council District 1).

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Onorato:

First, Mr. President on 1402 this
has to do with the auctioning of the seats.
Or actually the selling of the seats and the
auctioning of the other stadium items.
Watching and reading and hearing all the
different reports, I just want to clarify just
exactly what the bill does say now.

I had someone criticize that this
was only going to kids that live in the city
that’s not true. What the bill does it does
two things. Council is authorizing the
Solicitor and the Director of Finance to
enter into an agreement with the Stadium
Authority officials to one, have the auction
and the selling of the seats. I don't think
there has been any opposition to that part.
It's a way to raise money.

Now the controversial issue where
I see the miscommunications and
misinformation has to do with part two
and that is what do you do with the money
that we raise? No one knows exactly how
much we are going to raise, but what do
you do with it? Through a lot of
reviewing and discussion and
compromising we put a section in here that

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pretty much covers the possibilities.
Because there are legitimate arguments
that the money should be used to reduce
anything that is associated with the
demolition of the building since we are
using taxpayers dollars. But at the same
time we were told over and over again that
the demolition and the debt on the stadium
is covered under the Plan B proposal that
was passed. Now if that is the case, then
they don't need money to do that.
However, we don't know that for sure and
what exactly the numbers look like.

So what we did, we put in here two
different proposals. That is, one, that we
would agree that we put the money into a
trust fund that is raised from the sale. The
money could be used for deferring the cost
that is associated with the development of
these facilities, which could mean the
reduction of the debt or the reduction of
the demolition cost and money will be
used for the youth activities for the region.

I specifically spelled out over and
over again for the region meaning Western
Pennsylvania, really Allegheny County,
not just City of Pittsburgh. Because a lot
of these regional parks and facilities we
have the kids come into them and no
checks where they are from and they really
are open to everyone.

One of the suggestions where to
put the money into a trust fund and use the
interest to pay for staffing for opening the
schools. And therefore as we talked
earlier today that would not be creating a
new program and just expanding the city,
it would actually be using the interest
money on the invested money so you
would have an ongoing source of money to
pay for the staffing. But we did mention
whatever plan is approved for the

543

expenditures, Council would have the final
approval process so we have some checks
and balances put in here.

I would recommend that we go
forward with the unanimous support we
had last week for the auction. It is
exciting, everyone is excited about it, even
the critics over the use of the money have
to admit that the auction is a good idea but
they might dispute on how we spend the
money. We can resolve that at a later date.
We don't have the money yet and I am
open for suggestions. I think there is a lot
of good possibilities but the auction will
be something for the region, it will allow
the public to participate.

I today just received another letter
certified mail from another company that
wants to participate in the auction. That
is up to about four companies now that has
contacted my office. If we put this out for
RFP's I am sure we are going to get some
creative ways to have the auction.

I thought one interesting letter I
received from a company they noticed and
they dealt with this issue. The seats at the
stadium right now if anyone noticed, they
don't have the four legs to stand on, they
are bolted into the side of the cement,
therefore if you take them off they really
can't stand on their own. This company
prepared a stand for the seats to go on that
currently are on display at the Stadium
Authority in the Stadium Authority
Offices. They put some of the seats on
these steel stands.

The company would like to
participate if we do the selling of the seats
to be part of that. And they would prepare
the mounting of the seats that you could
put into your game room, family room, or

where ever you want to go, and they would
be right there to put them on. I am sure
there is a cost to it but at least the option of
having them mounted freestanding is
available. So I think this has taken up —
yeah a local company and actually all the
companies that have contacted me are
from the region which is interesting and
they are excited about this.

I think putting out the RFP which
this bill says, the bill directs that if we do
this it goes out for an RFP bid, picking the
most creative scenario. This can be a lot
- of fun and we have the luxury of time right
now to put this together because the sale
can't happen until the last game is played
which would be the Steelers in the year
2000, so it would be late 2000 or early
2001. I think it's something that we should
move on and something we can have a lot
of fun with and I appreciate my colleagues
support. Thank you.

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you. I want to commend
Councilman Onorato for this legislation
and one I just want to reiterate one point
and that is I think that there is a possibility
that this could be done in two phases. The
first phase being an initial auction of the
seats and other items at Three Rivers
Stadium.

The second phase perhaps being a
permanent store because in other cities
there are stores where people -- where they
sell sports memorabilia either for items not
sold at the auction. I hope that everything
in Three Rivers Stadium is sold on one day
but if not, I think there are people out there
who would like to buy the remaining
sellable items and be able to market them
on a permanent basis. | Councilman

544

Onorato, I believe is receptive to this idea
and the legislation is certainly consistent
with that. But I think we should move
forward with the possibility that there
would be two phases of selling items from
Three Rivers Stadium.

Mr. Udin:

Within the same committee but
different bill.

The Chair:

I will just finish. I want to
commend Mr. Onorato I think it is a
fantastic idea. I have had my seats for
almost 30 years. So in fact someone said
you should have a nameplate on there so
you get a couple extra dollars especially
from the season tickets holders. I think it
is a fantastic way to raise money.
Especially I believe it should go to
children and youth activities, whether it be
city and county. But also I want to remind
everyone that the players tax when it came
out at least in this Council's initiative was
to go to kids in the city. So we let a lot of
that money at least 800,000 a year go to
the bonds to write down the cost of the
stadium and that includes demolition.

I believe Council has already spent
and given more than I feel at first we
should have. But I am willing to
compromise and I know Mr. Ferlo
compromised on the players tax that was
initiated here that thought should go to the
youth in the city. So J believe at least on
the surface I certainly support your
initiative, Mr. Onorato, and I believe
somehow it should go to stay for youth
activities whether it be city and county or
joint ventures. I want to commend you on
an outstanding effort. We have two years,
by the end of two years you will probably

eSeSaNlasasaea eee

have a lot of great ideas.
Mr. Udin:

I did want to comment on 1379 and
1380, but they are properties that are in
Councilman Onorato's District so I would
defer earlier comments to him.

Mr. Onorato:

On these bills, if there is no other
discussion on the stadium bills, now these
two bills. Mr. President, as you can
imagine this has been a source of major
frustration for me and I know all of you. I
am going to ask all of you to bear with me
one more time because here is the strategy
I want to follow. I don't mind doing this
because our final action whenever it takes
place now or seven days from now is a
permanent action for a long time for a lot
of people. I am still not convinced either
way yet but there has been a lot of things
raised again.

Here is what I would like to do.
First, on Bill 1379 which is made up of
several items A through D, I am going to
make a motion and I am going to explain
why I am making this motion to recommit
C only. C only is the property that is
located at 425 Jay Street. Now recommit
for the specific purpose. Here is the
purpose. One, this is being sold as a
vacant lot to an adjacent property owner.

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
Mr. Onorato:

Looking at this and talking with
them, the adjacent landowner is not an

owner occupied landowner, it is an
absentee landlord who lives in Florida.

Which on the surface that's not a negative,
however what ] want to do tomorrow is I
want the officials from the URA, it can be
one official. I just want to hear that they
lent money for one and what exactly was
identified at the lending of that money of
these ten to 12 properties that we heard
today. Now I don't have any documents in
front of me about the negotiations that
went off lending that money. I don't mind
seeing those tomorrow and giving this
another seven day hold just to make sure
that we weren't negotiating with a CDC on
this side to do 12 properties and then it
was sort of undermined not maliciously
but undermined through another process of
the public sector.

But I want to point out if we find
out through this evidence review
tomorrow that it wasn't identified and this
property was not pointed out, if we have
the highest bidder that is clean and does
not have baggage, sometimes our hands
might be tied on why we reject if we're
going to reject. So I am recommitting and
1 am hoping to have that discussion
tomorrow of the million six we heard that
is committed to this 12 property location
in Fineview to find out exactly what was
presented to get this financing. If it was
the understanding that this was part of that
and we can do a 12 property deal, I think
its something this Council should seriously
consider at that point. But I don't have that
evidence in front of me, but I would like to
see it. At least have the opportunity to ask
somebody that lent the money. And that's
on that particular bill so far.

The Chair:
I have just been told that is part of

a total bill. If we could make a motion to
introduce a new on this piece of the Rule 8

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SSs—VTeoeqCaReFRaQa—ée—a$wuoO SsSK$—[h[hDhD————————————————

we could discuss it tomorrow.
Mr. Onorato:

So you want a motion to delete and
then make a motion to introduce this bill.
Can I do both of those today? Then I will
make a motion now to delete Item C of
Bill 1379 and on the same motion
introduce a bill to convey property which
would only consist of this item and waive
tule eight on that bill.

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
Ms. McDonald:

Discussion on the bill on the
deletion and reintroduction of a new bill.
To Councilman Onorato you know I didn't
really look at this closely, but I am now
noticing that the purchase price was over
$10,000 for a vacant lot. How big is this
lot? Is there a plan of some kind? Why is
this being recommitted not recommitted
but why is it being deleted? I have never
seen a yard for $10,000. Is there some
construction that's going to be happening?

Mr. Onorato:

That is what I think we can find out
tomorrow. I am prepared if this is all
legitimate and this was not part of the
previous development plan, I am prepared
to continue to move this forward. I just
want to review for seven days.

Ms. McDonald:

$10,000 is just a jot of money.
That's the discussion I would have.

Mr. Udin:

I would like to speak in support of
the motion to recommit. Because I agree
with Councilman Onorato what we the
decision that we are making is an
important precedent setting decision. So
in addition to the specifics of this case, we
are also setting the course for how we will
proceed in similar future cases and it
deserves our careful deliberation. So
every time we reconsider this particular
case, we lear new information and more
information is coming out about the
particulars in this case. We ought not be
in a hurry. We ought to take our time and
consider this very deliberately and I
support Councilman Onorato's motion.
Mr. Onorato:

The other point on this motion,
which I am finding out now that this is a
landlord that wants the adjacent property
which the property that is adjacent is a two
unit property and the owner lives in
Florida. My concern, if I understand
zoning right that when jt is zoned
residential you cannot park except when
you have an accessory lot to an existing
residential, one of the exceptions is
parking. This might be being sold for
parking to an apartment in the middle of a
residential neighborhood. If that's the
case, | want to know that. I want to-- I
think that's a legitimate discussion to have
at this point if we are tuming this into
parking. 1 don't know. I am just trying to
find out.

Ms. McDonald:
Because you answered my
question, I was side barring with

Councilman Hertzberg and he had
explained that it maybe a nice view I said
but Alan it’s for yard space. You know
it's, | mean I don't spend $10,000 to plant

a ecseeTeTleenlss

flowers. In certain neighborhoods there is
going to be a need for yard space. In my
community there is a definite need because
of the congestion. There is a shortage of
green space and people do want to do
some type of green space there and they
will buy it for real, it will be a yard. It will
be a yard with grass and everything. But
this particular item just 1 would like to
have a definite explanation is there a need
for yard space at 10,000?

Mr. Cohen:

I am happy to refer to Councilman
Onorato if it is on the same issue. I
wanted to make be a point on the entire
issue. So why don't I defer to Councilman
Onorato until he is done.

Mr. Onorato:

One other motion, which is really
the same issue, the bigger issue. Bill 1380
now this is another one that's been
extremely tough for all of us here.
Because the city put it up for bid and we
have a highest bidder here, which I believe
we should be doing. However, it is the
same situation where I again every week
we find more information. As one
Council member if it can be proven and I
am not sure it can be, but I mean if it can
be but I am not sure what the answer is. If
T have a buyer in this city that truly does
owe taxes on properties in this city, I
would vote no, no matter who it is.

However this one is so confusing
because of the timing of the purchase of
the properties that are in question and
we're hearing different years and different
amounts every time we discuss this. J
would like to get this clarified tomorrow.
This will not -- for how long this

547

gentleman had to wait, to recommit and
hold this and resoive this issue tomorrow.
I don't think is being unreasonable at this
point of time especially if what we're
hearing today is true that there has been a
dragging of the feet for the recent taxes of
‘98 an '99.

However I want to point out we're
recommitting we are not rejecting.
Because { am still not sure how I will vote
on this until I get the information to the
questions I am asking tomorrow. You
have bidders that participated in a process
that the city put in place. They were
determined to be the highest bidder on that
particular process. Now it is up to this
Council to step back a second and say
okay that is fine we're ready to vote, as
long as there are no other circumstances
that that this will actually be a detriment to
the city slash neighborhoods if its goes this
way versus another. I don't know the
answer to that question, but I think it can
be resolved tomorrow if the people are at
the table. That is, tomorrow we need real
estate at the table just to answer the
questions of the other two properties this
gentleman owns in the city, bought in the
last year. What exactly is owed to the City
of Pittsburgh at this particular time?

If we can determine that tomorrow
which we better be able to, because we
just spent how much on Peoplesoft. We
would like to know what that number is
and if the gentleman walks in tomorrow
with the check and pays off all his taxes, I
think it would be very difficult to reject
this if he's clean. But I am being told that
there is a building code, a possible
building code violation that was just here
Friday, because the inspector can't get on
the property, well I don't like operating
innuendoes. I like to know the facts.

ee
eee

Tomorrow I want someone here
from BBI just to tell me is there or is there
not a building code violation on these
properties that are not being addressed?
And if that's not true and the inspector can
get in and the properties are being
approved, then that is fine and I am ready
to vote yes to this individual. But my
concer right now is that every single day I
get new information. So I am making a
motion to recommit for the purposes of
answering those two questions.

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

The Chair:

I would like, I believe you touched
on both the basic ones, the BBI, the tax
and also if this gentleman has other
violations from other community groups
we should have that in writing. It is really
unfair whether the facts are right or wrong
to say two minutes before a vote that
they're innuendoes. You may be right, you
maybe wrong, I would certainly ask Mr.
Ayoob the attorney in the next couple days
to have the facts. Whether I heard he owes
"97 taxes, '98 taxes, I think it would be fair
to everybody before we just stand there
and say it, I would like your attomey to
verify it.

I believe with the city you have one
week before final vote, actually a little
more than a week, until the following
Tuesday, so you have almost 9 days. I
think it would be fair to everyone to have
the facts on this person, especially other
agreements that he may have broken,
taxes, BBI inspections, if we can't have --
we should have that within a week so that
we all are not voting blindly on this issue.

548

Mr. Onorato:

I want to point out too for all the
parties involved here, my intention is not
to hold tomorrow after we have those
questions answered, I think we should
either vote to approve or vote to delete.
One or the other tomorrow after we answer
those questions. And because it is only
fair to both sides of this issue too by the
way. We have got to resolve this
tomorrow and final vote Tuesday.

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. I
support what Councilman Onorato is
doing. He's been put in a very difficult
position as have all the neighbors been put
into a difficult position. I think frankly we
have been put into a difficult position by
the URA and by the staff people in the
Finance Department. Because this body,
City Council of the City of Pittsburgh is
Not a judicial body.

I think it's time to step back and
recognize what we are able to do and not
able to do. We are a legislative body that
at times has a quasi-judicial role. Those
times are rare. They are times in a
conditional use situation maybe a couple
of other very rare situations do we act in a
quasi-judicial role. We're not a judicial
body. And we are acting in many ways
like a judicial body in this case.

The reason we are is because we
were being put in the attainable position of
having to make a decision between two
purchasers one of whom clearly will be
better for the neighborhood than the other.
But the Solicitor for City of Pittsburgh
made quite clear last Wednesday that if we

ES OSOOOOOETEE_EES

are going to reject a property we have to
have clear articulable reasons for doing
that.

The attorney who spoke here
earlier said we have the ability to reject a
bid. I think that's true but we need to
make a record of it and we need to have
articulable reasons for it. I would like for
us to be able to get to our legislative role
through this process, I think we can. I
think what Councilman Onorato will allow
us to get to the legislative function and that
is for us to pass legislation that makes it
clear that we have these reasons for which
you can reject a bid, reasons that are
beneficial to the neighborhood. Reasons
like back taxes, reasons like building code
violations. And be able to never have to
go through this again. This is not right.

We have been put in this position
by the staff of the URA and I believe of
the administration. We should not be put
into this position; Council does not act like
acourt. We are not a court and I resent it
frankly. So if we can for however long it
takes get through this process to be able to
have consistent rules, rules that will be
applied fairly and consistently across the
board and be able to do it in a fair and
reasonable way then that's fine. We don't
have that now. What I see happening in
the North Side here with several
properties, I think it just happens to be the
three properties having the same problem
come up at the same time, in the same
general region of the city. Well let's not
fool ourselves, we're going to have many
more of these unless we are able to come
up with clear guidelines. So I hope
through this process we'll be able to get a
lemon out of lemonade and be able to get
some clear guidelines for the future. Other
wise I am not going to support this

549

process.
The Chair:

I am going to give you one last
suggestion. The city must own and URA
over 10,000 pieces of property. I am still
surprised that some deal couldn't have
been made in exchange for this property
right or wrong how the process is going.
Why we couldn't make a trade with this
person whether it be Polish Hill,
Greenfield where ever, South Side that
there might be something that you both
can live with. You can get your property
and he maybe able to get something even
better. Again, you have ten days to try to
figure this out.

Mr. Ricciardi:

That's a good point, Mr. President,
regarding mediation. You know instead of
just throwing this into the court system. I
would not have thought that out, I would
be willing to work with the individual in
District Three.

The Chair:

Again, I think all Council members
would like to assist Councilman Onorato.
He's done an outstanding job so far trying
to mediate this. That maybe to me the
most common sense simplest answer if the
person -- if we're both using a little
common sense on both sides maybe we
can prevail maybe one isn't. That remains
to be seen.

The bills are now ready for final
action. All those in favor of the passage of
the bills vote aye when your names are
called; all those opposed vote no.

Sy
ae

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were.

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ricciardi abstained to Bill 1402)
Bills have received the legally

required number of votes and have passed

finally.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1461:

Report of the Committee on Public Works,
Water an Environmental Services, for

March 24 1999, transmitting one
resolution to Council.
Bill No. 1420:

Resolution Adopting Official

Sewage Facilities Plan revision for
Steelers Stadium Development located at
the southeast comer of the intersection of
Allegheny Avenue. & Reedsdale Street, in
the 22 Ward of the City of Pittsburgh;
and described in the attached planning
modules for land development and
proposes that such project be served by
Pittsburgh sewage systems.
(PRESENTED BY MR. HERTZBERG &
MR. RICCIARDI)

Which was read.

The Chair:

350

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald
Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)
AYES Seven NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1462
Report of the Committee on Planning,
Zoning and Land Use for March 24, 1999,
transmitting two ordinances to Council.
Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1206:

An Ordinance amending the
Pittsburgh Code, Title Nine, Zoning

District Map No. 7 by changing from
"C6-C” Downtown Riverfront District

Area C to “C6-B” Downtown Riverfront
District Area B certain property having
frontage on the westerly side of Federal
Street between South Commons and the
Allegheny River, 22" Ward, Council
District No. 6. (HEARING HELD
MARCH 18, 1999).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1207:

An Ordinance amending the
Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title
Nine, Zoning, Article IV by controlling
the development of public sports facilities
for major league franchises and by
revising the site development standards
for urban open space and structure height
in “DR-B” Downtown Riverfront District,
Sub-District B. (HEARING HELD
MARCH 18, 1999).

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills? Bilis are now ready for final
action. All those in favor of the passage of
the bills vote aye when your names are
called; all those opposed vote no.

Clerk please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Seven NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1463:

Report of the Committee on Housing,
Economic Development and Promotion
for March 24, 1999, transmitting sundry of
resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill Number 1394:

Resolution further amending
Resolution No. 781 of 1998 entitled,
“Adopting and approving the 1999
Capital Budget and the 1999 Community
Development Block Grant Program: and
approving the 1999 through 2004 Capital
Improvement Program” by adding
$76,332.00 to various line items. —
(SPONSORED BY ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1396:
Resolution authorizing the Urban

Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh to
submit an Application to the

eSVS="=-=aleo—=-vo—oOT>*EqoooooOOoo—— eee,

Pennsylvania Office of the Budget for a
Redevelopment Assistance Capital
Program (RACP) in the amount of
$75,000,000 for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Football Stadium Project. (Council
District No. 6) (PRESENTED BY MS.
MCDONALD & MR. HERTZBERG).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1397:

Resolution authorizing the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh to
submit an Application to the
Pennsylvania Office of the Budget for a
Redevelopment Assistance —_—Capital
Program (RACP) in an amount up to
$75,000,000 for the PNC Park Baseball
Stadium for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
(Council District No. 6). (PRESENTED
BY MS. MCDONALD & MR.
HERTZBERG).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1398:

Resolution authorizing the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh to
expend $300,000 from the Industrial Land
Reserve Fund for the environmental
remediation of the former Kerotest
facility (Council District No. 6).
(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD &
MR. HERTZBERG).

Which was read.

Also,

Bill No. 1399:

Resolution authorizing a
Cooperation Agreement or Agreements
with the Urban Redevelopment Authority
of Pittsburgh providing for the transfer to
URA of $4,500,000 -for Neighborhood
Infrastructure Support including the New
Pennley Place development, Home Depot
and Nine Mile Run(Council Districts:

All). (PRESENTED BY MS.
MCDONALD & MR. HERTZBERG).
Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1400:

Resolution authorizing _the
transfer to Urban Redevelopment

Authority of Pittsburgh of certain
property located in the 14" Ward
designated as Block 128P, Lot. 7 as part
of the Nine Mile Run development.
(Council District No. 5). (PRESENTED
BY MS. MCDONALD & MR.
HERTZBERG).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1401:

Resolution authorizing the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh to
Acquire all of the City’s right, title and
interest, if any, in and to the following
Publicly-owned Property designated as
Block 11-K, Lot 19, in the 1° Ward of the
City of Pittsburgh—Rental Housing
Development Improvement Program. The
tedeveloper intends to use the subject
Property as a parking lot and greenspace

i ———————
aS EQ

for a transitional housing facility to be
constructed on adjacent property.
(Council District No. 6). (PRESENTED
BY MS. MCDONALD & MR.
HERTZBERG).

Which was read.
The Chair;

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Ms. McDonald:

Mr. President, I would like to make
a motion to amend Bill 1398 to increase
the amount of the Industrial Land Reserve
Fund allocation from $50,000 to $200,000
for the care test building.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Hertzberg:

Bill Number 1394, which is the
amendment to the Community
Development Block Grant Program for
this year. I have an amendment that's been
circulated that will designate three
organizations in Council District Two for
the Council District Two allocation and
the amendment is so moved.

MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Bills are now ready for final action.

All those in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ricciardi voted no on Bill 1396 and
1397)

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

The Chair:
Under motions and resolutions.

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you, Mr. President. If you
watched the local news or read the local
newspapers you are probably familiar with
an incident in Council District Two at a
tavern called Cliff Hangers Saloon which
is a located within walking distance of my
home. What happened was that early last
Tuesday moming, in fact at about 1:30 in
the morning, a couple of young men
decided that they were going to rob this
tavem. They brought with them a sawed
off shotgun and what they didn't realize is
that at 1:30 in the moming there were
quite a few people in this establishment.
And when they attempted to rob the place,

ee
EEE

some of the patrons were able to take
control of the situation.

In fact the two robbers got beat up
and held until the police could arrive. And
there was an article in this moming’s Post
Gazette that mentioned armed robbery
wise this year city wide we have had twice
as many in 1999 as we had in 1998 at this
point in time. I know in Council District
Number Two we feel like we may be
responsible for that increase.

1 know that we have had at least
ten armed robberies in Council District
Two. But I would ask people to try to
remain calm. I think everything is being
done that can be done about these
robberies. In fact, I think at least half of
them we already have arrests on and it's
been through the efforts of the police. The
police have been working very hard both
our local zone four police as well the
Investigations Division have been working
very hard. They have been working very
hard with the residents and with the
businesses and everyone has been
collaborating together. We have been
apprehending most of the people that have
been involved in these different armed
robberies.

In fact our local police what they
have done is they set up the Elliott
neighborhood where we probably had four
of these armed robberies recently. They
have made it what they call a floating
target area. The commander has also
dispatched two undercover police and two
uniform police every day from three to
eleven to try to apprehend those that are
involved and to try to enforce the laws in
this neighborhood.

We have also got an excellent COP

$54

officer on duty in this neighborhood and
the residents have done a heck of a lot to
try to work through this situation. In fact,
we had a member from your Squirrel Hill
Citizens Patrol come to one of the
meetings of the Elliott West End Citizens
Council and I want to thank the Squirrel
Hill group for helping us set up a Citizens
Patrol. Now that is also in effect in Elliott
and the people are committed to making
sure that the criminals don't get the upper
hand in their community and that it stays
as the good community it has been in the
past.

I just have to caution | mean what
happened at this Cliff Hangers Saloon,
although the good guys won that's for sure,
it's not something that should be
encouraged at all. It was a very dangerous
situation. In fact the gun went off, no one
was hit. I know in Hazelwood there was a
terrible tragedy in a situation like that. So
you know I commend the citizens that
were brave and they really risked their
lives to do something about this, but on the
other hand it is not something that should
be encouraged. I think the police will tell
you that in the case of an armed robbery
the best thing to do is to just cooperate.

We can see that in the cases where
they have had armed robberies and we
haven't had aggressive conduct by the
victims, we have also been getting a lot of
arrests. So I would encourage people and
of course we hope we may have arrested
all the people that did all these robberies
and there may not be any in the future. At
least not at the rate we have in the past.
But I would encourage the people involved
to just be observant but don't be
aggressive. You need to cooperate when
someone has a gun.

I would remind everyone in
Council District Two that a couple years
ago we thought we had a large crime spree
on our hands. We had I think 150
incidents of vandalism, around the area
where windshields and other parts of cars
were being vandalized on a nightly basis
over a month in time. We found out who
the individuals were that were involved
again through cooperation between
residents and police, caught the two people
that was the end of it.

So I would ask the residents of
Council District Two and throughout the
city to hang in there, do the right thing,
keep working with the police and I think
we can resolve this problem.

The Chair:

I was concemed I just mentioned to
Mr. Diven, in my districts alone you
referred to the shooting in Hazelwood, we
have had two in Hazelwood, four armed
robberies in Greenfield and four in
Squirrel Hill just in the last two, three
weeks. Again, I don't know if it is whose
been caught, who hasn't been caught. In
fact the ones I have investigated, it seemed
like different people, one is a man dressed
as a woman, they’re really getting to be a
problem.

1 was on patrol actually the night
you had your maiden voyage in West End,
the Citizen Patrol. I see a big difference
but we are only out there from like seven,
eight to 11. Most of the armed robberies
that were in my three neighborhoods were
in the daytime. So I found out that most of
the neighborhood businesses don't know as
much about telling each other about a
robbery, calling 911 mot saying they
wouldn't do it on an emergency, but letting

555

everyone else know. The COP’s in some
cases we don't know if we have them or
we do know so I am again could be critical
about the COP.

I know the police have done a good
job. The record is showing they are
catching a lot of these people but some
how there is a rash of it again. I think we
all have to keep working together. With
the police we may want to use our -- I
remember when we had the neighborhood
block watches in Tesidential
neighborhoods, it seemed to be spreading
all over the city and I don't know that all
the business districts are as in tuned to
this. I know in my three, four businesses,
they're getting it, real fast, unfortunately
the hard way.

So I would urge the Public Safety
people, the Chief to really start getting
these COP's in the community and helping
them spread the word on what to watch out
for and some of the do’s and don'ts.
Because it's getting to be alarming, and so
far the one incident in Hazelwood, but no
one else has been hurt. But if our armed
robberies have doubled, then something is
wrong out there. Again, some of it is
bordering even some county not just in the
city. I noticed in the one part of
Greenfield there, they seem to run toward
the cemetery and maybe to some of the
suburbs. So, it is not only in the city.
They seem to border there. I think we do
need a lot of work to be done and working
together is the only way to solve it.

Again, I want to compliment your
people in West End for what they did to
the burglars, I hope they didn't hurt little
Johnny and Billy or whoever they were
didn't rough them up too much.

8 8 8°0°00°058e855

Mr. Hertzberg:

They did get hurt. If you want to
go into a tavern with a shotgun and stick
the place up then.

The Chair:
They got what they deserved.

Mr. Hertzberg:

That is going to happen.
Somebody may get hurt.
The Chair:

They caught both of them?

Mr. Hertzberg:
Yea.
The Chair:

They will be going to trial or
hearing.

I understand next Monday your
painter will be in front of court?

Mr. Ricciardi:

April 7th. Thank you for bringing
that up, Mr. O'Connor. As you know we
have had a rash of graffiti throughout the
City of Pittsburgh, but especially in the
Bates Street Corridor. We are asking
residents and community groups and
others and I'll be there April7 because
we're asking the magistrate to make sure
that he or she realizes the gravity, the
weight of vandalism and destruction of
public and private property.

I think if the Magistrate, if the

evidence is there and the magistrate finds
guilt, we're asking for public humiliation.
We are asking for restitution of the public
and private property, we are asking for
community service and to be perfectly
frank with you, we're asking for jail time
in the county jail. They wil! send the right
message out loo and these aren't kids,
young people, these are adults. Send a
good message out. Thank you for bringing
that up, Mr. President.

The Chair:

We hope the community services is
cleaning up what they did, not just --

Mr. Ricciardi:
That's what we are asking for.
The Chair:

Thank you. Hopefully we can all
come down and support you on that
initiative.

Council's Standing Committee
Meeting will be held tomorrow at ten a.m.
If you don't realize we're a day ahead
because of the Passover and Easter
holidays. I certainly want to wish
everybody a Happy Passover and Happy
Easter, very Holy Week this week.

We also have two other meetings,
cablecast Post Agenda Tuesday, March 30,
at two p.m. to discuss the Empowerment
Zone; Wednesday March 31st, discussing
NBE/WBE financial opportunities at
10:00 a.m.

With that, 1 would like a motion to
excuse the absent member.

=6(NNe6qlqu0oOooeee lle
MR. HERTZBERG moved to excuse the

absent member.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adjoum
the meeting.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.

And on the motion made by Mr.
Hertzberg, the meeting adjourned.

MUNICIPAL RECORD

Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
ee

VOL. CXXXIII

Municipal Record

—— ss
———o

ONE-HUNDRED
THIRTIETH COUNCIL

BOB O'CONNOR

. President

LINDA M. JOHNS: LER ....City Clerk

JOHN R. MASCIO ...sssss0000ee Deputy City Clerk

Pittsburgh, PA

Tuesday, April 6, 1998

PRESENT:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato

Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin

Ms. McDonald Mr. O’Connor
(Pres't)

ABSENT:

Mr. Hertzberg

The Chair:

Will you all please rise for the
pledge of allegiance and please remain
standing for a moment of silence for peace
and hope throughout the world.

With us today we have an honored
guest, Maurice Reynolds from the
McKelvey Elementary School; he is in the
fourth grade. He is accompanied by his

April 6, 1999

558

No. 14

mother, Debra, and he lives in Councilman
Udin’s District, District 6.

Maurice, you want to lead us.
Maurice Reynolds:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.

The Chair:

Thank you, Maurice. McKelvey is
a very nice school. {I visited it last
summer. We have something for you.

PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. President and members of
Council, I would like the delegation from
South Hills Health System to come
forward please at this time. We are very
honored to have the President here this
moming of South Hills Health System,
Mr. Bill Jennings, and a very distinguished
delegation of his co-workers and
administrators.

I will introduce the rest of the
delegation very shortly.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

No. 1465 WHEREAS, Cathy
Frasca is the Vice President of the South

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Hills Health System Home Health
Services, a position she has held for over
thirty years and is nationally and
intemationally renowned for her
leadership, experience, insights, and
ingenuity in the field of home health care;
and

WHEREAS, Cathy Frasca has, in
her illustrious career, been appointed to
the National AARC Blue Ribbon
Recognition Panel, the International EISAI
Home Health Care Advisory Council,
chairperson. of the AHA Governing
Council, the HCFA Home Care Advisory
Committee, elected as Vice Chairman of
the NAHC Board of Directors, chairperson
for the Appropriateness Review
Committee responsible for developing
home care guidelines for __—the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and
elected to the board of the American
College of Health Care Administrators;
and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Frasca also
serves on the boards of and holds
leadership positions in local and national
organizations such as Vintage, Inc, where
she serves as Vice President, Robert
Moms Health Services Management
Advisory Committee, LaRoche College
Human Services Advisory Board, the
Califomia University Department of
Nursing Advisory Council, the Kane
Foundation Board, and immediate past
Chair of the Hospital Association of
Pennsylvania’s Home Care Governing
Council and the Hospital Council of
Wester Pennsylvania’s Government
Relations Committee; and

WHEREAS, Cathy Frasca is the

recipient of many prestigious awards and
commendations and has _ received

recognition as a finalist in both the 1997
Pittsburgh Business Times’ Health Care
Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award and
with the Health and Home Service’s
Woman of the Year Award by the YWCA
of Greater Pittsburgh in 1992, as well as
being named by the National Foundation
for Hospice and Home Care as one of the
first fellows, being awarded by the
National Association for Home Health
Care as the Administrator of the Year in
1992, and the Member of the Year in
1995, and presented with the Edward
Brody Award by the American College of
Health Care Administrators in 1995; and

WHEREAS, Cathy Frasca will be
stepping down from her position as Vice
President of the South Hills Health System
Home Health Service after an outstanding
and illustrious career and will recognized
at a retirement banquet Friday at the
Sheraton Station Square; now

BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council
of the City of Pittsburgh, that we
congratulate Cathy Frasca for her service
to the community at-large, and the medical
community in particular and wish her well
in all of her professional and personal
endeavors; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that Friday, April 9, 1999 is recognized as
“Cathy Frasca Day” in the City of
Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

Mr. Ferlo:

ey
See

Besides all that full time
professional work, she happens to be a
great grandmother and mother, a wife and
a wonderful person. I can’t imagine how
she manages to do all the things that she
does each and every day not only
professionally but with her tremendous
family that she has helped to build over a
life time.

We have a number of co-workers
that are here also to join with Mrs. Frasca
and her great day of honor here. We are
looking forward to the Friday night
banquet at Station Square. We are very
honored that we have Bill Jennings here as
the President of the South Hills Health
System and we have a number of co-
workers. We have Dick Woodruff, Gary
Retone, Linda Morningstar, JoAnn
Farzick, Susan Navish, Nancy Large, Mary
Ellen Jubeck, Janet Rice, Chris Heasley. I
apologize if I said any of those names
wrong. In fact I have an ear infection and I
can only hear out of half of my head, I feel
like a rock star trying to understand what
the reverberation is because I can’t hear.
So I need an immediate home health care
myself.

It is a great honor to have Mrs.
Frasca here today, not only as a friend. I
have the pleasure of being a friend of the
family but Mrs. Frasca has had an
outstanding professional career and
actually has pioneered a whole new area of
important health care and certainly
representing our constituents and
Pittsburgh and our region being so unique
in terms of the long percentage of older
residents the tremendous importance and
pivotal role that home health care plays in
our aging society. And a lot of us are

getting there quicker than maybe some of
us want to be there.

So, it is important that we pay
tribute and take just a moment out to
tecognize her life’s contribution
professionally as well she is a tremendous
lady personally and has a wonderful
family. We are honored that the President
of South Hills Health System is here and
Mrs. Frasca here in chambers. But before
I call on her to say a few words, and we
look forward to being part of the dinner
Friday night, we would like Mr. Jennings
to come up and maybe say a few words
and maybe one of the co-workers would
like to say something also.

Mr. Jennings:

We are certainly honored to have
Cathy receive this award today. She has
done an outstanding job throughout her
career. It has been an honor to have her as
an employee of the South Hills Health
System and she really has put home care
on the map for us.

So our full congratulations to
Cathy, all the home care people and we
will talk more about that on Friday
evening.

Mrs. Frasca:

Thank you. I am overwhelmed. I
thought this was going to be a
proclamation for the agency. It is the
agency and all of the staff that have made
our agency recognized worldwide. I just
happened to be in the right place at the
right time working for the right
organization and having a great staff.

aaa eee

This has given me the opportunity
to travel abroad and other people wanted
to know what we were doing here in
Pittsburgh. Our agency we made the cover
of the Nike (phonetic) News in Japan and
many countries I have had the opportunity
to speak there and across the United
States.

Of course they all wanted to find
out what the magic is that made our
program so unique that it is one of the
largest hospital based home health
agencies of its kind in the nation. And
what makes it unique is you can’t lose
when you have the very best staff working
for the best organization and the best
support that you can get. So I am
overwhelmed and I am very rarely at a loss
for words, but I am. Thank you very
much.

The Chair:

Would Jay Pochapin from St.
Barnabas please come up? Thank you for
coming over, Jay. He is the Media
Relations Manager for St. Bamabas and it
is a very exciting week and I know
especially today is your big dinner and I
will let you talk a little bit about it. St.
Bamabas has really been a part of the
Pittsburgh community for over 80 years. 1
am very honored to read this proclamation.

MR. O’CONNOR AND ALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
No. 1466 WHEREAS, St.

Barnabas Health System, founded in 1900,
has offered relief and hope to indigent and
homeless men and boys and, ultimately, all
Persons, without regard to race, creed,
color, sex or ability to pay; and,

WHEREAS, St. Bamabas Health
System traces its roots back to a humble
mission house along Downtown
Pittsburgh's Third Avenue, then moving to
Sydney Street on the city's South Side,
then Carrick, followed by McKeesport
before arriving at the site of its present-day
campus in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, the tradition of
service, community outreach, charity and
compassion established by its Brother
Founder, Gouverneur Provoost Hance,
remains at the forefront of its policy to this
very day, exemplified by the Presents for
Patients campaign, the Gouverneur P.
Hance Humanitarian Award, the Pennies
for Patients campaign, the St. Barnabas
Charitable Golf Open, the St. Barnabas
Medical Center 5-K Fun Run, the St.
Barnabas Round Ball Classic and the St.
Barnabas Leadership Conference; and,

WHEREAS, St. Barnabas Nursing
Home has repeatedly brought Pittsburgh
and Southwestem Pennsylvania to the
attention of the entire world in a most
positive light, demonstrating older adults
still have valuable qualities to share with
the larger community, all the while
providing employment to thousands of
residents and free car to thousands of
neighbors, all without direct government
funding, over the past 80 years.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend St.
Bamabas Nursing Home, its officers, staff,
residents and patients and congratulates St.
Barnabas on its 80" Anniversary; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh

ee
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does hereby declare April 6, 1999, as "St.
Barnabas Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved
resolution.

to adopt the

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Pochapin:

Ihave some very brief remarks. Of
course I want to begin by thanking you for
honoring St. Bamabas Nursing Home as
we approach the 80" year of our
establishment in Richland Township.

Things have very much changed
since what was then St. Bamabas Free
Home began operating in Richland in the
year 1919.

Just four years after the completion
of the building still in use along Meridian
Road, when all the land in every direction
as far as the eye could see was farmland, a
ride on the Butler Shortline Trolley took
patrons from Gibsonia to Etna for a fare of
32 cents — a nickel more if you wanted to
go all the way into the city. Of course if
the trolley cut across your property, the
Shortline granted you a lifetime pass and
you got to ride for free. Since one of the
stops was at St. Barnabas, we can safely
imagine the monastic brothers of St.
Bamabas brotherhood (complete with
cowls and cassocks) were probably roaring
twenties strap-hangers when they had
occasion to visit the city on Free Home
Business, or when they had occasion to
transport new patients to what was their
then very remote location.

Almost 50 years ago, at the 50
Anniversary celebration, Brother Founder
Gouvermer P. Hance opened the original
mission house along Third Avenue, near
Smithfield Street, a few hundred yards
outside this building, in the year 1900, St.
Barnabas 50 years ago was home to over
150 men and boys.

Today, all the different facilities
that comprise St. Barnabas on average
house and care for over 350 individuals of
almost every age and background. Our
Charitable Foundation provides over 4-
million dollars worth of free care annually.
With over S00 full and part-time
employees, today’s St. Bamabas
community plays a vital role in the lives of
at least 1,000 people, and an indirect role
in the lives of hundreds more.

This evening, when St. Bamabas
Charitable Foundation holds its Founder’s
Day fundraising celebration at the Westin
William Penn Hotel, with a reception,
dinner and address by former Federal
Education Secretary William J. Bennett,
we will remember with gratitude the honor
and respect accorded our organization here
today by Pittsburgh City Council.

On behalf of our President,
William V. Day, and everyone at St.
Bamabas, thank you.

The Chair:

T believe you have over 500
attending tonight’s dinner?

Mr. Pochapin:

Over 500 attending. Should I give
a telephone number?

Eee

The Chair:

If you still want to go to hear Mr.
Bennett.

Mr. Pochapin:

If you want to hear Mr. Bennett,
you can make a reservation at 724-625-
4000 extension 317. We will be happy to
send out for an extra pizza or something.

The Chair:

Mr. Robert. Murdock. We are
honored to have Mr. Robert Murdock who
is the National Chairman of Tartan Day.
In memory of the Scottish Parliament
anniversary. This is quite an honor to have
you here and I understand this is the first
anniversary.

Mr. Murdock:
Yes, sir.
The Chair:

I will Jet you explain and tell us
more about it.

MR. O’CONNOR AND ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:

No. 1467 WHEREAS, on April 6,
1320, the Scottish Parliament asserted its
declaration of independence, known as the
Declaration of Arbroath; and,

WHEREAS, throughout _— our
society, the contributions of Scottish
Americans are varied and plentiful, and
hundreds of thousands of Scottish
Americans are proud to call Pittsburgh
home; and

WHEREAS, in the Pittsburgh area,
there are numerous Scots and Americans
of Scottish decent; and,

WHEREAS, the St. Andrews
Society of Pittsburgh, formed in 1991,
helps to continue Scottish traditions.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize the
countless contributions of Scottish
Americans; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare April 6, 1999, as
"Tartan Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved
resolution.

to adopt the

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Mr. Murdock is the Chairman of
the Tartan Day and I think this is our first
anniversary.

Mr. Murdock:

Yes, sir. Thank you very much.
Thank you. It is a pleasure to be here on
behalf of the St. Andrews Society and the
Scottish Coalition which really has been
the moving party as far as Tartan Day.

Tartan Day goes back as President
O’Connor indicated to Arbroath, which
was a town in Scotland. And on April 6,
1320, sent a letter to the Pope who was

SSS

then head of England, declaring us
independence. Since that time, Scotland
has been moving for independence.

The Scottish Coalition is made up
of six national organizations and they
formed together to form the Scottish
Coalition with the idea of strengthening
the Scottish ties among individuals and
groups both here in the United States and
also internationally.

The St. Andrews Society of
Pittsburgh, which is having an event
tonight has taken over and has been the
prime mover in this area and that built up
the Scottish traditions. Pittsburgh,
Western Pennsylvania is very strong in
Scottish traditions and it is a pleasure to be
here to represent the Scots of Westem
Pennsylvania and the United States.
Again, I thank City Council President
O’Connor for this proclamation. Thank
you very much.

The Chair:

I believe there are two to be read
into the record.

MR. HERTZBERG
ONORATO PRESENT:

AND MR.

No. 1468 WHEREAS, On April 9,
1999, Professor W. Edward Sell will
celebrate 50 years of teaching at the
University of Pittsburgh School of Law;
and

WHEREAS, Professor Sell is
presently Dean Emeritus and
Distinguished Service Professor of Law
Emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh
School of Law; and

364

WHEREAS, Professor Sell
received a Bachelor of Aris Degree from
Washington & Jefferson College Magna
cum laude, with Honors in Economics,
and a Juris Doctor Degree from Yale Law
School; he also holds Honorary Degrees
from Dickinson School of Law (LL.D,
1968) and Washington & Jefferson
College (L.H.D., 1973); and

WHEREAS, Professor Sell is
listed in Who's Who in America, Directory
of American Scholars, Who's Who in
American Education, Who's Who in
American Finance and the Directory of
International Biography; and

WHEREAS, Professor _Sell's
teaching areas include Accounting for
Lawyers, Agency and Partnership,
Corporate Finance, Corporations, Law
Office Management, Secured Transactions
and Structured Transactions; and

WHEREAS, Professor _ Sell
received the Excellence in Teaching
Award in 1986 and the President's
Distinguished Teaching Award in 1990;
and

WHEREAS, Professor Sell has
written many published books on the law
and articles published in law reviews; and

WHEREAS, Professor Sell has
devoted many hours to Community
Activities as a Board Member and
President of various Foundations and
Service Organizations.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, That the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh wishes to Congratulate
Professor W. Edward Sell, on an

eeEa6y03eaaoaeaeoeee ooo oS

Illustrious Career as Professor of Law at
the University of Pittsburgh School of Law

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that Friday, April 9, 1999, is proclaimed
Professor W. Edward Sell Day in the City
of Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved
resolution.

to adopt the

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
MS. MCDONALD PRESENTS:

No. 1469 WHEREAS, the
Eleventh Annual 1999 Minority Attorney
Conference will be held April 8 and April
9, 1999 at the Pittsburgh, Hilton Hotel;
and

WHEREAS, 1987 Pennsylvania
Bar Association President, Joseph H.
Jones, Mike Reed, who later served as
Zone 1Governor, and several minority
attomeys met formally to discuss how
PBA might reach out to Pennsylvania’s
minority attomeys. President Jones
thereafter appointed an ad hoc committee,
co-chaired by Mike Reed and current PBA
President-elect, Leslie Miller, to study the
matter and make recommendations; and

WHEREAS, In the ensuing years,
the Minority Bar Committee has presented
the Minority Attomey Conference
annually in either Philadelphia, Hershey,
or Pittsburgh sometimes in conjunction
with the PBA Annual Meetings and
sometimes separately. Each day long
Conference includes several educational
presentations, an awards luncheon and a
closing reception; and

565

WHEREAS, this year the recipient
of the Chairman’s Award will be the
Honorable Doris Smith. Under current
Chairperson, Carl G. Cooper and with the
dedicated support of Louann Bell, PBA
staffer, this year the Minority Attomey
Conference will again host one of the
largest groups of Minority Attorneys in
Pittsburgh.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
the Pennsylvania Bar Association-
Minority Attorneys Conference for having
the insight to educate and share the
knowledge.

Also,

No. 1470 WHEREAS, on
Thursday, April 8, 1999, the Pennsylvania
Commonwealth Libraries, Task Force on
Library Service to Older Adults will
present the 1° Annual Marietta Y, King
Diversity Award to the Homewood Branch
of Camegie Library of Pittsburgh; and

WHEREAS, The Marietta Y. King
Diversity Award honors the life and
accomplishments of the late Marietta Y.
King, an African-American Social
Worker, who served several years as a
charter member of the Library
Development Office, Commonwealth
Libraries’ Task Force on Library Service
to Older Adults. Ms. King was bom in
Pittsburgh and spent much of her life here;
and

WHEREAS, the Homewood

Branch Library, over its eighty-nine years
of service has developed creative programs

to serve a diverse population of older
library users.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City of Pittsburgh
recognizes and commends the Homewood
Branch of Carnegie Libraries for its
significant contribution to the delivery of
library information services to minority
older adults in its service area.

MR. ONORATO moved to adopt the
resolutions.
MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

We will now if anyone in the
audience wishes to address Council for
three minutes. Please do it at this time.
Please give your name and address.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. Brown:

My name is Yvonne S. Brown and
I live at 2633 Brackenridge Street.
Recently I returned from Washington DC
where I among 25,000 people participated
in the nationwide march on Washington
against the police brutality and the ethnic
cleansing we believe that some police are
initiating when they intimidate, harass and
stop motorists because they are black.
Some people are saying that it is a way of
harassing the black motorists.

I was surprised that over 1,200
people had been arrested.
Gammage and other family members
speak against what has happened to some
of the families, some of their family

I heard Mrs. -

566

members. The killings, the harassment, the
beating.

I came today because I saw where
Smokey Heinz had sent a letter to the
President of the United States. I have also
sent a letter to him requesting that he come
to Pittsburgh. I know that the President
may not come, but we are asking that a
federal investigation be initiated and that a
committee, a special committee, be set up
in order that we the people may explain it
and may explain about some of the
harassing and (inaudible) tactics that the
City of Pittsburgh Police have. Also the
Housing Authority Police are doing
harassing, murdering, killing and an out
and out warfare against our young men
and women of color.

I don’t know whether any of you
realize that any of our young men between
the ages of 16 to 24 are an endangered
species. We are asking that if the
President does come or send a committee
that we be able to speak about the
harassment tactics that are being used.
Many of you may not know that we have
people that can be standing at the bus stop
waiting for the bus to come to work and
the police may tell them to move, if you
don’t move you will be arrested. My
young daughter as I told you went to the
police to ask them to please help her when
she stood there with one shoe on and no
coat and said I ain’t taken no body no
where.

I speak against the police because I
live in the community and I see what is
happening. I have many times said
questioned or am I saying that all the
police are bad. I am not worried about a
good or bad cop. Many times I am
questioning when they see my button

about Johnny Gammage or any of the
other buttons | might wear if I am saying
that all police are bad. No, ] am not. We
aren’t saying that all police are bad. I am
not worried about whether the police is a
bad cop or good cop, what we are saying
we need fair cops that will treat everyone
equal in an upwards police department can
make the judgment whether they are good
or bad. Thank you very much.

The Chair:

Thank you. We will now move to
presentation of papers.
PRESENTATION OF PAPERS

MR. COHEN PRESENTED:

No. 1471 Resolution providing for
a contract or contracts, or use of existing
contracts or agreements for the purchase of
an Alpha Numeric Message Generator and
related equipment at a cost not to exceed
Thirty Seven Thousand Dollars
($37,000.00), chargeable to and payable
from Organization 124000, Account
543000, Fund 2815, Sub-Class 600,
Budget Year 1999, Cable Communications
Trust Fund, Department of General
Services.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Lands, Buildings &
Procurement.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

No. 1472 Resolution providing for
the designation as a Historic Structure
under Section 513 of Chapter 1007 of the
Code of Ordinances that certain structure
located at 514 Smithfield Street, and all of
the property designated as Block and Lot
Number 2-E-030, in the Second Ward, City

567

of Pittsburgh. —-(COUNCIL DISTRICT
#6)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Planning, Zoning & Land
Use

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

No. 1473 Resolution authorizing
the periodic issuance of warrants in favor
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to
pay the City of Pittsburgh JTPA Program's
share of the statewide on-line computer
system cost for the period july 1, 1998
through June 30, 1999. The total of the
warrants will not exceed Twenty One
Thousand Three Hundred Eighty One
Dollars ($21,381.00), chargeable to and
payable from the JTPA-1 Trust Fund.

No. 1474 Resolution providing the
authorization to make all legitimate
expenditures for Agreement or
Agreements with various agencies and
vendors to advance the recruitment,
assessment, and coordination for the
additional employment and training
activities brought on by the increased
construction work in the City. Funds will
be committed for promotional and
recruitment activities, staff to provide
coordination services, technical assistance
to training providers, and address the
transportation issues necessary to
implement the Mayor’s Employment
Initiative, and providing for the periodic
transfer of funds to be used in the Mayor’s
Employment Initiative Program. The total
amount payable under this Resolution
shall not exceed $400,000.00, chargeable
to and payable from the Mayor’s
Employment Initiative CDMO Account.

er
SSS EEN

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

The Chair:

Is there any unfinished business to
come in front of Council? Hearing none,
move to Reports of Committees.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MR. UDIN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1475:

Report of the committee on Finance and
Budget for March 30, 1999, transmitting
sundry of resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1419:

Resolution Providing for the
issuance of a warrant in favor of Frank J.
Zottola Construction, Inc. in the amount of
$15,499.24 for delay claim costs
associated with the Municipal Courts
Access Road project; and providing for the
payment of the costs _ thereof.
(PRESENTED BY MR. FERLO)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1426:

Resolution Providing for the
issuance of a $3,256.00 warrant in favor of
Gregory Rossiter, 322 Kramer Way,
Pittsburgh, PA 15211, in settlement of a

claim in which claimant’s sidewalk and
front porch were damaged when a City

Public Works truck backed onto his
property July 24, 1998.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1427:

Resolution AUTHORIZING and
directing the Mayor to issue and the City
Controller to countersign a warrant in the
amount of Seventeen Thousand Two
Hundred Fifty Dollars and Ninety-two
cents ($17,250.92) to the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania representing the final
payment required for unclaimed funds for
the year 1990 pursuant to the provisions of
Deposition of Abandoned and Unclaimed
Property Act, Act of August 9, 1971 P.L
74.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1428:

Resolution AUTHORIZING and
directing the Mayor to issue and the City
Controller to countersign a warrant in the
amount of Six Thousand Eight Hundred
Seventy Dollars and Seventy cents
(86,870.70) to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania representing the _ initial
payment required for unclaimed funds for
the year 1991 pursuant to the provisions
of Deposition of Abandoned and
Unclaimed Property Act, Act of August 9,
1971, P.L. 74.

Which was read.

Also,

eee

Bill No. 1429:

Resolution amending resolution
No. 47, Item D, effective February 18,
1999 which authorized the sale of a
vacant lot, 100.22’ x 87.81’, located at
2604 Arlington Avenue, 16" Ward, Block
13 M, Lot 170, to Betty Wasick to correct
the purchase price from $1,000.00 to
correctly read $750.00. COUNCIL
DISTRICT #3

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No, 1431:

Resolution PROVIDING for the
filing of a petition or petitions for the sale
of certain property or properties, known
as Lien Excluded Properties acquired at
tax sales, in accordance with Act No. 17]
of 1984, “Second Class City Treasurer
Sale and Collection Act”, effective

December 11, 1984. (COUNCIL
DISTRICT #1)
(a) 420 Pressley Street, 23%

Ward, Block 8 D, Lot 131, being sold to
East Allegheny Community Council for
$1,000.00 plus costs. Three story (front)
and two story (rear) brick house situated
on a lot containing an area of 1,500 sq. ft.
Intended Use: Future development/
marketing.

569

(b) 418 Pressley Street, 23°
Ward, Block 8 D, Lot 132, being sold to
East Allegheny Community Council for
$1,000.00 plus costs. Four story brick
house situated on a lot containing an area
of 1,768 sq.ft. Intended Use: Future
Development/Marketing.

Which was read.

Also,
Bill No. 1432:

Resolution PROVIDING for the
filing of a petition or petitions for the sale
of certain property or properties, known as
Lien Excluded Properties acquired at tax
sales, in accordance with Act No. 17] of
1984, “Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act”, effective December
11, 1984. --COUNCIL DISTRICT #1

(a) 507 Emlin Street, 23° Ward,
Block 23 S, Lot 165A, being sold to East
Allegheny Community Council
for$1,000.00 plus costs. Three story
brick apartment situated on a lot
containing an area of 1,230 sq.ft.
Intended Use: Future development.

(b) 723 James Street, 23° Ward,
Block 23S, Lot 209, being sold to East
Allegheny Community Council for
$100.00 plus costs. Vacant lot containing
an area of 1,776 sq. ft. Intended use:
Future development.

(©) 520 Dunloe Street, 23 Ward,
Block 23 H, Lot 197, being sold to East
Allegheny Community Council Inc. for
$1,000.00 plus costs. Two story frame
house situated on a lot containing 2,033
sq. ft. Intended use: Rehab. for resale.

(d) 527 Dunloe Street, 23 Ward,
Block 23 H, Lot 148, being sold to East
Allegheny Community Council Inc. for
$100.00 plus cost. Vacant lot containing
an area of 1,680 sq.ft. Intended use:
Future development.

(e) 518 Thropp Street, 23 Ward,
Block 23 M, Lot 266A, being sold to East
Allegheny Community Council Inc. for
$1,000.00 plus costs. Two story frame
house situated on a lot containing an area
of 868 sq.ft. Intended use: Future
development

(f) 814 James Street, 233"? Ward,
Block 23 S, Lot 357, being sold to East
Allegheny Community Council, Inc. for
$100.00 plus costs. Vacant lot containing
an area of 1,307 sq. ft. Intended use:
Future development.

(g) 619 Tripoli Street, 23" Ward,
Block 24J, Lot 34, being sold to East
Allegheny Community Council, Inc. for
$1,000.00 plus costs. Two story brick
and frame house situated on a lot
containing an area of 1,431 sq.ft.
Intended use: Future development.

(h) 624 E. Ohio Street, 23° Ward,
Block 24N, Lot 118, being sold to East
Allegheny Community Council, Inc. for
$1,000.00 plus costs. Two story frame
house and store and 2 story ext. rear
situated on a lot containing an area of
1,562 sq. ft. Intended use: Future
development.

(i) 1308 James Street, 23° Ward,
Block 23H, Lot 161, being sold to East
Allegheny Community Council for
$100.00 plus costs. Vacant lot containing
an area of 1,877 sq.ft. Intended use:
Future development.

370

G) 1005-1007 Spring Garden
Avenue, 24' Ward, Block 24F, Lot 225,
being sold to Spring Garden
Neighborhood Council, Inc. for $1,000.00
plus costs. Two story brick warehouse
situated on a lot containing an area of
5,490 sq. ft. Intended use: Future
development.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1444:

Resolution amending the Rules of
Council, Rule IV (c) and VI (c), in
compliance with the 1998 amendment to
the Pennsylvania Act. (SPONSORED
BY MR. HERTZBERG).

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

The bills are now ready for final
action, all in favor of the passage of the
bills will vote aye when your names are
called; all those opposed will vote no.

Clerk, please call the roil.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Ms. McDonald
Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

_————
SVS

Mr. Udin Mr. O’Connor

(Pres’t)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally

required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1476:

Report of the Committee on Housing,
Economic Development and Promotion
for March 30, 1999, transmitting two
resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1422:

Resolution Authorizing a
Cooperation Agreement or Agreements
with the Urban Redevelopment Authority
of Pittsburgh providing for the transfer to
URA of $670,000.00 for the Allequippa
Terrace Project (Council District 6). ---
(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD &
MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1423;

Resolution Approving Execution
of a Contract For Disposition of Land By
and Between the Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh
Economic and Industrial Development
Corporation, for the sale of Parcel E-id,

Bree

Subdistrict II, (Part of Block 29J Lot 8) in
the Sixteenth Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh in Redevelopment Area No.
55, Carson Street, Council District No. 3
(construction of biomedical incubator
facility). --(PRESENTED BY MS.
MCDONALD & MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

The bills are now ready for final
action. All in favor of the passage of the
bills, vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

Will the Clerk please call the roll?

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O’Connor
(Pres’t)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1477:

—ooooee

Report of the Committee on Parks,
Recreation and Youth Policy for March
30, 1999 transmitting one resolution to
Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 1451:

Resolution

providing for an
Agreement with various community
organizations for operational/

administrative expenses, maintenance, the
purchase of equipment; and or minor
rehabilitation of neighborhood facilities
for the benefit of the residents of the City
of Pittsburgh, at a cost not to exceed
$102,500.00, chargeable to and payable
from Account 593100, Fund 1000,
Organization 500000, Subclass 300, year
1999, in the Department of Parks and
Recreation.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Bills are now ready for final action.
All those in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

372

Mr. Ferlo Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O’Connor
(Pres’t)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
Tequired number of votes and have passed
finally.

The Chair:
Under motions and resolutions.
MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
Mr. Ferlo:

Just very briefly, I am still a little
bit perplexed about this political action
committee that was formed by our Public
Works Director, Mr. Kraszewski. I don’t
want to get into the legal issue at this point
all though I would like to ask for a formal
response from the Solicitor as to her
interpretation of this issue. But I think it is
appropriate that we ask the Controller’s
Office to do an audit of this pact fund.
This is being brushed over too lightly as
far as I am concemed. I don’t have any
conflict or dispute with any employee
having a right to participate politically
under the free speech or their right as a
citizen. I have no objection to that if they
want to contribute, if they want to form a
pact what have you. But I don’t think that
is what this was about; and I want to know
what it was about.

I think it is important that we ask
the Controller’s Office to find out what
this pact is? How long is this pact been in
existence? I was completely unaware of
this pact. Probably nobody does as many

EEE

mailings for raising funds as myself and
the Mayor and probably everyone of these
colleagues and everybody else. I have
never heard of this pact. So it has not
exactly been one that has been listed on
everyone else’s contribution file when we
are seeking public office.

So it is very condescend and very
obscure and when that is the case, I raise
the questions how long this pact has been
in existence? Who actually has
contributed to this pact? But I am most
concerned about what the administration
tefers to and broadly is the appearance of
impropriety. “I am very much more
concemed because in the past I have had
criticisms and again Council members
have nothing to do with awarding
contracts or securing bids or procurement
or anything of the sort, so 1 want to make
that clear.

Staff people especially directors
have significant input on who gets bids
and who is permitted to engage either
through procurement or purchase of goods
and services, professional service contracts
you name it. And certainly a big player in
the awarding of contracts in addition to
General Services would be the Public
Works Director. So, before I dismiss this
and kind of toss it under the rug, I would
like a better understanding from the
Controller’s Office and I think they should
be the ones that do it. I don’t think I
should have to do this, I think it should be
done objectively. I think it is important
that we do some further investigation on
this pact.

How long it has been around?
Who actually contributed to it? I would
like to know what Pittsburgh Vendors? I
would like to ask the Controller’s Office

since they have the vendor ID numbers
and the bid specs for them to do a
comparison on who contributed? What
bids they did or did not get? Who are the
other players, whether or not they were
approached to contribute? I am not
willing to just dismiss this.

Maybe others are but I would
respectfully ask and I will just do it by way
of a letter. I don’t want to put everyone
else on the spot, but I would like to know
two things. One, I would like a formal
written legal opinion from the Solicitor
regarding this issue. And secondly, I think
it is completely appropriate that the
Controller’s Office do an audit of this
account from its inception and do some
comparison on the issue of how
procurement and bids have been awarded
by the Public Works Director, or his
involvement to that extent? I am just
curious to know that information.

The Chair:
On that subject, I hate to run —
Mr. Ferlo:

I will have a fundraiser coming up
so if they want to contribute, they can
contribute to my pact.

The Chair:

T am just curious what all is going
on? There are some other things we have
asked. If the Ethics Commission should
be involved with this, I will ask Mr. Cohen
what he feels. And if we want to do a
resolution because there are so many
things going on, it is going so fast. I am
very curious again not just this matter
some of the Door Brothers bids, the
$24,000 per truck, we were spending. I

just think it is time we re-institute if the
Ethics Commission — not if, it is still
involved, if they should be a part of some
of these investigations. I think we have
been brushing over too many things lately.

Mr. Cohen:

Mr. President, just on that point,
any citizen including obviously any elected
official can raise an issue with the Ethics
Commission, put forward a complaint or a
request for an opinion on it, and the Ethics
Commission is obliged to respond. So,
certainly anybody can do that. This may or
may not be one of those that we want to
pursue, but I personally need more
information about it first other than what I
have read in the paper. But, any citizen
can raise an issue with the Ethics
Commission. It hasn’t happened much and
I think the Ethics Commission ought to be
more involved in these kinds of things.

The Chair:
I would like your opinion and -—
Mr. Ferlo:

Tam very disappointed. ] know the
Mayor, the Mayor holds himself to a very
high standard. I will say that publicly as it
relates to fundraising, we all do. We all
raise funds for political action committee.
But I know the Mayor’s track record, I
know him personally as well. And I know
he has an extremely high standard on this.
1am a little bit perplexed as to why the
Public Works Director has been allowed to
engage in this golf outing for (inaudible)
and what the manner in which
contributions have been solicited. J think
it is appropriate that the administration and
the Mayor in particular do some more

574

homework on this

dismissed.

issue before it’s

Mr. Udin:

If you will recall, Mr. President,
when we were discussing the question of
potholes and snow removal, I had
requested colleagues support in having a
full examination of how the Public Works
Department organized contracts relative to
the street repaving before we gave them an
additional $4 million. 1 was alone in that
request, did not receive a single vote of
support.

Now we are being asked to
examine more closely a pact fund but I
have not heard, | heard questions raised,
but I have not heard any impropriety
suggested. I think that before Council uses
its power and authority to investigate a
pact fund, we ought to have some
foundation for it. If there is some
impropriety that is known then it needs to
be investigated. But if all we have is the
existence of a pact fund, I don’t see how
the authority of Council should be used as
a political weapon to investigate a pact
fund.

So my request is that more
information that would be a basis for us
asking for an audit and an investigation
needs to be forthcoming before Council
uses its authority to ask for such an
investigation.

The Chair:

Well I believe according to the
paper, the Deputy Mayor had asked the
Law Department to give a report.

Mr. Ferlo:

Coe

I don’t have any motion on the
floor.

The Chair:

There is no motion, but the Law
Department has been requested to give a
report.

Mr. Ferlo:

1 think I made it clear in my view
on asphalt in the Public Works confidence
of the Director.

Mr. Cohen:

1 do think that Councilman Udin
raises a very important point. I certainly
don’t have enough information yet to be
able to state that there had been any
improprieties. I don’t know whether we
would want to get that information either
through Executive Session or other wise
but I think Councilman Udin raises a good
point.

I have another issue whenever the
appropriate time.

Ms. McDonald:

Thank you. First of all, I do want
to extend Councilman Hertzberg is not
here today, otherwise I would join in with
him to extend congratulations to Mr.
Chuck Powell of the URA and Mr. Carl
Cooper. Mr. Chuck Powell has been
elevated to the position of Director of
Administration and Mr. Carl Cooper has
been elevated to Director of Real Estate
within the URA.

575

Secondly, | would like to say that
the Post Agenda, I want to thank
Councilman O’Connor for your comments
as well Counciiman Udin to the Post
Agenda. It was very much informative in
fact more so than ] even thought it would
be. I have subsequent to that, I have had
people ask me for retaping of this so that
they can understand what opportunities
exist out there. What entities exist to
access financial aid to grow their
businesses? 1 will be talking with the
cable department, the Cable Bureau to see
when it could be recablecast because
people do want to know what is going on
there.

In addition though, I was
approached by Mr. Charles Reeves, who is
the Director of the Business Resource
Center of the URA, and he had suggested
that we have a subsequent Post Agenda. I
will be working with him on that and the
subject will be to take it one step further
and to have bankers come to the table.
Banks and financial institutions that
actually have the money, not just assist,
they have the money. Find out how those
monies are accessed, what the particulars
involved? What is the track record, etc?

In addition to those invitees, we
will also have it is not going to be just a
dog and pony show, but to have minority
and female businesses that actually have
benefited so that the public understands
that this is real, it is doable, it is not just
thetoric. So, we will have success stories
as well. But it will basically be part two
and he feels that is absolutely necessary
because you can get all the assistance you
want in preparing but going to the bank is
the biggest step right there. So we will
detail that and we will have bankers to the
table.

re
SS TESS

I want to commend Tim Johnson
of National City Bank for coming to the
Post Agenda last week but also to be able
to work with myself and Charles Reeves in
developing an agenda on how to
disseminate this information to minority
businesses as well as female owned
businesses. So J will be working with him
as well.

Of course, Mr. Al Jones who was
at the Post Agenda with SBA, I was not
aware and J should have said it at the time.
Had I known Mr. Al Jones of the Small
Business Association has been solicited as
the 1999 United States Small Business
Administration Pittsburgh District -- what
does that say Minority Business
Advocate of the Year. So congratulations
to him.

But again, we will have a
subsequent Post Agenda. Also, lastly I
want to extend apologies to Mr. Eustace
Uku of Exico Corporation who was
inadvertently omitted from the original list
of invitees but was invited approximately
two days prior to. He will be at the table
during the next Post Agenda. Again, it
was an oversight within the office. I
publicly apologize to him, but he
particularly was an entity that was around
prior to SBA becoming more friendly.
There was no black contractors
association; there was no entity out there
to help minority business, because I was a
minority business. I know what was out
there a decade ago, over a decade ago. It
was through entities like himself that
helped us get to the bank, to get a line of
credit to grow our business. If it were not
and Exico I don’t think we would have
grown at all. So, he will be at the table. I

376

believe that is all I have to say so I invite
you all.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Same subject. I think it was a good
idea of Valerie McDonald bringing into
the Council Chamber such a diverse group
of people. I had an opportunity Ms.
McDonald to view it on cable TV. Isawa
lot of people with good intentions, good
ideas, and with all do respect, however, I
saw a lack of a coordinated effort.

Maybe this is something that
Valerie and others can work on and if I am
mistaken in that Ms. McDonald can
correct me now, but I didn’t see a
coordinated effort. I saw some people
come to the table and come to the podium
and not even aware what other people are
doing. If I had an individual now that
wanted to go through that process, I
wouldn’t know who to tell him or her to
call to be perfectly frank with you. So
maybe after the bankers, what we should
do and maybe it is even getting a flow
chart together and maybe I just need to see
one individual or one organization or one
municipality to take the lead. That is the
only suggestion that I have for Ms.
McDonald and others.

Ms. McDonald:

To Counciiman Ricciardi he is
right on target. That was one of the
reasons that ] wanted to have this is to
came out some discussion that there isn’t 2
coordinated effort and it is very confusing.
Even with the substance of the Post
Agenda, maybe people are still confused,
but I think they at least understood that
there is a menu out there. There are
choices. You can use - there were four

entities that actually made a presentation
through the URA, the Business Center
with Mr. Charles Reeves, you had SBA,
Smal] Business Administration, you had
Linda Couch with the Black Contractors
Association, you had Mr. Eustace with
Exico. Again and there were other entities
that can do referrals like the Aftican
American Chamber of Commerce.

So, that is one of the issues that I
wanted to come out and I would love to
work with you on that is to be able to
coordinate something. I don’t know if
there is ever going to be one focal point,
think about it, I don’t think it is going to
work. But at least if there were some flow
charts so that people could understand if
you fall in this type of business, this is
where you go. If you fall in that type of
business, this is where you should go. So,
again I appreciate those comments and that
is a dilemma that I have too.

The Chair:

If I can compliment you on the
Post Agenda, I think it was outstanding. I
hate to echo what Mr, Ricciardi said, but
almost every person with a very structured
group and they looked like they really had
their act together, the only trouble was
each one said call me. So, there were four
or five call me. I don’t know how to solve
that. I think the four or five groups that
they really got together, they could
probably have one hotline that someone
has to call. It reminded me when my
daughter was going to college, I went to
five banks trying to get a loan, it was so
complicated. I just wrote it off. The
second time around I learned the system
and it worked. But it is very difficult and
everyone is in a tough situation. So I think
if something has to come out of it, it is

S77

something like who do you call first and
they guide you to the right organization.

Mr. Diven:

First of all 1 would like to
compliment Councilwoman McDonald on
her leadership on this particular issue. I
think we talked about all of this major
development. | think one of the key points
that we need to be focusing on is small
business development and neighborhood
development and her role as a leader in
that direction is something that is
desperately needed.

Also, I would like to point out, you
know, we have been working in the South
Hills, in particular in the Brookline
neighborhood with CTAC and their
neighborhood planning initiative where we
have brought together a number of
community organizations. And with the
help of people like Charles Reeves from
the URA who has done a fantastic job at
attending meetings for the past six months,
this evening we will be putting on kind of
a business summit. We have sent out
invitations to all the business owners, all
the landlords and people in the community
that would have an interest in being a part
of redeveloping the Brookline Boulevard
Business corridor and this is something
that hasn’t happened.

With the help of people like
Charles Reeves we can get into people’s
hands tangible directions where they need
to be going in order to start or improve
upon an existing business and improve
that whole corridor. So things like that are
the direction that we need to be pursuing
and that meeting will take place this
evening. There have been a number of
community organizations who have really

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put a lot of effort into organizing this and
doing it so it is structured, so you get the
right people in the room and people that
have a real interest in developing the
corridor.

We also have had two and a half
million dollars of private development
committed for that corridor. We are
working with the URA to try to expand the
streetface program into a non-CDBG
eligible area, These are directions that we
need to kind of put together a package
where we can take it on the road to all 88
neighborhoods. I hope that this is
something I hope to repeat in the other six
neighborhoods I represent, but without the
help of Councilwoman McDonald and her
leadership I think we would be a couple
steps further behind than we are right now.
But hopefully it will be a meeting that will
turn into something very positive for that
business corridor.

The Chair:

That sounds very exciting and
maybe like you say a task force that we all
can duplicate. If the URA has it together
and organize it, we can all take it to our
different neighborhoods.

Mr. Diven:

I think one of the biggest problems
is people don’t think to ask what is
available. If we could be a little more
proactive and taking it out into the
communities and showing it to potential
business owners or existing business
owners that there is assistance here. And
there are technical advice and financial
advice and grant applications, that they
could be pursuing what they have no

knowledge about then the chance of
success is going to be that much greater.

The Chair:
Very good. Thank you.
Ms. McDonald:

I wanted to say | will be also
coordinating not only with whoever wants
to at the table but with the leadership of
Councilman Udin who has been extremely
busy and active in Plan B in making sure
that small business, minority businesses,
female owned businesses all kind of
disadvantaged businesses are afforded the
opportunity and the information. It is an
uphill battle. It is extremely complicated
and huge and he tends to sometimes take
the heat but I applaud his efforts for
making sure that we are kept abreast of the
Plan B developments. And again what are
the goings on in terms of accessing
business opportunities with Plan B. Of
course, I will be coordinating all efforts,
making sure that we are all on the same
page and coordinated as well as with small
- what you have been an advocate of,
Mike, is small neighborhood business
development, as well as Councilman
Ferlo. He has been on the forefront of this
fight for a long time.

Mr. Cohen:
IT also want to commend
Councilwoman McDonald for her

leadership and Councilman Udin and look
forward to working with them on that
issue.

I wanted to bring up a different
issue this moming. That is about the lease
agreements involving Plan B with the

SS 8 OOOO

Pirates and the Steelers. I am and continue
to be a strong supporter of Plan B but at
the same time believe that the details of
Plan B need to be examined. That they
need to be inherently fair, and fair to the
Pirates and Steelers yes but at the same
time fair to the public. Given that we all
know that the public is financing the
largest portion of the stadiums and will
own them. It is fair to ask that a
significant portion of the multiple revenue
streams flowing from those stadiums come
back to the public.

I have raised some questions about
the draft lease agreements in a letter to my
colleagues on the Public Auditorium
Authority Board. They basically fall into
three major areas. One is rent, two is gate
receipts especially for non-game day
events and what that means is events that
are neither Steeler nor Pirate games, and
third parking.

There are some red flags that came
up when I read through the lease
agreement. By the way, I only have the
lease agreement from the Pirates, the
Steelers lease agreement has not been
given to the board yet or certainly not to
the public. But the red flags include things
like the fact that right now the Pirates are
paying $1.3 million in rent at Three Rivers
Stadium, they will be paying $100,000 in
Tent at the new PNC Park.

The Steelers are paying $852,000
in rent at Three Rivers Stadium they will
be paying $250,000 at the Steeler stadium.
In the memorandum of intent for the
Steelers it says that the Steelers will get a
credit against rent for cost overruns which
at least in my mind goes against what we
have heard for a long time which is that
both teams will assume all cost overruns.

579

At the same time, for non-game
day events, again non-Steeler, non-Pirate
games right now the Steelers at least in the
memorandum of intent the Steelers would
get 100% of non-game day sporting
events. That would include the Pitt
Panthers, it would include WPIAL,
whatever other sporting events they might
have at the new Steeler stadium. They
would get 85% of non-sporting events.
The Pirates would get 85% of non-game
day events. In my mind, the public should
be getting a greater percentage of that
given that these aren’t Pirate or Steeler
games, these are other events that are
taking place in a public stadium.

Obviously these issues and others
like parking will have a tremendous effect
on the city. The facilities are in the city,
city residents will be going to them,
taxpayers money albeit from a regional
sales tax but nevertheless city taxpayers
money will be going into them. I think
that we need to have as much information
as possible about this whole issue.

The first thing I wanted to ask for
is when I get them I am going to circulate
the leases to my colleagues on City
Council and would very much like your
comments. Because every one of you has
different areas of expertise and I would
very much like your comments on these
leases. As I said, I only have the Pirates
lease, I just got it on Thursday. Hopefully
we will get the Steelers draft lease some
time soon and I will circulate it to my
colleagues and would very much like your
comments on it. I can run down through
the line as everyone of you having a
different area that I think you would be
very helpful on.

ee
oe

The second is I think we need to
have information about other stadiums
around the country and what their lease
agreements are. So, I would like to ask the
City Controller to do a report on what
other stadium leases are. Now these of
course would have to be select stadiums
around the country hopefully recent
stadiums, baseball and football and for the
City Controller, Tom Flaherty, to do a
report on that and to present that report to
Council.

It is not an audit. We wouldn’t be
of course auditing any of the functions of
the Auditorium Authority. But rather just
a report that would provide us information
that would help us I think in reviewing
these leases and deciding whether they are
a fair deal for the public as well as being a
fair deal for the teams.

So, I would like to put that in the
form of a motion but before I do, let me
just make one last comment and that is
some people are saying that these lease
agreements are set in stone, that they are a
done deal. Let me make something clear,
these lease agreements have not been
released to the public, only one of them
was even released to me as a member of
the Auditorium Authority Board at the end
of the day on Thursday we haven’t gotten
the other one, The Public Auditorium
Authority Board has not voted on these
leases yet, so to say that they are set in
stone in my view really doesn’t give
credence to the public process.

This has to be a public process
because these are public facilities. The
public is paying the largest portion of the
financing of these facilities and the public
will own them. So I don’t accept that these
lease agreements are set in stone.

Moreover, the term of the leases is 29 4
years, that is a long time. We will not be
able to change any term of the lease for 29
‘% years. This really is our opportunity to
make sure that these lease agreements are
done right and that they are done fairly.

So, I would like to ask my
colleagues to give me your comments as
soon as we get these leases ourselves and
get them out to you. And secondly to ask
the City Controller to do a report on
stadiums around the country and their
lease agreements and I would like to put
that in the form of a motion.

Mr. Ricciardi:
What is the motion?
Mr. Cohen:

The motion is to have the entire
City Council ask City Controller Tom
Flaherty to do a report on selected
stadiums, recent stadiums around the
country what their lease agreements are
like so that we can have that information
to make an informed judgment.

MR. RICCIARDI
discussion.

seconded for

Mr. Ricciardi:

I will just have discussion on the
resolution, but after that I do have some
remarks that I would like to direct towards
this particular issue. Obviously I support
the resolution. But at the same time I want
to realize that we look at the city I hope we
look at the City of Pittsburgh as individual.
Meaning that I am not that concemed on
what other cities do. I am very concerned
with what we do with the city’s tax money.

ee
=e

But I think Mr. Cohen is right, information
is power and the more information we
have to review the subject matter would be
good so I am voting for that.

But afterwards, I] would like to
have some comments, Mr. President.

Mr. Cohen:

1 think Councilman Ricciardi raises
a good point. We need to structure a deal
that is good for Pittsburgh. However, it
would be good to at least look at other
lease agreements to use that as a factor in
our decision and to see whether the draft
lease agreements for the Steelers and the
Pirates how it compares to those others. It
wouldn’t be a determinative factor but it
would be a factor.

The Chair:

Let me ask a couple questions I
have, When you are going basically from
a million dollar rent to a hundred or two
hundred thousand is this going to be a
triple net lease? Does that mean once they
take over, don’t cail us if the roof leaks,
don’t call us for 29 years? There are some
positives there. Also, who pays for the
traffic, hopefully it is a sell out. J mean
what money is coming back to the city for
police officers, traffic, EMS all the things
that we have to put in? Is it just going to
be the half percent amusement tax, the
parking tax would that be in the form of a
TIF, does that have to come back to us? I
mean I wouldn’t believe that they could
just give away the parking revenues, the
31% parking revenues without coming
back to Council.

Mr. Cohen:

381

The amusement tax and the
parking tax would come directly to us.
There is no question about that.

The Chair:

So there are no TIF’s on any
parking?

Mr. Cohen:
That is right.
The Chair:

So you are talking about where the
excess money whether we own the parking
lots or whoever owns them.

Mr. Cohen:

Well, Mr. President, where the
revenues go from the parking after paying
taxes and other expenses where the
revenue is going to go. Are they going to
go to the teams or are they going to go
back to the public?

The Chair:

All right. And will Council have
any vote on anything outside of a few
zoning issues?

Mr. Cohen:

It doesn’t appear that way. That is
really why I am bringing this up before
Council because I view myself to be a
Tepresentative really from Council on the
Auditorium Authority. So, as far as I know
they will not be voting on the leases and
that is why I would like your comments on
them.

= eee

The Chair:

I guess one last question. Mr.
Onorato sits on the Stadium Authority, are
they playing any part in these two new
stadiums or is it just the Auditorium
Authority now? I know there is going to
be a super authority whenever, some day?

Mr. Onorato:

The Stadium Authority to this
point is taking full responsibility for the
acquisition and demolition of the buildings
and preparing the site for the Steeler
Stadium. As soon as the bond issue is — we
go out on a bond issue and that will be the
Auditorium Authority, there will be two of
them. As soon as the money is brought in
from the bond issues, all of the
responsibilities and liabilities and future
operations of the new facilities will be
under -- the Auditorium Authority will be
transferred at that point, which could be in
a month or two month period. Then the
Stadium Authority would just be an
authority to run out the life of Three
Rivers and hopefully hold a big auction in
about a year and a half.

The Chair:

Now I think I know the answer as
you are speaking, but for the general
public I guess the answer is because you
are only a city entity now and this would
be a City, County, State.

Mr. Onorato:

That is correct. And the new bond
issue will be done at the Auditorium
Authority, which is the County, City
Authority, not through the Stadium
Authority.

582

The Chair:

So, one of the positives for the
general public at least city residents we are
shifting all the burden that we once had
over to a city, county, state authority so
that we don't bear the burden of the old
$40 million stadium? So, that is probably
the biggest benefit to the City of
Pittsburgh.

Mr. Onorato:

But it should be pointed out, Mr.
President, that that burden started to shift
with the Regional Assets District because
the Stadium Authority currently receives
ten million a year, which is countywide
dollars. So, we should be fair about that.
The burden shifted from city only about
three or four years ago once RAD was put
into place.

The Chair:

Allright. Any other questions on ~
I think we do need an update and a draft.
1 will let it be up to you, but you may want
to schedule a Post Agenda at least when
the drafts start coming in because again a
triple net lease with them paying for
everything could be much better than what
we have even if the rent isn’t as good.
Again, you have to see all the plus and
minuses.

Mr. Cohen:

That is right and with your
familiarity in the Real Estate area and the
business area, your expertise there and
certainly Councilman Onorato’s on the
Stadium Authority and everybody else’s, I
think that we could have a good public

dialogue on this issue. I think we need to
have a public dialogue on this issue.

There are other revenue sources
other than rent but as I view them two
items in particular take ticket surcharge
and what is called excess gate, but neither
of them kick in until the Pirates have
tremendous amount of revenues. For
ticket surcharge it doesn’t kick in until the
Pirates hit $30 million. Remember, their
total revenues last year were $18 million.
With excess gate it doesn’t kick in until
the Pirates reach $44.5 million in just
ticket sales in a single season. So, we
need to analyze these closely.

The Chair:

I don’t think that -- hopefully it
happens but that might be a sell out before
it happens all year.

Ms. McDonald:

Yes, I want to applaud Councilman
Cohen’s efforts in being very meticulous
about reviewing the lease agreements and
his dedication to serving Council on the
Public Auditorium Authority Board. I was
not aware of the cost overruns, we were
presented very clearly when we talked
about Plan B is that the teams would
assume cost overruns. That was also
printed in the paper. That has been in the
media and it disappoints me to hear that oh
yeah they will pay for it but they get a
credit against their lease, against their rent.

So, again I am glad that you
brought some of these things up so that the
public will be aware, so that Council
members are aware because I personally
was mislead on that. I think I have less
concerns about the long term lease

583

agreement per say because 1 am sure that
there are details in there and ] am sure
Controller Flaherty will bring that up in
whatever audit he performs. But there are
particulars or details in there that try to
stabilize the teams that basically are
incentives to keep the teams here. It is
going to be an ongoing effort.

I am not saying I agree with all of
them, but I am at least a little more
receptive to that than I am to the cost
overruns. I am very concerned and I think
I will be more hard nosed about the actual
construction because you are dealing with
construction and we were told very clearly
they would assume all cost overruns. That
means in their own pockets, not taking it
out of somewhere else, but in their own
pockets. So, I would like to — I look
forward to the review of the information
we get from Controller Flaherty as well as
the draft of the lease agreements. And we
look forward to your leadership as well as
well as Councilman Onorato to put up
because if it is a real thick thing, Dan, I
can tell you I may not read it all. But to
give me an executive summary of where
we should look.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Same issue. Would you like to
vote first on the resolution?

The Chair:

Are we ready?

Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ricciardi:
Thank you. Same issue. Well

before Councilman Dan Cohen gave his
remarks I was going to take the

SSS

opportunity this morning to thank Mr.
Cohen and commend him for his fine work
on the Public Auditorium Authority in
protecting the interest of all taxpayers.
Taxpayers of the region, state taxpayers,
county taxpayers, and city taxpayers. I
think he has raised some very, very good
points.

To answer one of your questions,
Mr. O’Connor, do we have input in terms
of votes? We have had a number of votes
here at City Council where we had an
opportunity to be a part of Plan B. I voted
no on each one of them and I will continue
to vote no and there will be more votes.

I am going to touch upon this
because I want to end off on something
very positive, but am I surprised by the
draft of the lease? No. Because it has
been a give away from the beginning and it
is going to be a give away towards the
middle and at the end it is also going to be
a big give away. Is it true economic
development if you took all of those
millions of dollars up to a billion dollars
and put them into creating real jobs then I
could understand why we would be so
generous to these franchises. But I am
going to set all of that aside and actually
touch upon something positive and Mr.
Cohen can bring this back to the Public
Auditorium Authority.

But it is my understanding now
many vendors Mr. Cohen and others who
are approaching the Public Auditorium
Authority for contracts. For contracts for
vending privileges and in order to sell their
food, their refreshments and their goods
within the stadium and outside the
stadium. What I hope that we can do is
take this opportunity to showcase
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and

384

Western Pennsylvania products. I am
hoping that ! hear through the grapevines
that all the vendors are meeting now with
Mr. Leeper and others I am hoping we
don’t fall away from our products.

Just looking at beer for example, I
realize that Coors Light Beer is one of the
biggest sellers throughout the country and
in this area, but I don’t think it is better
than any of our beers including IC Light.
So, I hope that we don’t fall into
marketing of someone like Coors Beer
from Colorado and pass up someone from
the Lawrenceville area such as IC Light. I
am going all the way through sausage for
example. We got great sausage in McKees
Rocks, Stowe Township, we got great
sausage in the South Side. We got great
pierogies and Mr. Onorato is correct.

So, what I hope that Mr. Cohen
will bring back to the board, I hope that
this will be an opportunity to showcase
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
products. I am hoping this is an
opportunity that any revenues that are
generated and any business people that are
going to make money I hope it is
Allegheny County people. I hope it is not
people from outside the region that is
going to sell their goods, their wares, their
refreshments and their food within that
stadium. It should showcase Pittsburgh
products.

Mr. Cohen, I hope you take that
forward but it is my understanding that the
next three to six months is the window of
opportunity. It is my understanding
through the grapevine that within the next
three to six months that everything is
going to be a done deal, the contracts,
vendors are meeting now with the Public
Auditorium Authority and contracts will

be drawn up very closely. I know Mr.
Robinson from the Hill District that also
represents parts of my district is giving a
report card for the construction phase of
inclusion of the minority community and
the Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
community. I think I am going to give a
report card with hopefully the support of
Mr, Cohen who has been doing a fine job
on the Public Auditorium Authority. But I
am going to be doing a report card for
showcasing Pittsburgh products. The
report card will come out every time
contracts are let out by the Public
Auditorium Authority.

We will see if they go to McKees
Rocks and Stowe Township and the Mon
Valley and the Southside of Lawrenceville,
let us see if they go to Westem
Pennsylvania, Fayette Township, Butler
County, or let’s see if they go all the way
out to Colorado and bring in a non-union
beer such as Coors Light. Thank you.

Mr. Diven:

I think Mr. Ricciardi hits on a very,
very good point. We really need to take the
next three to six months and make sure
that we are not being a pennywise and a
pound-foolish. I think we have to be able
to look past the basic numbers and figure
out what kind of impact it is going to have
in the community as a whole.

One of the things that I have talked
about, in fact I had a very good
conversation with a gentleman who owns a
restaurant in the South Hills that has been
recognized as one of the best restaurants.
In fact I will mention it, Amels Restaurant,
it has been telled as one of the best
restaurants in Pittsburgh for years. It has
been in existence for 30 years. I talked to

him about would he have any interest in
being a part of Plan B or some of the spin
off development around Plan B.

One of the questions J have is are
we going out and are we looking at local
business owners and local business people
that have had a serious and positive track
record of not only performing the job
beyond any expectation or to the highest
level of quality but also have been good
community people in the City of
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County? 1 think
we have to make a concerted effort over
the next three to six months to make sure
that those kinds of people are at the table.
Because I think when we go out and we
start talking about these national
franchises or national chains like you
know you hear the Hard Rock Café or
these kind of national chains, if they come
and within seven years they’re not tuming
a profit, they are going to pull up and
leave. We are going to have vacancies
there and the novelty of new stadiums is
going to be long gone and we are going to
have to scramble around and try to fill
voids in order to maintain a complete
package that everybody keeps talking
about with this development.

1 think there should be some kind
of concerted effort to reach out to business
owners who have had a tremendous impact
in our region for years. Give them the
opportunity to put whether they have to go
out and leverage financing through the
URA’s so that they can compete with
some of these national chains. I think we
need to spend the time and do it right the
first time and encourage local businesses
because they have a stake in our
community and they have a proven track
record. And if we don’t reach out to these
people and seven or ten years when these

—eeSeSellEEoee

national chains go belly up or find their
margin of profit isn’t what they want out
of the Pittsburgh region, we’re going to
have some tremendous holes that we need
to fill. In thirty years we might be sitting
back and talking about all the development
that was proposed to be surrounding the
new stadiums like we did with the debate
around Three Rivers.

You know thirty years ago there
was a grand scheme that had everything
for everyone to be incorporated with that
stadium and for whatever reason that never
transpired. One of the things that I would
think is if we have local people who have
built a business and a reputation and have
family here, they are more apt to stick with
it through the long haul and make sure that
the uniqueness and the flavor of Pittsburgh
is represented and at the same time be
willing to sacrifice in the long run to just
be a productive business owner in the City
of Pittsburgh. So that is one thing that I
would like to see in the next three to six
months is that we have a concerted effort
to reach out to people that are going to be
here for the next fifty years.

The Chair:

You may remember or maybe you
worked for the county at the time, Mr.
Foerster I think was very wise at the
airport before they opened. I had a
business then too, and we were all Westen
Pennsylvania Business people were invited
to participate. You knew what was
coming, what was available, and in some
cases even if it was a franchise, they made
sure the local person was a franchisee. |
know the McDonald, Roy Rogers were a
local franchisees. I know a couple of
minority owners were there including

586

small business people who had their own
business.

The same with the pricing you
know so I think the role model of the
county may be something we want to look
at or if it is in place. Just what Mr.
Ricciardi said we were all invited and you
knew what the percentages were and you
bid and lobbied and there was some
preference for a local. J can’t remember
the exact percentage whether it was half or
what was going to be local ownership.

Mr. Diven:

That is an excellent point. If all
things are equal between a local person
and a national chain or if the local person
is slightly less than what the national chain
has to offer. We need to air in favor of the
local person because that is the reason we
are investing so much money into these
products or with the stadiums and the
convention centers. If we don’t make that
investment pan out to the greater
community then we are going to be
throwing good money after bad.

The Chair:

My point and it came up with Ms.
McDonald’s meeting is even if it is a
national chain there can be a local
franchisee who buys and runs and
operates.

Mr. Diven:

But my point that I originally made
was in talking with Mr. Reiland from
Amels asking him if there has been any
kind of contact or anybody solicit him or
other people that he knows in business,

and the response was that nobody has
reached out to those kind of people.

The Chair:

Again, I would request you and
possibly with Mr. Cohen, write Mr. Leeper
a letter. Let’s see what they’re timing.
You know there is a two year window but
Tam sure within a year when they start
building these to specs whether it be a sit
down restaurant, a fast food or whatever it
maybe chaos that the local participation is
part of the planning. I know the airport
just had a large meeting and everyone was
invited and everyone knew the game plan.
It worked very well. So we should request
that and make sure it is on his agenda.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes, and thank you about that, Mr.
©’Connor. Except I don’t believe we have
a two-year window. I think the window of
opportunity is between three and six
months. Something else I would like to
challenge the sport franchises too and also
the Public Auditorium Authority has been
very successful under the leadership of Mr.
Foerster at the airport and that is street
prices. There are many people that go out
to the airport just to shop because it is
worthwhile.

So I would really like to see both
stadiums really offer affordable products
and affordable refreshments and food. I
think people would purchase more, I think
they would make the money on quantity.
Since it is such heavily subsidized by
public dollars really maybe some subsidy
should really go to the refreshments and
food and we should have decent prices. I
mean look at the Pirates and I believe what
$40 million they say they are putting in,

587

well they are taking the money from PNC
for naming rights, they are getting credit
for naming a public facility. It is a public
facility; it is not their private facility. That
money that PNC is putting into the
stadiums or putting into the funds and the
kicker, J don’t believe really truly comes
from the Pirates it is another subsidy that
Teally should becoming from the public
because it is a public facility.

But I really - and I don’t want to
lose track of this, I really want to thank
Dan Cohen for really standing up because
there is a lot of special interest groups
there. Mr. Cohen has been very honest
with us and I think he has been a solid
supporter of Plan B, he believes in it. He
believes it is true economic development
but at the same time he is going to really
watch out for the interest and the good of
the taxpayer. I really want to commend
Mr. Cohen for that opportunity to view
him somewhat on television for about five,
ten minutes and he really handled himself
quite well on that station in defense of the
taxpayers so thank you.

The Chair:

Thank you, Mr. Cohen.
Okay, anything else on the agenda?

There are a few, { do want to
congratulate Mr. Ferlo. I know Mr. Diven
you were there and other members for his
comedy night. The money Saturday night
went to the food pantries and it really was
an excellent night and he was very
successful at it. 1 think it was his second
annual night. Hopefully he continues that.

We have a Post Agenda Thursday,
at 2:00 p.m., Pittsburgh Works Post
Agenda will be Thursday afternoon.

—8eesSs—s=$SaoaaSS SSS
Wednesday, tomorrow at 2:00 we will

have a Public Hearing on the health

systems, UPMC health systems and sports

medicine campus on Carson Street. We

will have an Executive Session tomorrow

morning at 9:15 on Bill 1453.

I would like a motion to excuse the
absent member; Mr. Hertzberg is out of

town.

MR. COHEN moved to excuse the absent
member.

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. COHEN moved to approve the
minutes.

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. COHEN moved to adjourn the
meeting.

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.

And on the motion made by Mr. Cohen,
the meeting adjourned.

MUNICIPAL RECORD
Proceedings of the Council of the Citv of Pittsburgh
oa

VOL, CXXXTII

Municipal Record

ONE-HUNDRED
THIRTIETH COUNCIL

BOB O'CONNOR onecsetsmeenesnesnes President
LINDA M. JOHNSON-WASLER.... City Clerk
JOHN R. MASCIO ....n.suee Deputy City Clerk

Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday, April 13, 1999

PRESENT:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato
Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin

Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor

Ms. McDonald (Pres't)

The Chair:

All please rise for the pledge of
allegiance and remain standing for a
moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the world.

We are fortunate to have a couple
youngsters to do the pledge today. We
have Adam Flanagan and his sister
Kaitlyn, Adam is ten years old and his
sister is three. He's a Boy Scout, Troop
90, and with him are his cousins from
Ligonier, Bobby Stano and Nick who are

April 13, 1999

589

No. 15

eight and a half and five and they are
accompanied by Mrs. Flanagan whose the
wife of Rick Flanagan head of the
Bloomfield Garfield Association.

Adam Flanagan,
Stano:

Bobby and Nick

I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.

The Chair:

Thank you. They're in Councilman
Ferlo's District and here we have a gift for
you guys and ladies. Let's get a picture.

We have many special guests in the
audience today.

PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Diven:

At this time I would like to call up
Ms. Pasqualena Mitchell and her friends
and family and guests. You guys can all
come up, come on up.

Colleagues, this is a great honor to
have Pasqualena in our chambers today.
Not only has she done some fantastic work
working with youth and being a
motivational speaker, but she's also a two
time national champion and she is a
resident of the Fourth Council District.

We wanted to bring her in today
and recognize her for not only her athletic
achievements in becoming a national
championship in a sport that takes
probably one of the toughest sports to
compete in and she has succeeded. She
has become the best in her field, but also
we wanted to recognize her for her
dedication and her ability to go out and
work with the youth in the community.
Let them know about the dangers of
drinking and driving and the struggle that
she had to come over in dealing with
things in her life and the success that she
was able to achieve. So with that I would
like to read the proclamation recognizing
her.

MR. DIVEN PRESENTS:

No. 1478 WHEREAS, on June 6,
1977, at the age of 17, Pasqualena
Mitchell was involved in a_ serious
automobile accident fueled by alcohol and;

WHEREAS, Pasqualena sustained
a C 6, 7 spinal cord injury and was told
she would never walk again and;

WHEREAS, Pasqualena's life was
forever changed and her courage to come
back stretches over the last 21 years in
defiance of medical expertise and;

WHEREAS, Pasqualena _has
overcome years of coping and dealing with
the consequences of drinking and driving,

severe physical injury, and painful
rehabilitation and;
WHEREAS, Pasqualena began

working out with weights to gain upper
body strength and now holds the title of
National Women's Wheelchair Body

590

Building Champion for the second year in
a row and;

WHEREAS, Pasqualena__—has.
continued to pursue her education and is
about to reach her goal of obtaining a dual
Associates Degree in Business
Management and Accounting Specialist
and;

WHEREAS, Pasqualena _has
become a motivational speaker and has
spoken to thousands of students on the
consequences of drinking and driving.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend
Pasquelina Mitchell for inspiring others
and providing prevention through being a
positive example of how one can
overcome adversity and achieve success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare Tuesday, April 13,
1999, “Pasqualena Mitchell Day" in the
City of Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved
resolution.

to adopt the

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Diven:

With us we have some special
guests of Pasqualena. One is her sister,
Carmelia Markovitch. You want to come
up and say a few words?

Mrs. Markovitch:

—[[ClcC eS aaa eae eee

Good morning and it's an honor to
be here on behalf of my sister and in the
presence of City Council. You will
probably hear me echo a few things that
Councilman Diven has said because
Pasqualena and I have worked very close
on her project over the last five years.

On June 6, 1977 at the fragile age
of 17, my sister, Pasqualena, was
permanently disabled as a result of a
serious automobile crash, and of course
her life was changed forever. She
sustained a spinal cord injury and we were
told she would never walk again. Her
courage to come back stretches over the
last 22 years. And she is an inspiration not
only to the. physically disabled and
physically injured, for anyone who has
been wounded by life and searches for the
strength to go on.

Her story is also a triumphant
testimony of coping and dealing with the
consequences of drinking and driving,
severe physical _injury, painful
rehabilitation, depression and despair and
of drug abuse and its devastating effects.
Her story carries a strong message of
tenewed faith as well as physical, mental
and spiritual strength. She has overcome
enormous odds. Gratefulness aspires her
to give something back and she believes in
her heart it is God's will for her to share
her story in an effort to prevent further
tragedies.

As her oldest sister I speak for the
entire family and all of our friends when I
Say we are very, very proud of her.

We thank you city and county for
recognizing her. It gives us great pleasure
to see her receive such a distinguished

591

acknowledgement.
Mr. Diven:

Also, we would like to ask
Reverend Markus Harvey of the CEO of
Strength, Incorporated.

Reverend Harvey:

Good moming. I'm going to make
this kind of short because like any other
preacher, you get a mic you want to run
your mouth. This is Patty's day.

We sponsor Patty. Strength
Incorporated. We are located in
Wilkinsburg, 701 Wood Street. We work
in the field of prevention and substance
abuse and education. We are a resource
and referral center. We are a 501C3. We
run programs in different schools and the
jails throughout the community.

Patty and I have a relationship over
ten years. I am one of Patty's spiritual
advisors, myself and another woman by
the name of Lynn Spally (phonetic), she is
out there. We can remember empowering
Patty to go ahead and do what she wanted
to do as far as getting her message out to
the people. And what she does best is talk
to kids about you don't have to live like
this. This is the end result.

One of the most important things
about Patty’s strength is inner strength.
The strength she has inside that we all
have. And she has been able to utilize and
tap into that. But I want everybody to see
something, Patty take your jacket off,
please. This is why she is here. She is the
second time national wheel chair
champion. Look at her muscles and look
at this woman. Look at the strength. Now

ee
—SS—S eee

you know why we are all standing here.
Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?
And just as her muscles are that's how her
spirit is. Her spirit is more powerful than
all of us in here put together. So you truly
know God works. Thank you.

Mr. Diven:

We want to thank you and give you
the opportunity to speak and tell us a little
bit about your story. I know it is a
tremendous one. She is a champion in
every sense of the word.

Ms. Mitchell:

First of all, I would like to thank
you, Councilman Diven, for being aware
of what is happening in your district and
actually calling me and inviting me here
and for bringing this to the other Council
to be voted upon. It really is an honor to
be here and it is really important for me to
know that you're paying attention to what
is going on. So I would like to
acknowledge you for that.

I would like to thank everyone for
being here. You know 22 years ago I
would have never made it without family,
faith and friends, And that's what has
brought me a long hard way. There is just
not enough time for me to go into saying
the things that there is so much that I have
to say but what I do by going out and
carrying the message and telling the story
about the tragic event that went on June 6,
1977. Why I do it is because it comes
from the heart. All I do is go out and tell
the truth. I just speak the truth about being
17 and not having goals, not being focused
on education and being a teenager that was
about having a good time and paying some
severe consequences for living that way.

592

I paid heavy consequences and not
only did I pay the consequences, but it had
a rippling effect on my family and
everyone around me. And it dawned on
me a few years ago after having a
Godchild who would confide in me that if
I could have an impact on her life, and I
don't have any biological children of my
own, that I was here to go out and love all
of God's children and take the message of
faith and hope out to whoever I possibly
could. And that is my mission. I believe
that that is God's will for me.

The Mothers Against Drunk
Drivers, Dr. Baxter, has called upon me
and I was asked to be the keynote speaker
this year at the Eighth Annual Youth
Conference that was held in Monroeville.
Strength Incorporated has stood beside me
and just been there and helped me to get
the message out there. I am more than
happy to do what I do. I do it because I
know the importance of needing to guide
our children. The children are all of our
future and I believe, I know what's going
on out in the streets. It may be a little
more hidden today than it was when I was
coming up, but it is still going on and it
still needs to be addressed. And as many
schools that call me that's as many places I
will try to make it to.

I have calls coming in from East
Liverpool, Ohio, at this point. But there is
just not enough exposure. You know what
Lam hearing is other programs don't work.
Well I have boxes and boxes of evaluation
forms that I can show you, anyone, in any
form of government that will tell you how
these kids are evaluating what it is that I
am taking to them. All I am doing is going
up there and sitting and telling them that
look if you are using drugs and you feel
there is no way out, there is a way out. I

=—e ooo

am the evidence of it.

I am here to tell you that there is
hope. I am trying to bring the message of
hope to them. I am trying to bring the
message of hope to the physically
challenged. If you think you can't take
another day, I was told I would never walk
again. I was told I would never have an
abdomen muscle. I was told -- you know
six years ago I couldn't even lift my amms I
was in so much pain. I started going to the
gym and I said three words -- Jesus help
me. And I know that my life changed six
years ago.

I kept going in this direction and
taking this message out there and it has
continued to change and it is better than I
have ever imagined it could possibly be. I
can't believe that I can be a contribution to
society today by telling the truth. The
truth is that I made mistakes and I suffered
severe consequences for them. I don't go
in and tell young people just say no. I
don't go in and tell them what to do. I
wheel in as evidence that's all. I just go in
and say look this is what happened in a
split second. So if you want to play
Russian Roulette that's up to you with your
life because that's exactly what I did. I
knew better. I was raised to know better. I
knew right from wrong, good from bad.
But you know, I still made poor choices,
and suffered consequences for them.

I just want to thank everybody.
There have been so many people that are
linked in the chain that has been going —
the chain is so long it covers 22 years but
every single link in that chain that
Tepresents a person there is a reason for
them having been in my life. And there is
a reason that I have been in their life. You
know I go out into the bodybuilding arena

and I do it just to stay in shape. I work out
to stay fit, to stay in shape, however when
I go out and I pose, I do it to spiritual
music and this year "When You Believe "
that was my music, not Bad To The Bone.
My message is there can be miracles when
you believe, and I am the evidence of that,
And yes I flex my muscles but I am
flexing, you know people see that outer
muscle but the message that I am
conveying is always, always about inner
strength. Because I can do all things
through Christ whose strengthens me,
And J thank you so much for inviting me
here,

Mr. Diven:

Did you want to give the number
for Strength Incorporated incase somebody
watching TV would have an interest in
asking you out to speak at an event?

Ms. Mitchell:

I would love to. You can reach,
just call Strength Incorporated,
412-244-0329. Again my name is
Pasqualena Mitchell. Some people like
Reverend Harvey call me Patty, PQ, just
tell them the women who is going to be 40
with the gray streak in her hair that is
sitting down because she made a mistake.
All of our services are free. So if you feel
like you need help if you are in a group of
whatever it may be, it is not just about me.
I am just-- it is not about Pasqualena
Mitchell, all the Pasqualena Mitchell’s out
there. Please give us a call and see what
we can do and how we can help.

The Chair:

Molly Knox and Barbara Farrell
please come up and I would like Gene

ey
— oe

Ricciardi to help me present this. This is
sponsored by all Council members. I have
known Molly many years and she has a
wonderful organization on the Southside
and actually I don't know if you give tours
but the building itself which you have
done the physical plant besides what has
been done emotionally inside is fantastic.
If you haven't been there you are really
missing out on a wonderful place that
unfortunately is needed in Pittsburgh. We
are fortunate to have it and you two young
ladies for helping us. Barbara is better
known as Hooksbarrel's (phonetic)
daughter, so if you need any golf lessons,
she didn't even bring her clubs either. Let
me read the proclamation.

MR. O'CONNOR AND MR.
RICCIARDI AND ALL COUNCIL
MEMBERS PRESENT:

No. 1479 WHEREAS, Pittsburgh
Action Against Rape (PAAR) is a private
non-profit organization founded in 1972
by a group of lawyers, health professionals
and activists who believed that victims of

sexual assault should have expert

assistance directly following __ the

commission of the crime; and,
WHEREAS, PAAR began

providing sexual assault hotline services
and medical/legal advocacy, staffed by
volunteers with professional skills in
social work and psychology providing
victim services in 1974; and,

WHEREAS, the designation of
1979 as the Year of the Child resulted in
an increased public awareness of child
abuse and the corresponding demand for
help for child victims of sexual assault and
incest; and,

594

WHEREAS, PAAR responded to
this need by hiring staff to work
specifically with victims of child assault
and today, provides comprehensive, free
services to child and adult victims of

sexual abuse throughout Allegheny
County; and,
WHEREAS, PAAR - services

include crisis intervention, including a 24-
hour hotline, medical and legal advocacy
and crisis counseling; group counseling
and long-term individual counseling; and,

WHEREAS, PAAR has
consistently provided more hours of direct
services than any other rape crisis center in
Pennsylvania.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend
PAAR for their dedication and
commitment to victims of sexual assault;
and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare April 19-25, 1999,
"Sexual Assault Awareness Week” in the
City of Pittsburgh.

MS. MCDONALD moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:
Again, I have had the privilege of
being there and it is a fantastic place to go

if you need it and it is a wonderful feeling
that we have people like you and the

Eee

services you have. The different floors,
different things for children. I was so
impressed and I am always trying to be as
active as ] can and as helpful as I can. |
know, Mr. Ricciardi, you want to say a
few words it's in your district.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes. Thank you very much.
PAAR, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape
has been supported over the years by City
Council, this legislative body and past
administrations. As Mr. O'Connor stated
in his opening remarks, it's fortunate that
we have them, but obviously unfortunate
that their services are needed.

The Southside in the City of
Pittsburgh has been blessed to host the
center. Number one, they took an old
dilapidated building and made it a jewel
for District Three. But beyond bricks and
mortar what they do inside the building is
so, so important what Molly Knox and
Barbara and her other staff members do for
adults, adolescents, especially children.
But where I am very thankful to have
PAAR is not only are they helping those
that have suffered sexual abuse but they
are out there preventing, teaching others,
especially children on how to say no. On
how to protect themselves. They are just a
fine organization and I am so happy they're
here today. I want to thank Mr. O'Connor
for bringing them forward. Thank you.

Ms. Knox:

I am delighted to be here this
moming. It's good to see each of you.
Sexual Assault Awareness Week is a long
title for really the focus on let's get rid of
the violence in this community particularly
against women and children. And I

thought it would be inappropriate to come
here without bringing you something that
might stick in your hearts. So I brought
each of you, each Council member and
each of you a pin. IJ wear one, it is called
the clothesline pin and you get to choose
which one you get in this little basket.
And what they symbolize is showing
America’s dirty laundry about sexual
abuse. The secret that is not told, the
shame that is not heard, the victim that is
primarily the child. And truth be told it is
not raped adult women victims that we see
the most of. We see the most of children,
650 children in counseling every year and
adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse
who were abused as children.

So I invite you to come and tour
our facility because what we do there is
healing work. Healing work. We help
people get on the other side of trauma that
can stop their lives and put their lives on
hold or they can choose to go forward with
information, support and help.

I want to thank several people this
morning. Each of you on Council who has
made it possible for us to receive funding
each year, it's been important to us in ways
that you may never know. I want to thank
Gene Ricciardi for being a supporter from
the very beginning when the Southside
wasn't quite sure that they wanted to have
a rape crises center there. They thought
we might bring rapists to their area. Far be
it for us to bring rapists. I want to thank
Bob O'Connor who has come and who has
seen and who has been supportive of what
it is we do.

We need each one of you if we're
going to tum this tide of violence. I don't
care what they say about the demographics
of Pittsburgh and out migration what we

es
—— oe

see is more and more people coming
forward every time the media says the
word rape, every time the media says child
molestation, every time the media says
woman death, We see more people
coming forward and with your help we
intend in this community of ours to make
that picture different.

also want to thank Barbara Farrell
who put together the Sexual Assault
Awareness Week and she will hand out to
you all the great events that you can come
to in the next week. Like you don't have
anything else to do. But they do include
odd things for us like a bingo and an event
at Rose Bud and you are invited because it
is the spirit of our community. It is the
healing spirit of our community and the
sense of we can do it. And nobody can
stop us that drives us forward.

So for each person I am going to
go around and have you pick a pin and
Bob gets to be first. I want you to wear
these; I don't care if you are a man.

Ms. Farrell:

Good morning. My name is
Barbara Farrell and 1 am the Community
Education Specialist at Pittsburgh Action
Against Rape. Molly is passing out all the
pins and I am going to pass out the fliers
about the weeks event. Thank you. I am
pleased to be able to stand up here today
and tell you that we have put a lot of hard
work into this week. We are grateful to
City Council and to Bob O'Connor for
allowing us to come here and tell you a
little bit about it.

Officially it will be April 19th to

the 25th and we have a week worth of
events. They're educational, they're fun,

596

they're informational. We started off on
Monday, April 19th with a poetry reading.
What we do is we have survivors and
friends and families of supporters of
survivors who will come and share their
experience, strength and hope.

Then Tuesday for the first time in
the City of Pittsburgh we are going to have
information tables in public areas which is
very nice. We have had a lot of
cooperation from the city, from the realtors
in downtown Pittsburgh who are allowing
us to have tables where they have high
traffic so that we can get the information
out because education is so critically
important.

Wednesday we have a bingo, Big
Bucks Bingo, and it is funny. It's funny
but we're very happy. But we're looking
for a way to incorporate a variety of
different things not only fun but we're
looking for money to continue to fund our
educational programs.

Friday we have an event at Rose
Bud. We understand Rose Bud is a very
popular place for a lot of City Council
people to go to. So we're having an event,
we are having a benefit concert at Rose
Bud.

Then on Saturday is the final wrap
up. We're having a skate for families.
Actually it is going to be held at the
Golden Mile Skate Rink in Monroeville
which they have donated everything and
they have donated all the proceeds. Also
the Pittsburgh Penguins have donated a
signed Jaromir Jagr stick for us to raffle
off in order to get more funds. So we have
a whole week of events. We are thrilled.
We are just-- we're overwhelmed, we're
overworked but it is in our hearts that we

ee
——_—_—_—navOoeeoeeeeeeeeeee ee

want to get this information out.
Mr. Ferlo:

1 will donate my Penguin stick.
Ms. Ferrell:

We'll take it. Thank you very
much. But we are pleased and thank you
very much and we hope to see you there.
And we thank you for your support.

The Chair:

Pat Crawford from Pittsburgh
Public Schools please come up. Thanks
for waiting. This is something you
gentlemen and ladies have to pay attention
to because we're all involved with this. I
believe everyone on Council and the
Mayor will be reading in the public
schools in the next week or two. So we all
want to get behind this great effort by the
Pittsburgh Public Schools. I will read the
proclamation.

MR. O'CONNOR AND ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:

No. 1480 WHEREAS, _ the
Pittsburgh Board of Education agreed that
communications, with an emphasis on
Early Literacy become the primary focus
of teaching and leaming in the 1998-1990
school year; and,

WHEREAS, all staff and students
in the Pittsburgh Public Schools have been
engaged in special communications and
literacy as outlined in the Literacy Plan;
and,

WHEREAS, the involvement of
parents and the Pittsburgh community is

597

essential to the success of these efforts;
and,

WHEREAS, as a part of this effort,
the Pittsburgh Public Schools has
established April 27" as Literacy Day
throughout the School District with a
district wide DEAR - Drop Everything and
Read - time set for 10:15 to 10:30am.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend the
Pittsburgh Board of Education and
Pittsburgh Public Schools for their
ongoing commitment to literacy district
wide; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare April 27, 1999 as
"Literacy Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved
resolution.

to adopt the

MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

We have Pat Crawford from the
board. You want to tell us what is going
on? It is an exciting week.

Ms, Crawford:

It is an exciting week. It is also an
exciting month because April is National
Literacy Month. I do want to tell you that
we have 40,000 kids in our Pittsburgh
Public Schools from Grade K through 12.
All of them have worked very hard this
year on their communication skills and
there have been a lot of special projects

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going on but we wanted to save a lot for
April because it is National Literacy
Month. For those of you who are
volunteering your time to read in our
schools during the next couple of weeks, I
do want to thank you. I know most if not
all of the Council members have agreed to
be apart of guest readers in our schools. I
want to thank you for that on behalf of our
kids.

The big day is going to be
April 27th and we are inviting Council
members, the Mayor, and the whole City
of Pittsburgh to join in our effort at 10:15
to drop everything that you’re doing. Pick
up a book or a magazine or newspaper and
read just for the sheer fun of reading. That
is one message that we want to get across
this year that reading is important. I don't
mean reading all of those papers before
you. Because I know that that might be a
temptation but try to bring in a special
magazine or a book that you really wanted
to delve into and get started on that.

But | would like to thank you for
proclaiming the day as Literacy Day in the
City of Pittsburgh. I invite you to come
into our schools at any time and help us
out. Our kids have worked very hard as I
have said and they would like the
community to join them in this. Thank
you very much.

The Chair:

{ want to thank you, Pat, and for all
the things you - you do a lot of great
events in the city. I think this will be
shared by everyone and I know each and
everyone of us will be at one of the
schools that week.

We have a few to be read into the

598

record.

MR. COHEN AND MR. O'CONNOR
PRESENT:

No. 148! WHEREAS, the Jewish
National Fund owns or manages 92% of
the land in the State of Israel, has planted
over 210 million trees, has built roads,
parks and recreation areas, has tumed
archaeological sites into important tourist
areas, has built dams and reservoirs to
increase Israel's water supply, has
developed land for housing, industry and
farming, and is a major employer of new
immigrants in the country; and

WHEREAS, community leader
Janice Friedman will be honored by the
Pittsburgh and Tri-State Region Jewish
National Fund at its 56 Annual Dinner on
Sunday evening, April 18, 1999; and

WHEREAS, Janice Friedman has
figured prominently in the Pittsburgh
theater scene, her credits including many
Jewish Community Center productions
such as Simply Simon, Little Me,
Promises-Promises, Sweet Charity, Funny
Girl and Guys and Dolls and is a talented
writer, having penned the “Sparkle Song”
for this past year’s Sparkle Season and the
“Woman of Spirit” song as well as
producing many fundraisers for Hadassah,
Ladies Hospital Aid Society, Jewish
Education Institute and United Jewish
Federation; and

WHEREAS, Janice Friedman, a
1996 Carlow College “Woman of Spirit,”
has served on Boards and Committees
including Civic Light Opera, Parental
Stress Center, Rivers Club, Hillel
Foundation, National Council of Jewish
Women, United Jewish Federation, Ladies

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Hospital Aid Society and the Leukemia
Society of America; and

WHEREAS, Janice Friedman, a
native Pittsburgher, owns and operates
Maternity Fashions, located in downtown
Pittsburgh for over 51 years, the oldest
single proprietorship of its kind in the
United States; and

WHEREAS, Janice and Alter
Friedman are the loving parents of four
daughters and the grandparents of four;
and :

WHEREAS, in recognition of
Janice Friedman’s volunteer _ service,
renowned actor, Emmy and Tony award
winner Hal Linden will be the keynote
speaker at the 56"" Annual Dinner,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh commends and thanks Janice
Friedman for her dedicated years of
service to our community.

MR. FERLO moved
resolution.

to adopt the

MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. COHEN, MR. O'CONNOR AND
MR. ONORATO PRESENT:

No. 1482 WHEREAS, Israel
Bonds is the foremost investment
organization in this country for the State of
Israel; and

WHEREAS, Attorneys Bemard
Marcus and Daniel Shapira will be
honored by the Legal Division of the

599

Pittsburgh Tri-State Israel Campaign
during its 11" Tribute Dinner; and

WHEREAS, Attorneys Bernard
Marcus, and Daniel Shapira, founding
partners in the law firm of Marcus &
Shapira, LLP, have distinguished legal
careers and are wel] known in Jewish and
civic circles; and

WHEREAS, Berard Marcus is
actively involved with the United Jewish
Federation, currently serving on the
Budget and Allocations Committee, the
Cardozo Society Steering Committee and
as co-chairman of the King David Division
and in the legal community, serves on the
Law Firm Committee for Neighborhood
Legal Services Association and Legal Aid
for Children as well as local and national
bar associations; and

WHEREAS, Daniel Shapira has
held major leadership roles with the
United Jewish Federation, including Chair
of the Campaign for 1999, and is a
member of the boards of Pittsburgh Vision
Services and Montefiore Hospital and in
the legal community is a member of the
National Institute of Trial Advocacy as
well as local and national bar
associations.; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of their
dedication to our community and support
for the State of Israel, Attomeys Bemard
Marcus and Daniel Shapira will be
honored by Israel Bonds during its 11"
Tribute Dinner to be held on Tuesday,
April 13, 1999, at 6:00 p.m. at the Westin
William Penn Hotel.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh commends and thanks

ee
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Berard Marcus and Daniel Shapira for
their dedicated years of service to our
community and to Israel.

MS. MCDONALD moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTS:

No. 1483 WHEREAS, the Cities of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Cincinnati,
Ohio have traditionally been “baseball
towns;” and

WHEREAS, the Kings Knothole
Association of Cincinnati, Ohio will host a
three Game Little League Baseball
Tournament From April 16" to April 18",
1999; and

WHEREAS, the Baseball games
will be held at Warren County Park, in
Cincinnati Ohio; and

WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh
Little League Baseball Team from the
neighborhood of Sheraden is participating
in this Cincinnati Tournament; and

WHEREAS, the host team will
treat the baseball teams to a picnic during
the three game Baseball Toumament; and

WHEREAS, the traveling cup that
was given to the Sheraden Baseball
Association when they hosted the 1998
tournament will be presented to the Kings
Knothole Association for hosting the 1999
Tournament

600

NOW, THEREFORE BE _ IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh and the Sheraden Baseball
Association would like to thank the Kings
Knothole

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. UDIN AND MS. MCDONALD
PRESENT:

No. 1484 WHEREAS, Judge Doris
A. Smith attended the University of
Pittsburgh where she received her B.S.
Degree in Economics in 1969 and her Juris
Doctorate Degree in 1972. Judge Smith is
a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
and;

WHEREAS, her court admissions
have included the Allegheny County Court
of Common Pleas; Pennsylvania Supreme
Court; U.S. District Court for the Westen
District of Pennsylvania; U.S. Court of
Appeals, Third Circuit; and the Ohio
Supreme Court and;

WHEREAS, Judge Smith was
elected in 1987 to a ten-year term on the
Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, a
statewide appeals court. She received the
highest voter total in the 1987 statewide
elections, and she recently won her
retention election in November 1997 for a
second ten-year term and;

WHEREAS, in 1984 Judge Smith
was appointed by Govemor Richard
Thornburg to the Court of Common Pleas
of Allegheny County. Prior to holding
judicial office, Judge Smith was engaged

in a successful law practice for over twelve
years and;

WHEREAS, Judge Smith served as
a Commissioner on the Pennsylvania
Human Relations Commission by
gubernatorial appointments from Governor
Milton Shapp and Govemor Thornburg in
1974 and 1980. She served as Solicitor to
the Allegheny County Controller from
1980 to 1984 and;

WHEREAS, Judge Smith has
served on the boards of various civic,
community and charitable organizations.
She has been the recipient of many
community, educational, professional and
civic awards including, but not limited to:
National Bar Association, Women’s
Division, President Award; Rutgers
School of Law, Black Law Students
Association “Champions for Social Justice
And Equality Award”, Judge A. Leon
Higginbotham, Jr. Award.

NOW THERFORE BE IT
RESOLVED that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh joins in honoring Judge
Doris Smith for her outstanding
achievements, hard work and dedication.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

We will now move to presentation
of papers.

MR. COHEN PRESENTED:

No.1485 Resolution authorizing
the transfer of Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000) from the Confiscated Narcotics
Proceeds Trust Fund to the Equipment
Leasing Authority for the purchase of
vehicles and related accessories.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. DIVEN moved to suspend Rule 8 by
providing for consideration of the bill only
until or after the 8th calendar day
following the meeting in which the bill
was introduced so the bill will be on the
agenda this Wednesday.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Also,

No. 1486 Resolution Amending
Resolution Number 25, effective February
11, 1999, authorizing a Cooperation
Agreement or Agreements which provides
for the transfer of funds not to exceed Four
Hundred Eighty Three Thousand
($483,680.00) Dollars to the City of
Pittsburgh Equipment Leasing Authority
for the purchase of vehicles, radios and
equipment for use by City of Pittsburgh
Departments and Authorities, by
increasing the total allocation by Two
Hundred Twenty Five Thousand
($225,000.00) Dollars.

No. 1487 Resolution Amending
Resolution Number 40, effective February
18, 1999, providing for an agreement or
agreements, or use of existing Agreements
and/or Contract or Contracts, or use of
existing Contracts, and for the purchase of
materials, supplies and equipment and/or

—_—_—_—n'—=TDDBE=ea"E=#“O*=aa=qoa—X—~“—<— ee

services in connection with the
Renovations and Maintenance of Various
Public Buildings and elevators; and
providing for the payment of the costs
thereof by decreasing the total allocation
by Fifteen Thousand Two Hundred
($15,200.00) Dollars.

No. 1488 Resolution Amending
Resolution Number 26, effective February
11, 1999, authorizing a Cooperation
Agreement or Agreements which provides
for the transfer of funds not to exceed
Three Million, Seven Hundred Sixty Five
Thousand ($3,765,000.00) Dollars to the
City of Pittsburgh Equipment Leasing
Authority for the purchase of vehicles,
radios and equipment for use by City of
Pittsburgh Departments and Authorities,
by decreasing the total allocation by One
Million Seventy Five ($1,075,000.00)
Dollars.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Lands, Buildings &
Procurement.

MR. DIVEN moved to suspend Rule 8 by
providing for the consideration of the bills
only until or after the 8th calendar day
following the meeting in which the bills
were introduced so the bills will be on the

agenda this Wednesday.

MR. HERTZBERG seconded the
motion.

Which motion prevailed.

MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:

No. 1489 Resolution authorizing
the transfer of Five Hundred Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($550,000) from the
Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Trust

602

to the Equipment Leasing Authority for
the purchase of police vehicles and related
accessories.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Also,

No. 1490 Resolution Authorizing
and directing the Directors of the
Departments of Engineering and
Construction and City Planning, and the
Public Parking Authority, to conduct a
traffic and parking study of Brookline
Blvd. between Pioneer Avenue and
Queensboro Avenue to examine improving
the availability of parking within the
business district. The Report is due within
60 days. —(SPONSORED BY MR.
DIVEN)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Planning, Zoning & Land
Use.

No. 1491 Resolution Providing for
the advertisement for proposals and to
award and enter into an agreement(s),
professional service agreement(s), and/or
contract(s) or use existing agreement(s),
professional service agreement(s), and/or
contract(s) for Radio System Equipment,
to include upgrades to the City's existing

radio infrastructure, for the purchase of
equipment, supplies, communication,
hardware, software, training, professional
services, and maintenance. The total cost
of the purchases will not exceed
$207,500.00.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Public Safety Services.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

No. 1492 Resolution Providing for
a Contract or Contracts, or use of existing
Contacts and/or an Agreement or
Agreements, or use of existing
Agreements and for the purchase of
equipment, materials and supplies in
connection with the Rehabilitation and
Repairs of Various Pools, including but
not limited to McBride Pool; at a cost not
to exceed $265,000.00.

No. 1493 Resolution Providing for
a Contract or Contracts, or use of existing
Contracts and/or an Agreement or
Agreements, or use of existing
Agreements in connection with the Bridge
Inspection and Maintenance Program; at a
cost not to exceed $85,000.00.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Engineering and
Construction.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

No. 1494 Resolution amending
Resolution No. 781, effective January 1,
1999, entitled, “Adopting and approving
the 1999 Capital Budget and the 1999
Community Development Block Grant
Program; and approving the 1999-2004
Capital Improvement Program,” by
making certain corrections.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Housing, Economic
Development & Promotion.

MS. MCDONALD moved to suspend
Rule 8 by providing for consideration of
the bills only until or after the 8th calendar
day following the meeting in which the
bills were introduced, so the bills will be
on the agenda this Wednesday.

MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
MR. O’CONNOR PRESENTED:

No. 1495 Communication from
City Solicitor Jacqueline Morrow
submitting the Summary of Claims filed
and paid in March, 1999 and in the first
quarter of 1999.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to receive
and file.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Also,

No. 1496 Communication from
Mayor, Tom Murphy submitting an
Executive Order agreed upon by the
Building Trades to ensure employment
opportunities for city residents including
qualified joumeymen and minorities, on
all City projects.

Which were read, received and filed.

The Chair:

36G3_<xcuae}+j{jw“+=ww[nwmwqyqrwqwwwqwqonnsn9Mn@mama9mnMSMSSS

Motion to receive and file.
MR. HERTZBERG so moved.
MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

We will now allow _ public
comments for two minutes. Anyone
wishing to address Council please do so
now. Please state your name and address.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ms. Brown:

Can I ask a question before you
start? I thought it was three minutes. You
cut it down now to two.

The Chair:
It is three.
Ms. Brown:

Just checking up on you. My name
is Yvonne F. Brown and I live at 2633
Brackenridge Street and that's Pittsburgh
15219, Before I start on what I wanted to
say I saw that you had a board member
from the Pittsburgh Public School System.
I have children and grandchildren that go
there, I also participate like I do here I go
and I speak before the board. I was very
pleased to see that you Council people
have made a decision to go into our school
system and to read to the children or
whatever you are going to do to help
participate and make this day a fine day. |
have a statement that I need to bring out to
you today do more of this because I go to

604

the Pittsburgh Public Schools system I
speak out.

The board has the tendency and
this has been for over 20 years to allocate
money according to race and what area the
children jive. And I know that, I can prove
it. If you go through the books and go
through the budgets and you will see it.
So if you come as Board, as Council
people I think that they might change some
of the tactics that they have. If you need to
see what I am talking about, I gave you
Mr. Hertzberg my concems. It was a
paper that I started as a concerned parent
and I marked off the different things.
also gave you an affidavit that showed you
where I got this information from. So we
need you not just -- don't give out awards
and make special days, come and fight for
our children, all children. Now thank you
very much.

Now what I want to say is this.
The last time I came I told you that on
April 3rd I was in Washington DC where I
participated in a Nationwide call. It was a
nationwide march against police brutality
and also the Housing Authority Police. I
told you at that time we were told there
were 25,000 people there. Now | also was
trying to explain to you that people come
to me because they see the Johnny
Gammage button and they say and ask me
am I saying that all cops are bad? I
explain to you that I am not worried
whether they are good or they are bad, just
if they treat people fairly and equally.

Now I usually come and I tell you
about how in my neighborhood the police
are harassing the citizens that are
sometimes standing and waiting at the bus
telling them they must move or they will
take them to jail. How my daughter went

to the policeman and she had been
attacked without her coat and shoe, she
said please take me home. He said, I ain't
taking you any where.

I have something good to tell you.
Last week my daughter had went to -~ the
same daughter, I have two daughters one
14 and 15. They went to Northview where
Ihave an older daughter. They came back,
they ran into the bunch of girls that had
attacked my daughter. But they flew into
McDonalds and there was the policeman
in there, And they told the policeman
what had happened. The policeman
looked out and the policeman suggested to
them to stay in there. He insisted that they
stay in there because it could be trouble.

He explained to them that he could
not leave because he was on his job. He
could not take them home. But you know
what the policeman also did -- if I may
continue because this is very - I want you
to understand how my children came home
to me and said that this black policeman
bought them food. He set and he talked to
them but he went above and beyond the
call of duty.

I come here and I talk about what
the different policemen are doing, 1 am
speaking about the ones that are not
respecting our people. And that could be
older people,’ the younger, it could be
handicap or whatever. All I am saying is
that we need policemen to stand up and be
accountable if they misuse, abuse, kill or
whatever they must answer to what they
have done.

Now I understand that the
policemen have the so-called code of
silence. But if that is so and the police are
afraid to speak out against another

policeman they know is harming people
then you need a witness protection for the
police. Now some of you may say I am
crazy but that's the only thing that may
help somebody to speak out.

I want to thank you for your
listening. I need to ask Sala Udin and
Mr. Ricciardi two questions and this has to
do with prior.

The Chair:
Please summarize. Hurry up.
Ms. Brown:

Mr. Udin, I wanted to thank you
when you spoke up for the children when
you said that last year they had said that
the children will not have to pay to go to
the public swimming pools. You also said
you were going to look into and see if a
law had been broken were you able to get
that information?

Mr. Udin:
Not yet.
Ms. Brown:

Mr. Ricciardi, I saw the last
meeting there was a long sheet and you
had how much money would be given to
the Citiparks and recreation. I saw like
Greenfield got $5,000 and so on, the Hill
District 1,000 or $2,000. Maybe if you
could explain how these certain
neighborhoods get more than others. But
what I wanted to -- the main thing is this,
and I am sorry I am going a little fast,
because I know I have to stop, is this. You
said that it was a hundred thousand would
be given for the parks and the different

BSeG303_—_«_7—+o++*€—=—@omw—owoa0an@ss>x<aoeoyoeyo_e>a=S

things. Well what happened to the money
for repairs, were money for repairs also
included? Because what parents are
saying, We cannot change you, change you
from saying that the children must pay --

The Chair:
Please summarize. We're not
going to conduct hearings. The

Councilmen are available anytime.
Ms. Brown:

All I want to do is ask --
The Chair:

We will give you --
Ms. Brown:

Tam at the very end.
The Chair:

Please end. Mr. Ricciardi, do you
want to respond?

Mr. Ricciardi:

I will respond after the meeting.
The Chair:

He will meet you after the meeting.
All Council are available, we can't tum
this into a half-hour debate.
Mr. Ricciardi:

T will respond after the meeting
publicly because I have a prior

appointment.

To be perfectly honest with you, I

606

don't think this is the proper forum for us
to get into dialogue. But after the meeting I
will respond to you regarding the funding.
The appropriate allocations I believe
you're talking about were allocated by
different Council members for CDBG
dollars. So you will have to talk to the
City Clerk and see if it is on file. Who
allocated what dollars to what community?
It is on file with Linda Johnson-Wasler.

Ms. Brown:

I wanted to know how some get
$5,000, one gets 1,000, one is getting --
that’s all. Thank you.

The Chair:
Thank you.
Ms. Brown:

Thank you, President. I am sorry
that I over stood by term, but I didn't
understand that you couldn't ask questions.

The Chair:

To you or anyone else in the
public, it's a three-minute comment and if
anyone wants private discussion with
Council members, we're available almost
24 hours a day. Our phone numbers are
listed. So if you have questions, that's the
proper time. This is not the proper forum.
Anyone else want to address Council?

We will now move to unfinished
business. Any unfinished business to
come in front of Council. Hearing none
move to Reports of Committees.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

er
aS 8 8 OS

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1497:

Report of the Committee on Finance and
Budget for April 7, 1999, transmitting one
ordinance and sundry of resolutions to
Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 1452:
An Ordinance amending the
Pittsburgh Code, Title One,

Administrative, Article XI, Personnel,
Chapter 181, General Provisions, Section
181.09, Advance of Expenses, by deleting
“City Treasurer.”

Which was read.
Aliso,
Bill No. 1453:

Resolution providing for the
issuance of a warrant in the sum of
$15,000 to USX Corporation and
Bethlehm Stee] Corporation c/o Barry J.
Trilling, Esquire, Pepper Hamilton &
Scheetz, LLP, 50" Floor One Mellon Bank
Center, 500 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA
15219-2502, in full and final settlement of
the action filed at C.A. 96-1240 alleging
the release of hazardous substances from a
landfill located in Elizabeth Township.

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1454:

Resolution amending Resolution
No. 779, effective January 1, 1999,
entitled, “Making appropriations to pay the
expenses of conducting the public business
of the City of Pittsburgh and for meeting
the debt charges thereof for the year,” by
making certain corrections.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1455:

Resolution amending Resolution
No. 780, effective January 1, 1999,
entitled, “Fixing the number of officers
and employees of the City of Pittsburgh,
and the rate of compensation thereof, and
setting minimum levels for designated
positions,” by making certain corrections.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1456:

Resolution Providing for the
advertisement for proposals and to award
and enter into an agreement(s),
professional service agreement(s), and/or
contract(s) or use existing agreement(s),
professional service agreement(s), and/or
contract(s) for Information Systems
Modemization to include upgrades to the
Citys existing information system
infrastructure for the Year 2000
Compliance in conjunction with all City
Departments and applications for the
purchase of equipment, supplies,
communication, hardware, software,
training, professional services, and
maintenance. The amount will not exceed

SS Sesece lll:

Eight Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand
Dollars ($875,000.00).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1457:

Resolution Providing for the
advertisement for proposals and to award
and enter into an agreement(s), professional
service agreement(s), and/or contract(s) or
use existing agreement(s) and/or contract(s)
to maintain and develop numerous Public
Safety applications for the bureaus of
Police, Fire, and EMS in conjunction with
Y2K and the Copsmore Program for any
and all expenses associated with the
purchase of computer equipment, software,
communications equipment, analysis,
design, development, —_ programming,
professional services, and maintenance in
conjunction with the _ feasibility,
development, enhancement or
implementation of the Mobile Data
Terminals, New Computer Aided Dispatch
System, and Imaging Application and
Copsmore95 and 96 Programs as they relate
to Public Safety Applications. The amount
of this request will not exceed Three
Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars
($375,000.00).

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Onorato:

Mr. President, on Bill 1455 there is

608

an amendment in front of you deleting
Item S and changing Item V to keep the
overall amendment balanced. This is a
clerical correction of the bill that was
brought forward last week. This was an
item that was already adjusted previously
in the budget back in December and this
was incorrectly put into the budget
adjusting entry.

MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Any other discussion on the bills?
Bills are now ready for final action. All
those in favor of the passage of the bills
vote aye when your names are called; all
those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1498:

Eee

Report of the Committee on Public Works,
Water and Environmental Services for
April 71999, transmitting sundry of
resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1445:

Resolution Granting unto The
University of Pittsburgh, 124 Cathedral of
Leaming, 4200 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh,
PA 15260, their successors and assigns,
the privilege and license to construct,
maintain and use at their own cost and
expense, a steam line on Lytton Avenue,
electric, telecommunication and chilled
water lines on Tennyson Avenue and
chilled water lines on Fifth Avenue.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1446:

Resolution Granting unto Cupka’s
Café Il, Inc, 2314 E. Carson Street,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203, the
privilege and license to construct, maintain
and use at their own cost and expense, 2
sidewalk café on a portion of the sidewalk
at 2314 E, Carson Street in the 16" Ward,
3 Council District of the City of
Pittsburgh.

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1447:

Resolution Granting unto David
and Patricia Wolf, 5801 Marlborough
Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15217,
their successors and assigns, an
encroachment to construct, maintain and
use at their own cost and expense, 2 wall
and fence on a portion of the right-of-way
of Murray Avenue in the 14” Ward, 5”
Council District of the City of Pittsburgh.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1448:

Resolution Accepting the
dedication of certain property along
Penelope Street, a portion of Lot and
Block 15-A-120, between a 12’ Unnamed
Way and Spahrgrove Street in the 19”
Ward, 2°? Council District, City of
Pittsburgh.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. On Bill
1445 I have some questions about how
large the construction sites will be and
how long they would be at the comer of
Fifth Avenue and Tennyson? I received a
report from the Public Works Department
and I appreciate it and it is a report that I
think will be satisfactory.
Mr. Ferlo:

Completely on the same bill but a

See

different matter, I am not voting in favor
of extending any privileges to the
University of Pittsburgh at a time when
they, as far as | am concemed, have openly
attacked gays and lesbians at the
University of Pittsburgh. This bill while it
appears to be (inaudible) bill which would
allow certain construction its none the less
it is worded in such a way as to suggest
that Council is extending a privilege to the
University of Pittsburgh.

I personally see no reason why |
should extend the privilege to the
University of Pittsburgh at this time given
the fact that they're suing this Council and
the City of Pittsburgh, that directly brought
the city and all of our residents under
attack based on the University’s very
backward narrow view on the issue of
discrimination in the City of Pittsburgh.
And given the fact that they have us in
litigation that they're fundamentally
attacking civil rights legislation in the City
of Pittsburgh, given the Neanderthal and
the backward view of the Chairman of the
Board at Pitt who refers to gays and
lesbians as those people.

I see no reason to vote in favor of
this. I strongly object to it and I will not
vote in favor of it.

Mr. Ricciardi:

On the same issue. I think it's a
very courageous position that Mr. Ferlo
has brought forward. I also will not be
voting for this.

In the past as you know colleagues,
the utilities, for example the gas
companies throughout the City of
Pittsburgh have a number of smaller sort
of huts, if I can use that word. And in the

610

past I was very upset with one particular
gas company and I said vou know we're
not going to give them that encroachment
in McKeniey Park because I saw that I
could bridge the two issues. I don't think
there is anything wrong with bridging two
issues especially when there is principle
involved here. And I also will be voting
no on this. Thank you.

Ms. McDonald:

I will be voting in the affirmative.
I do not agree with the policy that is under
discussion that Councilman Ferlo has
brought up. But the reason that I am
definitely voting in the affirmative is that
if we hold up something because one
institution or one organization has a policy
we don't agree with, we might as well deny
all kinds of permits and right of ways and
encroachments. Because you will find that
indeed there are many corporations, there
are many organizations and businesses that
do have policies that are even more, that
are even more egregious than what we're
talking about here.

So again, 1 don't want to legislate
or to cast a vote with one entity in a
vacuum when there are many
organizations and businesses that if we
wanted to we could scrutinize. I don't
want to set a precedent if I do it for one, I
am going to do it for all. 1 am not going to
micromanage mini institutions as much.

So again I agree with the
comments and the opinions but I don't
believe that we should legislate in a
vacuum as such without and ignoring
everyone else out there too.

Mr. Cohen:
Thank you, President. I appreciate

Councilman Ferlo raising this issue. I
agree with him and I will be talking about
domestic partnership at our motions and
resolutions portion of this meeting.

At the same time, I don't think that
we should hold up telecommunication line
on Tennyson Avenue. But I certainly
agree with his point very strongly. I would
hope that the mounting public pressure
against the University of Pittsburgh's
position which I agree is an irresponsible
position when it comes to the city’s equal
rights amendment, that the University of
Pittsburgh is opposing the city's equal
rights amendment. They are an institution
of higher learning or at least they are
supposed to be an institution of higher
learning, the conflict between an
institution of higher leaming on the one
hand and the opposition to an equal rights
amendment on the other hand is pretty
stark, And I am quite convinced that
public pressure will continue to mount to
the point where Pitt will have no choice
but to change its position. I don't think we
need to do that through Public Works
legislation we will be doing that through
public pressure.

Mr. Ferlo:

On the issue as far as I am
concemed is not the issue about the
domestic partnership and whether or not
the University should or should not extend
it. I have my own personal view and I
think they should because they have done
it to heterosexual couples at the University
of Pittsburgh. But that in effect is not the
issue that is being debated here today.

In all do respect to Councilwoman

McDonald no business, no corporation, no
small business person, no organization, no

right wing homophobic organization in the
City of Pittsburgh is engaged in litigation
against this Council and the City of
Pittsburgh basically attempting to
undermine a ten year old civil rights bill in
the City of Pittsburgh. Extending basic
civil liberties and protections to
individuals who are gay and lesbian or
perceived to be gay and lesbian in housing
employment of public accommodation, no
entity in the City of Pittsburgh. The
University of Pittsburgh stands alone in
this strategy of suing this Council not on
the issue of domestic partnership but
undermining the ability or prerogative of
this Council legislatively through a very
long hard fought battle to pass an
ordinance extending protections close to a
decade ago.

So there is a fundamental issue
here much different than the narrow issue
of whether or not Pitt should or should not
extend a prerogative or a benefit to a
certain group of individuals at the
university that's not what the issue here is
today. The issue is that this university as
well epitomized by very backwards
comments by the Chairman of the Board at
the University of Pittsburgh is suing this
Council and the City of Pittsburgh in
attempting to undermine civil rights
legislation in the City of Pittsburgh. I will
not support it. I will not extend them a
privilege and a courtesy.

The Chair:

Can J ask you a point on that? Do
we have an opinion from our Law
Department? Again, I think they're
comparing apples to oranges here. Why
they're bringing in this against the
domestic issue against the civil rights
issue.

ee
eee

Mr. Ferto:

The university hired a very
prestigious, expensive, hard working
litigation law firm who basically is

throwing everything at the wall. One of
the things they are throwing at the wall in
their defense of the university not
providing these benefits to an individual
professor at Pitt is the one point. Basically
fundamentally challenging the ability of
the City of Pittsburgh to extend the civil
Tights ordinance in the City of Pittsburgh
and beyond what they say is the
prerogative of the state legislature. So
they are not debating it at the Human
Relations Commission the issue of
domestic partnership, they're debating the
fact that Council -- they're saying that
Council has no legal authority to have
done what it did nine years ago and I
disagree with that.

Mr. Cohen:

Can I add to that real briefly? The
City of Pittsburgh to the best of my
knowledge also filed an (inaudible) brief
in that case. A friend of the court brief in
that case. Jacqueline Morrow drafted a
letter saying that the University of
Pittsburgh's position is contrary to the law
and for us supporting our own equal rights
amendment and that is what I am referring
to is the equal rights amendment is the
amendments of the Human Relations Act.
So, we the city is on record in opposition
to the University of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Ferlo:
Where are these public officials

that sit on the board of the trustees of the
university and other committees they

should be speaking out on this issue? I
haven't heard anything from these other
elected officials other than very backward
comments made by the Chairman of the
Board at Pitt and others defending the
university's position.

I am not voting for this privilege, I
am not voting for anything for the
University of Pittsburgh.

The Chair:

That was my point. If you want to
have a post -- I would like to maybe look
at a Post Agenda because we do have a lot
of issues conceming the University of
Pittsburgh coming in front of us. And
whether they be close votes or unanimous
votes or whatever I believe this should be
straightened out at least concerning the
city where they’re going back to a nine
year lawsuit, nine years ago a law that this
Council passed. We may want to clear
that up and again you asked Mr. Ferlo
where are our people and what side are
they on and where are we going with this.

Mr. Ferlo:

I think it is time to start sending
Pitt a message that we are not pleased with
what they're doing in the court of law
against the ordinance of the City of
Pittsburgh. I realize that it doesn't have
anything directly to do with whether or not
we grant an encroachment or privilege to
construct a sewer line or communications
line underground on Lytton Avenue. But I
think we have to start sending a message
to the University of Pittsburgh.

The Chair:

1 feel a better way to do that would

SS COON

be with a Post Agenda, have our Law
Department and I think you're very
serious --
Mr. Ferlo:

I don't think the University of
Pittsburgh while they are engaged in
litigation is going to appear in public.

The Chair:

Even without them we may just
address ourselves what the issues are.

Mr. Ferlo:

Well, I was just speaking my own
view on why I am voting no.

The Chair:

Any other discussion? Bills are
now ready for final action. All in favor of
the passage of the bills vote aye when your
names are called; all those opposed vote
no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ferlo and Mr. Ricciardi voted no
on Bill 1445)

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1499:

Report of the Committee on Planning,
Zoning and Land Use for April 7, 1999,
transmitting one resolution to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1458:

Resolution Authorizing and
directing the Director of Planning, in
conjunction with the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, to
develop a comprehensive redevelopment
plan for the LTV Steel Company, Inc.’s
former Coke and By-Products facility and
the Irvine/Second Avenue commercial
corridor in Hazelwood and, furthermore,
to develop strategies for the possible
acquisition of the LTV property by the
URA. (SPONSORED BY MR.
O’CONNOR & MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Ricciardi:

Mr. President, I do apologize. Did
we read Bill 1442? Which bill was that?

Mr. Onorato:

No we did not. That's the next bill.

_————
ss 80 SS

The Chair:

On Bill 1458 directing the
Planning Department and the URA to have
a development plan for the LTV former
Coke site, I want to thank you for your
support. I think it really is sending a clear
message especially to the 15th Ward and
the people of the greater Hazelwood area
that we care about that neighborhood. We
have a Mon Valley Expressway coming in
that will open up that whole section.

I believe it certainly is sending a
message not only a message but a new
energy to that section of the city with what
is going on with Homestead and the
Southside which we all support. This will
be the last piece of land over two hundred
acres available in the city for development.
T believe we can all come up and put our
heads together and really come up with a
strategic plan that will benefit not only
Hazelwood but the greater Pittsburgh area.
I want to thank you for your support of
that.

Bills are now ready for final action.
All those in favor of the passage of the bill
vote aye when your names are called; all
those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Ferlo

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1500:

Report of the Committee on Housing,
Economic Development and Promotion
for April71999, transmitting _ one
resolution to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1442:

Resolution Authorizing and
Directing the Office of the Mayor to
operate the City of Pittsburgh Growth
Initiative Fund, dedicated to attracting jobs
and businesses to the City of Pittsburgh. ~
-(SPONSORED BY MR. COHEN)

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. I would
like to thank Council for its continued
support for this legislation. This is the
Pittsburgh growth initiative legislation.
Every year or at least for the last three
years since it was passed by this Council
$75,000 went toward marketing this city to
industries that are clustered within the city
that have been identified by Pittsburgh

aeGeNge]3SN—_“sws“s__«<«=—=wTH0—Ooaoaooeeeeue

High Technology Council. That includes
specialty steel information and technology
environmental for example, biomedical
those industry based clusters that we really
need to attract and can attract because we
have such an asset here in our city. We
can attract businesses from around the
country to tie in with those industries and
to bring new jobs.

So this $75 thousand is a small
price to pay for a marketing effort that so
far has been quite successful. I think it
could be even more successful and will
allow us to attract companies that will
relate to those industry-based clusters.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes I think this is a great initiative
that was brought forward by Mr. Cohen
several years ago. I don't mean to detract
from the legislation but just I would like to
mention one thing and even keeping
politics out of it. Lately there have been
so many statements about the number of
jobs that have been created in the City of
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and the
region. And I do mean this in all
seriousness we need to be able to measure
some how the true number of jobs that this
legislative body and the administration and
the County Commissioners are creating
and retaining out there.

You know a lot of times we get
involved with TIF's and a lot of times we
say for example the PNC and the Mellon
TIF that if we pass this particular TIF that
employment will increase. We gave a TIF
to an organization, I am not going to
Mention it because I have to verify the
numbers but they’re right now having a
layoff. And I know this for a fact because
individuals that are canceling their parking

leases up around the arena because they
said they have been laid off.

So some how and I have asked
Mr. Scott Kunka to work on this and he
has been talking about it to the
administration, but colleagues we have no
idea right now how many jobs we have
created because of our initiatives. We
have no idea on how can we measure the
number of jobs that we have created or
retained by using tax incremental
financing. We have no idea how many
jobs that have been created through the
economic development fund. Now we
continuously get good reports from the
URA saying that these numbers of jobs
have been created. But I am not sure they
have.

So again I am not detracting from
this legislation I would just like to say as
maybe in the future, Mr. O'Connor, if you
could convey this. Maybe we could set up
a small committee and really start to see
and maybe make some cold calls, go back
to some of this. Now I went back to a
URA grant that was given in my district
and they had promised X number of jobs
were going to be created and we gave them
a bundle of money. Those jobs were not
created. I talked to employees no new jobs
were created.

So when they fill out this particular
application and this is not a reflection or a
negative on our URA, but when they fill
out an application and it says X number of
jobs will be created and then I make a
phone call to employees that are working
at this particular business, organization, I
am trying to stay a way from the name.
The two employees say, Gene, we haven't
created one job. So I think we have to
begin to measure that if may. And I don't

want to call for an audit through Tom
Flaherty, because sometimes if you call for
an audit, it appears that something is
wrong. I am not saying something is
wrong. We really have to get a handle on
this and see if our policy is working to
retain and create jobs. Because if it hasn't
worked, maybe we have to change gears.

I just would like to say, Mr. Cohen,
it is a not a reflection on this particular
legislation. I just want to begin to measure
the true number of jobs we have created so
we can start giving ourselves a report card.

Mr. Udin:

Mr. President, I want to thank
Councilman Ricciardi for pointing out
more eloquently than I have been able to
point out in the last few weeks the dire
condition of jobs for residents of the City
of Pittsburgh especially from programs
that are subsidized by tax dollars. That's
what this whole effort around Pittsburgh
Works has been about.

As a part of the research in
developing Pittsburgh Works, we looked
at the TIF legislation that was amended by
Councilman Ferlo. Some of the
amendments in that TIF legislation
required specific commitments from
organizations that received the TIF subsidy
to present a plan on how many jobs would
be accorded city residents from a result of
the TIF funding. We also added that there
should be a tracking of minority and
women owned businesses in the TIF
supported projects. We said that there
should be a tracking of jobs to Pittsburgh
residents that come from once the TIF
project is built. What we failed to do,
however, is we failed to follow through
and establish a responsibility for tracking

616

ihat plan and those contracts and those
jobs.

So now when I go to the Urban
Redevelopment Authority and I ask them
who is it in your shop since you are the
one who brings the package to Council
once we approve it, who is it that follows
up to see whether or not these jobs that are
in this plan actually materialize? And how
many of them are residents of the City of
Pittsburgh? They say oh we don't track
that, that's done by the Personnel
Department in the City of Pittsburgh. And
then you go to the Personnel Department
and say where is the data that tracks the
jobs that were created by TIF supported
projects in the City of Pittsburgh? Oh we
don't track that that’s the Urban
Redevelopment Authority. No body is
tracking it. And as a result, I don't believe
that taxpayers are getting the benefits that
we promised them when we gave these
subsidies to these projects in response for
their work.

So Councilman Ricciardi is dead
right. There is -- we're not watching the
store. We need to develop a tracking
system. We need to do accounting. We
need to go back to every single project that
was supported by TIF’s. If you add up the
amount of deferred tax dollars that are
accumulated over 15 to 20 years of these
TIF's and see what the size of the subsidy
is of the City's taxpayers investment in that
project, you will find that it is substantial.
But you will not find I am afraid that there
has been a proportionate degree of benefit
in jobs coming to residents of the city.
And that almost amounts to a fraud that
we have perpetrated on the taxpayer,
because we promised that the benefit to us
would be jobs. And if we did not get the
benefit of those jobs, then J think that we

——ooOoeee

have mislead the taxpayers and we ought
to be held accountable for it.

Ms. McDonald:

Yes. I am supporting this
legislation. The only thing and I commend
Councilman Cohen for really getting this
ball rolling with the Pittsburgh growth
initiative. I think it's necessary. I have
asked for a breakdown conceming the
expenditures because when I talked to
Ms. Vargo she had indicated it is very
difficult to ascertain how many jobs or
how much business was drawn here. How
many businesses have we landed here in
terms of this initiative, this $75,000 annual
expenditure? I understand that and I
accept that so all I really asked for is a
breakdown of the type of expenditure so I
can see how it works. How the moneys
are being used, how we are in deed
marketing? I have yet to get that. Well
that's all right. But I am going to go ahead
and vote for this in the spirit of continuing
our efforts in marketing the city. It is nota
lot of money. Believe me, it is not
compared to what other cities do spend.

In terms of the jobs, I appreciate
what Councilman Udin and Councilman
Ricciardi have brought up. I don't want to
veer too far off the mark because we are
now into TIF territory and we love to talk
about the TIF territory. We're going to get
back into TIF territory tomorrow. I am
going to have an initial meeting to discuss
how there could be some mechanism.
Maybe it is not as definitive as some of the
elements in the Pittsburgh Works
legislation, but at least we will try to get at
least some grass on entities, businesses
that do use, that have been utilizing TIF's
to see where they’re at in terms of
employment. How Pittsburghers have

617

been more gainfully employed through our
tax dollars, etceteras. Again, it is an initial
step but in answer to how do we monitor
the jobs, that's what I am trying to do with
that TIF legislation is to be able to look at
it. To be able to ascertain are we
benefiting in terms of allowing these
waivers and taxes in terms of this TIF for
the people that actually work here, people
that live here, people that want to work
here and live here.

So I will-- all Council members
are ex-officio of the TIF committee. I
think I emailed everyone as to this meeting
which is scheduled tomorrow. 1 look
forward to your input, so yes we are going
to get it done.

Mr. Hertzberg:

On the issue of trying to track job
creation and in some of the representations
that are made by some of the employers
that come in and do expansions and that
we have worked with. One solution might
be not to have an audit by our Controller,
but just to vest the Controller with this
responsibility. Because I think it is the
kind of work that the Controller is
accustomed to doing to check on. You
know someone represented they were
creating 10 jobs at this facility or that they
were going to hire city residents at this
particular facility, I think that's a function
that the Controller should be performing.
And primarily because the Controller is an
independent elected official and I do think
some politics come into play in some of
the figures that you may get out of some of
the other offices.

I think there are a lot of reasons. It
is the kind of work the Controller
ordinarily does and it is good to have
someone that's an independent elected

office with their own staff that could
handle these things doing those kinds of
reports. And also because Councilman
Udin is exactly right. No one else is
taking responsibility so maybe that's where
it all ought to fall on the City Controller.

Mr. Diven:

Yes, sir. I have been pretty
skeptical on a number of TIF's and some
of the concems about how we are
developing the City of Pittsburgh and
where we're not developing the City of
Pittsburgh. One of the problems that I
have last week or about two weeks ago I
received a report, the Pittsburgh
Development Fund 1998 Report. In that
Teport it detailed three billion 100 million
dollars worth of development. Now when
I went through the report and picked apart
the projects that were listed in an itemized
fashion, I found out that only $86,000 was
invested in the entire Fourth Council
District.

Now I couldn't even get a
percentage on a calculator, I had to go to
our Budget Director Scott Kunka. I think
he had to do it on an abacus, but it came
out as three one thousandths of one
percent of the total investment in the City
of Pittsburgh for seven neighborhoods that
share probably a great deal of the tax
burden in the City of Pittsburgh. I have
sent a correspondence to the Mayor asking
for his leadership in making sure that those
seven neighborhoods are in the
development scheme for the City of
Pittsburgh. I am awaiting a response from
that letter. But I think we definitely need
to be more critical about what is going on
including the jobs and who is getting the
Jobs but as well as how that development
is spread out throughout the whole city.

618

I mean $86 thousand out of three
billion 100 million dollars is not any -- it is
not even a drop in the bucket. I
understand a big portion of that three

billion dollars is for downtown
development, Plan B, but the
neighborhood development fund totals

$786 million and my Council District
received $86,000, which there has to be
more of an effort. Council really needs to
put pressure to make sure that if we talk
about a rising tide lifting all boats, that
seven neighborhoods aren't surrounded by
adam. That's a real problem that I have is
that we're not getting any kind of attention
or any kind of investment or any kind of
follow through from the people that are
supposed to be taking the leadership in
development.

Last week we had a meeting with
the neighborhood planning initiative on
Brookline Boulevard where we have all
the community organizations actively
going out and talking with business
owners and landlords trying to bring them
in and reshape that business corridor. We
had 48 business people and I believe 12 or
13 real estate owners on Brookline
Boulevard. Now we have been planning
this meeting for six months and Director
Birru was supposed to be there in
attendance and he never showed. That's

just not acceptable. He was contacted by ~

my office and he was contacted by the
people in the community organizations
and he was made aware of it. For him not
to come up there left me with the
impression for the citizens of the Fourth
District that it wasn't a priority.

That's not acceptable and I am
really starting to look at some of these
development projects and some of these

S=—laaNaeee lle

initiatives that the administration is taking
with a more critical eye then I have in the
past because I think its only right and it is
only fair. I mean our economy is going
very strong right now. We see a lot of
development and we see a lot of
investment now that's not going to be here
forever. There is going to come a time
where we hit a slow down and a lull in the
economy and there is no longer going to be
such a rapid investment in the City of
Pittsburgh. If we're not taking the time to
make sure all 88 neighborhoods are
tepresented in this economic development
scheme, then we're not doing our jobs.

I hope that the Mayor's
administration will contact me, because I
pledge any resource that I can bring to the
table to work with him to bring some kind
of investment in my district. But as of yet
it hasn't been a priority and I wilt continue
to be critical if not more critical of any
other project that comes across Council on
that respect. Because I think it has to be
done fairly and equitably just like the job
creation that we're talking about. I think
we need to put their feet to the fire and
hold them accountable.

The Chair:

If I could just summarize a little
bit. For your information Scott Kunka is
reviewing. We have two proposals that
came back from our TIF legislation that
basically Valerie and I know all Council
supported, Mr. Hertzberg was reviewing it.
We have a choice to decide on which RFP
we will look at and choose. I want
everyone's input so that we're 100% in
agreement on who we chose to review the
TIF’s. It is basically right or wrong
whatever has been done is done. I believe
it's time to evaluate what we have done

and where do we go from here.

I think it is perfect timing what you
said, Mr. Udin, where are the jobs? I can
tell you what, if you can give me one day, I
can find out how many jobs. You can talk
to the seven or eight or ten TIF's we gave
out, just pick up the phone and ask their
personnel department how many jobs did
you have before the TIF, after the TIF?
Where are they by Zip Code? This would
be a one-day job for anybody. So I don't
know why our Personnel Department can't
do it and can't show it. It almost sounds
like the 50,000 jobs Mr. Ricciardi is
talking about if that was true we would
really be Boom Town U.S.A.

I believe it is time to evaluate it
and let's be honest and fair about it.
Whether we were right or wrong where do
we go from here with the TIF? That's all J
am asking. I can say you were 99% right
what we have done in the past, where do
we move forward so everyone is sharing in
this success.

Mr. Udin:

If I could get a copy of the scope of
work you may have sent that out and I
missed it but I would appreciate seeing
exactly what it is that we are asking the
consultant to do.

The Chair:

If it is isn't in there we want to
make sure that the jobs and where they
came fiom is part of it.

Bills are now ready for final action.
All those in favor of the passage of the
bills will vote aye when your names are
called; all those opposed vote no.

—ooo— ee

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1501:

Report of the Committee on Engineering
and Construction for April 7, 1999,
transmitting one resolution to Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1443:

Resolution adopting an Official
Sewage Facilities Plan providing for
sewage services adequate to prevent
contamination of — waters and/or
environmental health hazards with sewage
wastes, and to revise said plan whenever it
is necessary to meet the sewage disposal
needs of the municipality.

Which was read.

620

The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Udin:

When we discussed this plan of
approval last week I asked the Executive
Director to forward some indication of
what plans were being made to integrate
the Board of Directors of the Alcosan
Authority, and I have not received any
word from them regarding this. Therefore,
I will be voting no on this bill. Not
because I am opposed to the plan but
because when Council asks for some
information it should be forthcoming.

That is I believe one of the only
major authorities in the city and the county
that has absolutely no minorities on it at all
and I think it ought to be taken seriously.
This is a diverse city, our boards ought to
reflect the diversity of the community and
something ought to be done about it. So
my no vote will be a vote to send a
message to them that they have to address
this situation.

The Chair:

I am sorry, your letter was a
request for what information?

Mr. Udin:

Not information, yes it was a
request. It wasn't a letter. It was a
discussion at the Standing Committees
Meeting. When I asked the Director to
contact the members of the board, the
leadership of the board, Mr, Roddey and
whoever else was on the board to ask them

ESS ES

how long are they going to tolerate having
an all white ALCOSAN Board? When
are they going to put some minorities on
the board? J wanted to know what their
plans were? What steps are being taken?
And have I not received any word from
them regarding that and therefore I will be
voting no.

The Chair:

1 believe that is the responsibility
of the Mayor and the Commissioners who
appoint the board. Mr. Roddey doesn't --
with who is appointed.

Mr. Udin:

Yes. The question was what was
the board doing to advise the Mayor on
future recommendations so that it becomes
an integrated board? The board has a lot
to do with who is nominated to the Mayor
and therefore who the Mayor appoints.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I believe Mr. Udin's comments are
very timely because if I am not mistaken
one, possibly two terms need to expire
there. I see Mr. Ferlo is not here so it's his
committee. I am going to take the liberty
of making a motion to recommit 1443
until Mr. Udin gets a response. Thank
you.

The Chair:

I will second that. Discussion?
Mr. Diven:

1am on the ALCOSAN Board and

I can tell you just a response from myself.
I don't know about any of the rest of the

621

board members but there were two
vacancies that came up at the beginning of
this year, and J can tell you I had no input
or no influence as to who the Mayor or the
Commissioners appointed for those
positions.

But | would like to stress the fact
that this plan is very important for
ALCOSAN and it is important for our
region. If we fail to pass this plan in a
timely manner it will result in the DEP
failing to give us any kind of development
permits in the areas of construction that
the City of Pittsburgh is currently
pursuing.

I can definitely put a letter together
to the Chairman, Mr. Roddey and ask him
to respond to this. But I do think that we
need to pass -- we need to move on this
plan. It is an important plan and it has a
potential to really tie up and delay a lot of
investment in the City of Pittsburgh. But I
will contact Mr. Roddey this afternoon and
ask him to even call you directly and speak
with you in regards to what his plans are
for being an influence and providing more
diversity on that board.

But I can speak as an individual
board member when the last vacancies
came up the Mayor never contacted me
and the Commissioners never contacted
me as to who | thought would make an
asset to that board. I am sure that, I
believe they didn't contact anyone on the
board.

The Chair:

I believe I have to support your
initiative there. This letter, with all do
respect, Mr. Roddey has nothing to with
who is appointed, we know that. This is a

political appointment. You have the
Mayor and the three Commissioners. |
understand one Commissioner had a
couple of questions, remarks that you may
not like responding to your questions. So
these should be directed to the Mayor and
the three Commissioners. Mr. Roddey sits
on the board and at the will of whoever
appointed him, the Mayor and the three
Commissioners. So, I would strongly
support you sending a letter to the Mayor
and the Commissioners if there are two
openings who they plan on picking.

Mr. Diven:

The point is that this is a very
important piece of legislation and we need
to pass it and it getting tied up —

Mr. Udin:

If it is that important, then they
should have responded to the request.

Mr. Diven:
I can't make an excuse for them.
Mr. Udin:

It is apparently not important to
them.

Mr. Diven:

The only thing I can say is I can
give you a commitment that today I will
contact Mr. Roddey and have him contact
you by phone this aftemoon to answer
your questions.

The Chair:

1 must emphasize Mr. Roddey has

622

nothing to do. I don’t think the letter
should be directed to Mr. Roddey. It
should be to the Mayor and the three
Commissioners.

Mr. Ricciardi:

1 agree with Mr. O'Connor.
Mr. Roddey is only what you guys decide
who is here.

Mr. Diven:

Jagree with that position. As I said
before I was not consulted on replacing or
vacancies on the board this year. But the
point I am making is we shouldn't hold
this piece of legislation captive over this
argument because it has a potential to
really hamper a lot of investment and a lot
of development in the City of Pittsburgh. I
think it would be unfair to the staff at
ALCOSAN and the board members to
make them accountable for something that
is not their fault.

The Chair:

I know Council gets a lot of heat.
Why we don't do something? Let's put the
ball in the right court. It's not
Mr. Roddey's at this time.

Mr. Cohen:

Mr. President, whenever a Council
member asks for information and requests
that information come before we make a
vote at least in my experience we have
given support to that Council member. I
think this should be no exception of
course. If Councilman Udin agrees that it
really should go to the Mayor and
Commissioners the people who do the
appointing, then I think it should come

8 8 8 eee

from this entire Council. I would sign on
to that letter and ask that we get a response
from the Mayor and the Commissioners. |
didn't realize that there are potentially wo
vacancies on the board.

I didn't realize that. If so, this
would be an opportune time for this entire
Council to send a letter to the Mayor and
Commissioners asking that a minority or
woman be appointed to the board.
Because | do believe that the ALCOSAN
Board, just like any other public board or
commission in this city should be a diverse
board. 1 think Councilman Udin raises a
very important point.

Mr. Udin:

If Council is willing to send such a
letter, I am willing to withdraw the
objection.

The Chair:

I am for it. We want to take a
vote? All in favor of sending a letter?

Ms. McDonald:

The letter because of the diversity
of the ALCOSAN Board which has
traditionally been white male -- I know
when I got on Council I addressed it back
in 1994 why is it reviewed certain boards
and theirs seemed to be a very politicized
board, very politicized. Again there was
opportunity before. I am glad to see there
is opportunity now Councilman Ricciardi
in bringing that information forward.

I would just urge that this Council
body instead of just saying we want a
minority, we want a minority and a female.
If there are two positions, let's diversify to
the max. Let's start okay? I mean I flush

623

my toilet too. So there needs to be a
woman and there needs to be a minority to
diversify that board.

The Chair:

Is there one woman on there or
not? I think there is one female.

Mr. Diven:
There is one female.
Ms. McDonald:

Half the population is female and
we all flush our toilets. So, again I think
that if we can get another woman on there,
another minority, two minorities on there.
I urge that both appointments be to
diversify the existing board. That is the
only letter I am going to sign.

The Chair:

We will send a letter to the Mayor
and the three Commissioners. With that,
is there any other discussion?

Mr. Hertzberg:
Thank you. I am glad we could get

over that issue. I think this legislation is
important and it’s not just important from

the development standpoint, this is
important from the environmental
standpoint. This is important to do
something for our environment,

particularly our water systems, our streams
and our rivers. Right now we have a
terrible situation when we get heavy rains
and we got them last week.

I can guarantee you that what went
on last week our sewer lines because they

collect the storm water and sewage
overflowed and the sewage went into our
streams and our rivers. Part of that plan
addresses the wet weather situation. We
can't move fast enough to correct this
problem.

So I hope we can finally get this
done with a couple of years ago this thing
came up it got held up for what I believe
were political reasons then. I hope we can
finally get over that and move ahead with
this important bill.

The Chair:

With that said, the bills are now
ready -- any other questions? Bills are
now ready for final action. All in favor of
the passage of the bill vote aye when your
name is called; all those opposed vote no.

Clerk please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Onorato and Mr. Ricciardi voted
no.)

Bills have received the tegally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

The Chair:

Under motions and resolutions.

624

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

1 would like to make a couple of
announcements. We have a Public Hearing
today at two o'clock concerning Bills 1311
and 1395 conceming residential planning
and development.

Thursday at 10 am. we have a
Public Hearing on Bill 1312 conceming
Mayflower Street and property along that
area. And Wednesday I want to make an
announcement April 15th tomorrow the
disparity study press conference at 5
o'clock and disparity study meeting will be
at 5:30 in Council Chambers.

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. 1
wanted to take a moment to commend the
Mayor, the Director of Personnel, Barbara
Parees and the Personnel Department for
putting forward domestic partnership
benefits as part of a collective bargaining
negotiation with at least two unions. I
think that what they're doing is the right
thing not only is it the right thing morally
but also the right thing in terms of
productivity of our work force. We should
ask ourselves a question why do employers
provide benefits to employees at all? I
think the reason is in order to keep
employees happy and to make them as
productive as possible.

So for the administration to be
offering this to unions really is a step
forward in terms of productivity of our
work force. At the same time it put us in
line with scores of other cities and
counties and states around the country as
well as with hundreds of private
companies who have come to the same
recognition that domestic partnership

SEO

benefits are the right thing to do and they
increase the productivity of your work
force.

1 have been working on legislation
for the non-union work force and we of
course only have authority over the
non-union, white-collar workers. I will be
introducing that legislation soon to make it
consistent with the proposal that has been
made from the Department of Personnel.
We need to actually see it in writing and
coordinate our efforts with their efforts.
But I would hope that with that City
Council would join me in that legislation
with what we would do in City Council
and with what the administration is doing
that hopefully very soon we will have the
option for domestic partnership benefits
throughout the city. It's the right thing to
do, imcreases the productivity of your
workforce. I want to congratulate Barbara
Parees and also the Mayor who is
ultimately responsible.

Ms. McDonald:

I join Councilman Cohen in the
remarks and the accolades given to the
administration for taking this stand and
supporting what I would call monogamous
relationships in family. I have said
publicly that sometimes the realities are
that certain situations may not look exactly
like we want to see them but that's a
judgment call. The bottom line is that
there are different situations amongst
people. That's a reality and as long as it is
supportive of family values of some kind
monogamy instead of just going helter
skelter, I support that. I support people
that are willing to engage in a real
relationship.

There are many homosexual
couples that have children that they are

625

raising. I think these children are growing
up that this is their family whether you like
it or not but they should be provided with
health benefits. I wouldn't want anyone to
not have health benefits. 1 believe health
benefits basically should be extended to
every person in this nation.

So if we can move in that
direction, at least there will be a little more
open minded. I again am all for it and I
also commend Councilman Cohen for at
least starting that discussion with
impending legislation that will come from
this Council body. I look forward to
discussing the particulars of that
legislation.

Mr. Onorato:

I am not going to comment on the
merits of that but an issue came up and I
want to ask Councilman Udin this. I
thought it was very interesting to read that
in the paper today, I thought we
established about four months ago that any
union contract that did not come out of
binding arbitration had to be presented to
this Council for approval? I don't recall
approving any of these contracts and forget
the issue for a second, the point I am trying
to make, is when there is a significant
change to a contract, this is something that
we -- it was just blown over that Council
doesn't approve.

The Home Rule Charter is very
clear that Council should approve
negotiated contracts. This is not binding
arbitration it was negotiated through the
Union and the administration properly. I
Just want to know is there a plan to bring it
forward because the one said it was passed
in January? And where does that stand
because we had a memo from the Solicitor

a OENnNSSOOOOOOON

who made it very clear that contracts shall
be presented. We never see wordings of
any contracts | thought we established this.
Maybe the Law Department can respond
by next week sometime. I would like to
know where we stand on that issue.

Mr. Udin:

I think that Councilman Onorato is
absolutely correct. We had this debate as
you recall around the issue of the
firefighters contract. The one clear
distinction that I thought everyone agreed
on was that when a negotiated contract it
does not have the collective bargaining
that it has to come before Council and that
includes all contracts that are not subject
to arbitration.

The Chair:

Also Mr. Cohen when would you
be bringing this legislation forward?

Mr. Cohen:

Soon. In fact I would hope to do it
at our next legislative session. And I will
circulate it for all Council members. We
have been working on it for awhile. I
talked to Barbara Parees a couple of
months ago about this. But I would accept
any and all co-sponsors of the legislation. I
would be happy to have it introduced by
Council as a whole if that's possible.

The Chair:

I know I have looked at some and I
believe a lot of them what Ms. McDonald
is saying where you involve the whole
family or parent or parents who have
children still at home maybe the same old
disabled handicap. A lot of those things I

would like to expect from the people it can
serve.

Ms. McDonald:

I agree. I would like to see that
too. That's the direction I am coming from
is in terms of health benefits or benefits in
general. There are family situations,
extended family, cousins, grandparents,
aunts forget about the heterosexual,
homosexual issue. Let's just talk about
families and households and that's why I
think we need to focus on and if those
other issues come into play then so be it.
But again benefits need to be extended to
family situations, something that we would
like to see.

Mr. Cohen:

Why don't we certainly have a
discussion at the appropriate time here?
The problem is you extend it out, the more
you extend it out the more expensive it
becomes of course so we need to cost it
out.

The Chair:

Before we get into some big news
media thing. Looking at what I understand
the unions are doing, from a media person,
one of the unions has about 2 or 300
people, there were five people, five
applied and maybe one would be eligible.
So I believe if it adds another five to really
make it a broad help families of different
situations, it would really be beneficial and
T don't think cost efficient. So I would like
to look at that and also whatever these
unions have negotiated with the city.
Again, hopefully they send us a copy of it
so we can look at it so it supports your
legislation.

Mr. Cohen:

We're getting that right now.
Everyone will have a chance to look at it.

The Chair:

I am glad we get it through the
media. We always know.

Mr. Udin:

I am not sure for the first time
since I have been on Council an Executive
Order was received and filed. I don't know
what the actual status of that is. My
assumption is that Council has no ability
to reject an Executive Order. But I wanted
to comment on the Executive Order that
was submitted by the Mayor's Office to
Council today to be received and filed. 1
want to encourage my colleagues and the
public to read that Executive Order very,
very closely.

It actually I believe takes us a step
backward from where we are now rather
than taking us a step forward. It actually
freezes the city journeymen, the
percentage of city journeymen who are on
city public projects. It freezes that
percentage at the percentage of city
joureymen currently in union
membership. The very reason why we are
discussing this thing about jobs for city
residents is to increase the percentage of
city residents on city jobs not to freeze it.
And this Executive Order that we have
been asked to receive and file today does
that.

In addition it reports to help
minorities and women to get into the
building trades and there are associations
made with the Plan B_ construction

627

exposure that is being made. But the
minorities and women that are being
referred to the construction industry,
number one the percentage has been
decreased from 35 to 25. And secondly,
the percentage of minorities into the
apprenticeship program does not deal with
the apprentices who are on construction
sites in Plan B or in Pittsburgh. It deals
with apprentices who are dispersed all
over the Western Pennsylvania region.
When you look at the entire apprentice
enrollment on those Plan B projects, it
disperses them throughout the whole
region.

So who is it that will be working
on these stadiums to build the stadiums
and why is it that Pittsburgh residents
cannot have the same advantage and
opportunity to work on Pittsburgh projects
as people from Cranberry Township? That
is the problem and that is what this
Executive Order supports. The Executive
Order was written and is influenced by the
suburban union leadership of the building
trades and it actually misses the important
role played by the contractors in deciding
who gets a job and who doesn't get a job.
As you read this Executive Order, it will
go on and on and on about what the unions
are going to do but it does nothing to say
what the contractors will do.

The Unions don't hire one single
person. The contractors hire them and it is
the contractors who have to be held
accountable. It is the contractors who sign
on that contract with the city not the
unions. We have missed the boat
completely in terms of what the
contractor’s role is. At least this
Executive Order misses that boat.

Let me finally just mention that

ee
SSS eS

this coming Thursday is the second of two
special meetings of Council, Post Agenda
meetings of Council to discuss Pittsburgh
works legislation.

There have been two editorials by
the Post Gazette both of which who
oppose Pittsburgh Works based on the
erroneous legal opinion submitted by the
administration. And this Thursday we are
scheduled to discuss the _ legal
constitutional aspects of this bill. I want to
thank Council President O'Connor,
Councilwoman McDonald and
Councilman Ferlo for attending and
staying throughout the important
discussion that we had last week. The
discussion that we are having this
Thursday is equally important. It may
even be more important because the
primary reason that colleagues have been
given for why they are renascent to support
Pittsburgh Works is because the legal
opinion of the administration says that it is
unconstitutional.

Well we are going to have that
constitutional discussion this Thursday.
We are going to have people here who are
constitutional scholars who will tell us
whether or not the legislation is
unconstitutional. So I hope that at least
colleagues will find this discussion
important enough and find the opportunity
for employment of city residents important
enough to require their presence at the
meeting and their staying for the meeting
throughout the duration. It is a very
important issue that we have to discuss
here and a very important matter that we
have to decide here. It is whether or not
the residents of the city of Pittsburgh will
have a fair opportunity to earn income for
their families the same as suburbanites
when we are talking Pittsburgh Works that

628

is supported by tax doilars.

I can't think of anything that we
have discussed in a long time that is more
important. I hope it is important enough
for colleagues to attend the Post Agenda
meeting Thursday at 2 p.m. Thank you,
Mr. President.

Ms. McDonald:

To Councilman Udin 1 will be
there on Thursday. I changed my schedule
around last week to make sure that I am
there to support you in the Pittsburgh
Works legislation. I will be there this
Thursday. I just have a housekeeping
issue.

This is scheduled for Thursday,
April 29th at ten o'clock am. a Post
Agenda as continued discussion of
NBE/WBE financial opportunities and this
will be with lending institutions. I want to
make a motion to cable cast.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Along with that, Ms. McDonald, I
would like the same motion to cable cast
the post agenda at 2 o'clock April 28th the
day before discussing the Y2K city
compliance issue.

MS. MCDONALD so moved.

MR. HERTZBERG seconded the
motion.

Which motion prevailed.

ee
See

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. I had the opportunity
jast night to attend a meeting in the Elliott
section of the city in my Council District
that was held by PennDot. About a month
ago I received word that there were going
to be some major detours involving the
West End Circle. And last night was the
community meeting held by PennDot to
inform the community about that. And it
all relates to the work that is inevitable
that has to be done with the Fort Pitt
Bridge, Fort Pitt Tunnel and various
ramps. And I believe that work is
necessary and I am certainly willing to
share in the detours and have to put up
with that. There is just no avoiding it, it
has to get done.

What they're doing is they’re going
to close down a couple of different
entrances to the West End Circle. This
will be on April 29th everyone needs to be
aware of the situation. It could last as long
as 90 days beginning April 29th. If I were
to take my normal route home during this
time period and go down West Carson
Street and try to go up to the West End
Circle to go to Steuben Street, 1 would be
detoured. I would not be able to do that. I
would be redirected over the West End
Bridge, over the Ohio River, onto North
Side and then redirected in a loop back
over the West End Bridge and then
allowed to go around the 90 degrees of the
West End Circle. I need to go around to
get on Steuben Street.

Also the Steuben Street ramp if
you are heading on 51, I am sorry not on
51 on Steuben Street and you want to get
onto 51 you will not be allowed to make
that movement at all. You will not be able

629

to enter the West End Circle from Steuben
Street. So we have a real problem going
on there with the traffic beginning April
29th. But one | think that we need to deal
with but we have got another problem that
Treally don't think we need at this time and
a lot of plans were made in conjunction
with this state road work that's being done.

One of the big ones that was going
to mitigate this problem was what was
called the airport bus way/Wabash HOV
phase one project. This was all going to
be done in time for the closure of the Fort
Pitt Bridge and Tunnel and that project has
been scaled back to a degree that is
unacceptable to me. I am going to
continue to fight the problem with that.
But you know while PennDot was going to
happen and that the county was working
with them the Port Authority was working
with them to do its share. In fact
Allegheny County and Port Authority has
done just the opposite. They have thrown
a wrench into the whole thing. When they
abbreviated the bus way and decided that it
was going to end on Carson Street just
outside of Corliss Street Tunnel that has
thrown a wrench particularly into what is
happening here. Because the detour,
probably the most logical detour for those
that are going to be traveling to the
neighborhood of the west rather than go
over the West End Bridge and come back
and use the circle is to continue. You will
still be able to continue on Carson Street
and then go through the Corliss Street
Tunnel and you can get to the same place.

However, the Port Authority when
it decided they were going to shorten the
bus way and bring it down onto Carson
Street has actually started that project.
They closed Carson Street one lane of
Carson Street, so you have got two lanes at

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that point and it is really going to bear all
the detoured traffic. So we have a real
nightmare on our hands in the west
coming on April 29th.

But the good side of it and I have
got to blame this on our county
government and the Port Authority. There
is no where else to lay the blame here. I
have been talking about this problem for
the last couple of years and no one over
there gets the message. Maybe they will
get the message this time because the
closure starts April 29th and it is going to
tun through Election Day. So if they don’t
get the message any other way, they will
get it on Election Day.

This is a big problem I have asked
and I have asked and I have asked and you
talk about the new level of cooperation
between the city and the county well it is
not this member of the city. It apparently
is some other member, not me. 1 have
gotten no cooperation whatsoever with this
bus way. And maybe the message will be
heard on Election Day when we feel this
pain and we have to deal with this
ridiculous $330 million waste of money
for a bus way that starts no where and ends
no where.

The Chair:

Let me ask you a dumb question.
Since I have been on Council they were
going to close the Fort Pitt Bridge. It is
almost eight years later, is there a date yet
set for that? 1 mean presuming everything
is supposed to be done before that.

Mr. Hertzberg:

The upper deck, which is the
inbound tunnel and inbound bridge going

630

if you were leaving the airport and you
wanted to come to downtown, in 2002 the
work will be done there. The other
direction, going from downtown out to the
West that's the lower deck and outbound
tunnel will be in 2003.

The Chair:

So the West End Circle will be
complete the new bridge will be complete
by then?

Mr. Hertzberg:
No. No it won't.
The Chair:

Let me give you, I just last Sunday
I had to run somewhere and usually
Sunday I have to run somewhere and
usually Sunday is no traffic. I have a
cardinal rule, I never go on the parkway, I
always go through Schenley Park. But on
a Sunday aftemoon, nice day I decided
well I can zip down the parkway. Well it
was backed up. PennDot was doing some
work and again no traffic except all backed
up getting onto the parkway. They had a
stop sign because only one lane was
inbound, no traffic cops. If a cop was
there everything would have zipped
through like nothing. Luckily in
Pittsburgh we are fairly courteous. I can't
say we're as courteous as we used to be but
at least we have people letting each other
in.

I would certainly ask one of the
leaders in the county or PennDot whatever
work is being done over there, if you put a
traffic cop at every light and intersection,
at least you can move the traffic a lot
better. That should be a priority on almost

ee
—————

all of our construction work whether it be
weekends or not. Again, one of the days
coming through the Liberty Tubes a couple
of months ago there wasn't a cop on a
Saturday and it was backed all the way
into town. Its just we need that extra
support. We spend millions and why
inconvenience everyone.

Mr. Hertzberg:

We have been promised that there
will be a police officer directing traffic at
the circle. With the Port Authority work
on Carson Street at the initiation there was
not a police officer, we requested one,
received one and traffic moved pretty well.
Now within the last week though we don't
have a police officer, particularly during
the evening rush hour. The road backs up
usually all the way from the tunnel to the
West End Bridge during mush hour because
it has been shut down to just two lanes one
in each direction at that point.

Also I want to mention if you have
any questions on these various detours that
will begin in the West End Circle on April
29, the gentleman who spoke last night
and he is taking a lot of heat, I feel bad for
him, but that is his job. His name is Victor
DeFazio, he's the Assistant District Traffic
Engineer for Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation, telephone number
429-4969.

The Chair:

We will have the stadiums all built
just in time for the bridge to close. We
look forward to it. Any other discussion
on Council? Hearing none we need a
motion to approve the minutes.

MS. MCDONALD moved to approve the

631

minutes.
MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adjoum
the meeting.

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.

And on the motion made by Mr.
Hertzberg, the Meeting adjourned.

MUNICIPAL RECORD
a
Proceedings of the Council of the City of. Pittsburgh
= =F == reese eee

VOL. CXXXIIT

Municipal Record

ONE-HUNDRED
THIRTIETH COUNCIL

BOB O'CONNOR
LINDA M. JOHi
JOHN R. MASCIO....

Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday, April 20, 1999

PRESENT:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato

Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin

Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor
Ms. McDonald (Pres't)

The Chair:

All please rise for the pledge of
allegiance and remain standing for a
moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the world.

We have two special guests with us
to do the pledge, Brittany McNeill in the
first grade she lives in Homewood and she
attends Linden Elementary School. She's
here with her mother Andrea and we have
JD Moore he is in the first grade also. He
is at Linden School and he lives in Park

April 20, 1999

No. 16

Place. He is here with his mother and dad,
Jim and Amy. Please lead us in the
pledge.

Brittany McNeill and JD Moore:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
Tepublic for which it stands one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.

The Chair:

JD and Brittany I think you two
really practiced. We have a little gift for
you.

Thank you very much.
PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you. Mr. President, the
following resolution is sponsored by all
members of Pittsburgh City Council and I
would like our honored guests to please
come forward. We have with us Lydia
Valanti, who is the Senior Interests
Program Supervisor, also Nora Jackson
who is the Observatory Hill Center
Director and some senior volunteers, Anne
Likarevich, Mary and Regis Cemy. I
would like to ask Mr. Onorato if he could
please come forward since he represents
the senior center that is with us today.

MR. RICCIARDI AND ALL
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT:

ee
ooo

No. 1502 WHEREAS, The 13"
Annual Citiparks Seniorinterests
Volunteer Gala will be held on
Wednesday, April 21, 1999 at the Sheraton
Hotel at Station Square.

WHEREAS, The Gala is sponsored
to recognize the contributions of more than
800 volunteers who have contributed more
than 115,000 hours during 1998.

WHEREAS, Citiparks
Seniorlnterest Program Volunteers
contribute in 30 job/service descriptions
including: Advisory Council Member,
Advocacy Council Delegate, Instructor for
Recreational and Educational Classes,
Outreach Assistant, Trip, Bingo and Party
Coordinators, Center Maintenance and
Shopping Assistant.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED THAT the Council of the
City of Pittsburgh hereby declares
Wednesday, April 21, 1999 as Citiparks
SeniorInterest Volunteer Day throughout
the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. ONORATO moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ricciardi:

Also on a_ professional and
personal note, Lydia has done just a
marvelous, fantastic, great job in
organizing this event. All the seniors as
you know have a great day in recognition
of their hard work and volunteer services
throughout the year. But Lydia you

continue to do a fantastic job and just
serve a nice lunch and recreation.

I am going to ask Lydia if she
could please come forward and all City
Council we look forward to being with you
tomorrow. Thank you.

Ms. Valanti:

Hi. 1 want to thank Councilman
Ricciardi and Council for this honor for
our volunteers. Our volunteers are a very
important part of our program. We really
couldn't operate as efficiently as we do
without them. And tomorow we are
having a gala, we are honoring 600 people
will be there. We have more than 800
volunteers in our program and I certainly
hope that all the Council people will
attend,

We are very fortunate to have so
many wonderful, talented and dedicated
volunteers in the SeniorInterest Program. I
would really want to extend a thank you to
them and thank you again, Council. Thank
you.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I would like to ask our colleagues
if you could please come forward. There
is a senior newspaper that I am going to
ask this picture to be published in so if you
could please come forward. Thank you.

The Chair:

While we are lining up, I just want
to repeat because the average person
doesn't go to this. There are 600
volunteers that you're honoring and that's
fantastic. We are very fortunate in
Pittsburgh to have all of you and all the
work you do.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Matter of fact there are 875
volunteers all together. Unfortunately 275
couldn't be with us.

Mr. Udin:

Could we have all the
representatives from Freedom Corer to
please come forward? I want to thank all
of the members who are present with us
today who are part of the Freedom Comer
Committee. And they have been working
to establish this monument at the comer of
Crawford and Center as a symbol of not
only the historic civil rights and human
rights struggles that have occurred in
Pittsburgh and in the Westem
Pennsylvania region, but it also acts as a
symbol of the revitalization of the Hill
District. And it is important to me
especially, personally because the effort to
build this monument at Freedom Comer
was initiated by Councilman Jake
Milliones, my friend and predecessor, who
reserved a plot of land at the corner of
Crawford and Center for the purpose of
erecting a Freedom Comer monument.

This Sunday we will be doing a
groundbreaking at the comer and we will
start construction immediately after that.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority has
the land and will be transferring that land
to the Hill District CDC and the URA has
been very, very helpful in making this
possible. J want to thank them publicly.

Also the architect is here, Howard
Graze a very talented young architect in
the city who has joined forces with one of
the areas most talented artists Carlos
Peterson. They together have designed

634

this monument which will be both an
architectural and artistic marble. We want
to thank them for making their talents
available for this as well.

The backbone of the movement for
human rights and civil rights has always
been the African American church and we
have with us Reverend Monroe from
Grace and also Reverend Gracen
(phonetic) from Wesley Center. The
fundraising has been going on for about a
year to raise the funds to erect this
monument and Estella Smith from
Duquesne Light is the chairperson of that
committee.

Also working with the committee
is Detective Brenda Tate and other
members of the committee as well. Who
am I leaving out? Did I get everyone, Lois
Kane is a very important member of the
committee who attends all the meetings
and helps us to move forward, Neal Locus
is also present representing the Hill
District CDC.

We started a tradition last year of
an annual Torch of Freedom Award and
last year we gave the award to Attomey
Byrd Brown. This year we are pleased to
announce that Bishop Donald Wuerl will
be presenting the second annual Torch of
Freedom Award to Monsignor Charles
Owen Rice. So all members of Council
are invited to attend.

We will be starting a march from
the Martin Luther King Center on Harron
Avenue to Freedom Comer at two o'clock
if you’re up for the march you can join us
there. If you got bad feet then perhaps you
can join us at Freedom Comer at about
three o'clock at Crawford and Center.

So I

want to read this

ey
eaaeaeaeaeEeaeaeaeeoEEEEee——eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

proclamation.

MR. UDIN AND MS. MCDONALD
PRESENT:

No. 1503 WHEREAS, on Sunday,
April 25, 1999 the Freedom Comer
Committee will break ground on the
historic comer of Crawford Street and
Center Avenue more popularly known as
FREEDOM CORNER; and

WHEREAS, Freedom Comer
represents a two-century long struggle of
Westem Pennsylvania's African American
community to secure equality and
opportunity; and

WHEREAS, in the early 1950's
Hill District residents drew a line in the
sand and refused to allow further
demolition of their homes, churches, and
businesses by the City's urban renewal
plans and erected a billboard on Crawford
Street and Center Avenue proclaiming that
City Hall and the Urban Redevelopment
Authority engage in "NO
REDEVELOPMENT BEYOND THIS
POINT!;" and

WHEREAS, the residents of the
Hill District stood their ground and
eventually held back City Hall and this site
became the symbol of civil rights and
human rights movements for citizens
throughout the region; and

WHEREAS, Freedom Corner
became the rallying point for local
marches protesting discrimination in labor
unions and corporate hiring reflecting Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr's commitment to
non-violent protest.

WHEREAS, Councilman Jake
Milliones. who pioneered the building of
Crawford Square and the revitalization of
the Hill District, reserved a plot of land at
the corner of Crawford Street and Center
Avenue and initiated the effort to erect a
monument to Freedom Comer; and

WHEREAS, as a part of the
Freedom Comer groundbreaking
ceremony, Bishop Donald Wuerl will
present the 2"? Annual Torch of Freedom
Award to a life-long warrior for Freedom
and the rights of workers and all human
beings, Monsignor Charles Owen Rice.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh congratulates the Freedom

Corner Committee on this historic
groundbreaking event.
MR. FERLO moved to adopt the

resolution.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

Mr. Udin:

I would like to invite Dr. Stelia
Smith to join us and also I would like to
ask Dr.Monroe if he would follow
Ms. Smith in providing a few words of
Teading.

Dr. Smith:

Thank you, Councilman Udin.
Good morming to Council members and
guests of the proceeding. 1 am very
pleased to participate in this effort in
erecting this monument. I am however
compelled to say this is an interracial
effort. It is not just African Americans

_——
ole

who are involved in the attempt to build a
monument that says something about the
progress in Pittsburgh and in our entire
country.

We have an 80 member interracial
committee. Unfortunately none of the
other minority are here this morning but |
can assure you this is not just an African
American effort for the African American
community. This is for the community of
Pittsburgh, for the region it is something
that we can look at and remember
although some of the times that we
remember are not very appealing.

We can also rejoice in the fact that
things have changed considerably, that we
are not in the same position that we are
and were years ago when certain things
were not available to the African
Americans in this community. We can all
appreciate that what is good for one is
good for all. And unless we're all enjoying
what is available to us in this community
none of us will fully enjoy our community.
Thank you and for all of you who are here
we welcome your commitment to this and
we certainly welcome your contribution to
it. Thank you.

Dr. Monroe:

Thank you, Mr. Udin and members
of Council and to all of us present. I think
when we began to look at the history of
freedom and justice in this country
especially as it relates to the Aftican
American community we know that the
African American church has always been
In the forefront. When we began to talk
about freedom we think of preachers such
as Martin Luther King. If we talk about
economic development and community
development we have to talk about a man

636

like Dr. Leon Sullivan. When we talk
about those who have always been
engaged in the struggle we go to New
York City and we find a man like Minister
(inaudible) Flake (phonetic).

So we know that the church has
always been active in the community and
the church remains an active part of the
community. And so it's a privilege for the
ministers of the Hill District and ministers
from across this city to join with Mr. Udin
and other members of this committee in
erecting the monument. So that we will
always remember that if we are going to
have freedom we must always remember
our history, where we have come from and
then we can always talk about where we
are going.

So we thank you for this and we
invite you to come and continue to walk
with us and as we walk for freedom and
justice for all of God’s people.

Mr. Graves:

Members of Council, Council
President, Sala Udin, this is indeed an
honor here today to hear this proclamation.
Clearly it is evident that Dr. King's vision
for freedom has been heard, let freedom
ring. Clearly this is an opportunity for
celebration within the Hill District and
surrounding communities. Before it is an
opportunity for not only spiritual uplifting
but for I think renewing all of our
consciences to the movement of freedom
and what it represents.

Carlos Peterson I think was very
instrumental in representing that
conceptually from a design standpoint.
You have to see it. I want all the members
to show up to see that -- I am not talking

ee
aS SS

about the groundbreaking. Hopefully if
you got good feet like the Councilman said
you will show up for that. But ultimately
the final product should be something that
we all embrace and J think it will be
beneficial for all to see and celebrate in
that. So thank you again for this
proclamation and inviting us here.

Mr. Udin:

Also I apologize for excluding to
mention the important role that youth are
playing in this Freedom Comer
monument. We also have a passing of the
torch event that will take place at Freedom
Corner where some of the veterans like
Selma Lovit (phonetic) and some of the
older veterans older than myself will pass
the torch onto younger ones. Glenda
Mayo is here from the School District who
is helping us to organize the youth
component of the activities.

So it's going to be a very exciting
day and I hope all members of Council
will be present and certainly the public is
invited as well. Thank you.

Mr. Diven:

At this time I would like to call up
the group that's here with the Week of the
Young Child. We have some children
here from Saint Paul's Preschool,
Emanuel's Preschool and Elizabeth Seton
Preschool.

Joining us to today we have a
group of children accompanied by Sister
Barbara Ann from the Elizabeth Seton
Center, Staca Swanson who is the
Co-President of the Pittsburgh Association
for Education of Young Children, Joan
Dawson who is Co-President, Cindy
McCauller, Chair Person of the Week of

637

the Young Child Committee and Sue
McKelney, Chair of Saint Paul's Preschool
and Diana Patton who is the Assistant at
Emanuel Preschool. With that I want to
read the proclamation that we will be
presenting today.

MR. DIVEN PRESENTS:

No. 1504 WHEREAS, the
Pittsburgh Association for the Education
of Young Children and other local
organizations, in conjunction with the
National Association for the Education of
Young Children, are celebrating the Week
of the Young Child from April 18”
through April 24", 1999 and;

WHEREAS, by calling attention to
the need for high-quality early childhood
services for all children and families
within our community, these groups hope
to improve the quality and availability of
such services and;

WHEREAS, the future of our
community depends on the quality of the
early childhood experiences provided to
young children today and;

WHEREAS, high-quality early
childhood services represent a worthy
commitment to our children’s future.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby proclaim April
18" through April 24", 1999 as "Week of
the Young Child" in the City of Pittsburgh
and does hereby urge all citizens to
recognize and support the needs of young
children in our community.

MS. MCDONALD moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Diven:

I would like to call up someone
who works in my Council District
providing opportunities in high quality
services to young children, Sister Barbara
Ann. So if you want to come up and make
some comments about the group and
introduce the rest of your guests that will
be great.

Sister Ann:

I would like to take — this
opportunity to thank City Council for
recognizing the young members of our
community. This is our future and we're
in the business of building a future. This
is where it is right here.

I would like to introduce Joan
Dawson who is the Co-President of the
Pittsburgh Association for the Education
of Young Children.

Ms. Dawson:
Thank you, Sister Barbara Ann.

I am Joan Dawson, I have been
associated with Saint Paul’s Preschool in
the North Hills for 25 years as a teacher I
have been a teacher and an administrator.
I have with me today two of our students,
Max and David, who along with their
siblings represent 16 years in our center.

We also have one of them, David's

mother, Sue McElhaney, who is the Chair
of our Committee, our governing for Saint

638

Paul's Preschool.
them with us.

We're happy to have

I am the Co-President of PAEYC,
which is an acronym for the Pittsburgh
Association for the Education of Young
Children, which is the largest membership
organization of its kind in Westem
Pennsylvania. I would like to thank
Councilman Diven and all the Council for
honoring and recognizing not only our
organization but in doing so you are
recognizing the children and parents with
whom we work.

Thank you very much. And I
would like to introduce Stasha Swanson
who is our other Co-President now.

Ms. Swanson:

I just want to thank you for inviting
us and allowing a representative of around
20 children that just represent thousands of
children in the City of Pittsburgh who are
in childcare and preschool and have needs
that need to be focused on this week
during the Week of the Young Child. And
I brought my whole class today and so
they’re here and they are glad to see the
City Council at work.

Ms. McAlaire: (phonetic)

Hi, I am Cindy McAlaire and I am
the Chair of the Committee of Week of the
Young Child. I would like to thank you,
Councilman Diven, and the rest of Council
for honoring us with this proclamation.

Our association is made up of
about 900 members and it represents
people who work in the childcare field.
There are over three counties represented,
Westmoreland and Allegheny and Beaver

OO
SS ES

County, and we have a few scattered in
Fayette and some of the other places. We
represent hundreds of programs across the
county that work with young children. So
we are a large organization.

We are working to unite with some
other organizations in the area that work
with children so that we can start to really
focus the needs of children and families.
Childcare is a very hard thing to find that
is affordable and accessible to families. |
would encourage you to keep that in mind
as things come before you if you have
young children of your own, you know
what that's like. I would encourage you to
also think about the people who work with
the children.

This is just I am really proud to be
here representing the young shining faces
of our future and the people that work with
them who work hard work for low wages.
I just had to get that one in and work hard
to provide quality childcare for the people
of our community,

Thanks.
Mr. Diven:

I would like to commend all of you
for the really important work that you’re
doing. I think everyone knows the trend in
our country with the predominance of
single families and with two working
parents. The importance of providing
quality services and educating children is
tandem out to us remaining together as a
society and this work often goes without
praise. And it should be praised and we
want to thank you for the work that you
guys put in day in and day out for giving
opportunities to these kids to be
successful.

639

Child:

T really like school.
Child:

I really like school.
The Chair:

Thanks for coming down.

Would the intemational visitors
please come up? We're honored today to
have 11 visitors from across the world
who are visiting Pittsburgh. They just
spent a couple of days in Washington.
They're here for three or four days and they
will be going to Bolder, Colorado, I think
from here part of an intemational visitors
program that I see is 40 years old in
Pittsburgh.

So welcome on behalf of all of my
Council members and everyone in the city
we want to welcome you here and
hopefully you enjoy your stay. I will read
the resolution to you.

MR. O'CONNOR
MEMBERS PRESENT:

AND ALL

No. 1505 WHEREAS, the
Pittsburgh Council for Intemational
Visitors Program was founded in 1959 to
develop understanding among peoples
from different nations and cultures of the
world by providing contact between
international visitors and the people of
Western Pennsylvania; and,

WHEREAS, the
Council for International

Pittsburgh
Visitors

Program's mission is to promote cultural,
educational and cultural; and,

WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh
Council for International Visitors is the
local liaison organization for the

International Visitors Program is hosting
the Foreign Service Nationals, a division
of the United States Information Service;
and,

WHEREAS, the Foreign Service
Nationals are foreign nationals who
provide information about the United
States, including exchange programs, to
individuals in their home countries; and,

WHEREAS, each year, the United
States Government invites groups of
Foreign Service Nationals to the United
States to learn more about our country as
well as the various exchange programs that
the United States Agency offers, including
the prestigious International Visitors
Program.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend the
Pittsburgh Council of International
Visitors on their ongoing effort to promote
understanding; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby welcome the members of the
Foreign National Service and declare April
20, 1999, as “Foreign Service Day" in the
City of Pittsburgh.

MS. MCDONALD moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.

640

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

We have Mrs. Murray Whitman is
the coordinator but I believe the speaker
Abden (phonetic)

Abden:

Usually it is much easier to say
abdomen. It is Abden. I am from
(inaudible). My colleagues are from
different parts of the country some of them
notable countries like Jordan we have the
United (inaudible), Sweden, Canada,
Poland, Korea, Argentina, (inaudible). I
should say we welcomed the United States
Ambassadors out there.

We are in the public diplomacy
department. We deal much with your
information and cultural programs. We
should say we are very happy to be in
Pittsburgh. The PCIV has done a
wonderful job and we have enjoyed
ourselves. We are also grateful to be here
this time to be part and participate of your
meeting and thanks very much.

The Chair:

Anyone else
something? Thank you.

want to say

We have a couple more to be read
and adopted.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTS:

No. 1506 WHEREAS, the Third
Annual Best Friends Recognition
Celebration and Dinner will be held on
Wednesday, April 21, 1999, at the
Sheraton Hotel, Station Square; and

OSS OETET_SS

WHEREAS, Best Friends is a
premier youth development program that
promotes abstinence from sex, drugs, and
alcohol through fun, upbeat messages and
activities. Founded in 1987 in
Washington, DC public schools by Elayne
Bennett, Best Friends has helped hundreds
of girls nationwide; and

WHEREAS, Best Friends began in
the Pittsburgh Public Schools in 1996.
Currently, there are over 180 Best Friends
girls from Allegheny, Arsenal, Knoxville,
and Reizenstein Middle School. Best
Friends is most grateful to the Allegheny
Foundation for its support; and

WHEREAS, there are six main
components of the Best Friends program,

which include: Curriculum Group
Discussion, Weekly Fitness Classes,
Mentoring Meetings, Role Model

Presentations, Cultural Activities, and
Community Service. Combined they work
together to create a strong positive
network which support happy and healthy
living adolescent girls.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Best Friends of Pittsburgh for caring and
sharing love and self-respect to young girls
at an impressionable age so they may grow
into beautiful self-respecting women.

Also,

No. 1507 WHEREAS, on
Thursday, April 15, 1999, The Pittsburgh
Job Corps Center Community Relations
Council will host their 26" Annual
Scholarship Dinner and Auction at the
Sheraton Hotel at Station Square; and

641

WHEREAS, The Pittsburgh Job
Corps Center will honor the following
persons for their dedication and service:
Sonia Chopra, Geeta Chopra, Angela
DaCosta, Tanisha Hill, Sherwin Phillips,
and Tiffany Willis; and

WHEREAS, The Pittsburgh Job
Corps opened in January 1972 to 200 men.
It currently serves approximately 800
young men and women. It is operated by
Res-Care, Inc. in conjunction with the
AFL-CIO Appalachian Council, Inc. and
the Intemational Union of Operating
Engineers; and

WHEREAS, The Pittsburgh Job
Corps offers the following vocational
trades: Auto Body, Business Office
Technology, Building/Apartment
Maintenance, Heavy Equipment Operator
and Heavy Equipment Mechanic. In
addition, more than 382 students who
participate in the Off Center Training
Program attend Community College of
Allegheny County; and

WHEREAS, The Pittsburgh Job
Corps Centers’ goal is to enable students
to maximize their potential and become
productive, respected citizens in our
society.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
The Pittsburgh Job Corps Center
Community Relations Council for their
efforts to educate and communicate with
the youth of today.

Also,

EEO

No. 1508 WHEREAS, on
Thursday, April 29, 1999, the Pittsburgh
School for the Creative and Performing
Arts will celebrate its 20" Anniversary at
the Manchester Craftsman’s Guild; and

WHEREAS, artist Thaddeus
Mosley will be honored for his
contribution in the field of visual arts.
Albert French, author of Billy, Patches of
Fire and the recently released I can’t Wait
on God, and whose writing has been
compared to Zora Neale Hurston and
Richard Wright, will be honored for his
contributions to the literary arts. Dr.
Marion Bamett, will be honored for her
contributions to the discipline of dance.
Dr. Ken Gargaro, who will be honored for
his contributions to theatre arts, is
president and founder of Gargaro
Productions, a non-profit company
committed to the education of youth,
quality affordable musical theatre, and to
the support of local talent. Music honoree,
Sumner Erickson, teaches at Camegie
Mellon University and has been a
Principal Tuba of the Pittsburgh
Symphony Orchestra since 1981; and

WHEREAS, the evening finale
will include a special performance by
CAPA students honoring their
predecessors and students of the future.
The event will also celebrate CAPA’s
future, as plans come to fruition for the
school’s new home in the downtown
cultural district.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
the Pittsburgh School for the Creative and
Performing Arts, CAPA, for _ their
continuous efforts in educating the public
on the importance of the Arts.

642

MR. UDIN AND MS. MCDONALD
PRESENT:

No. 1509 WHEREAS, April is
nationally acknowledged as “Cancer
Control Month.” The National Cancer
Institute (NCI) has designated April 18
through April 24" as National Minority
Cancer Awareness Week; and

WHEREAS, The Pittsburgh
Cancer Institute has initiated an African
American Cancer Program which
emphasizes the concepts of cancer
prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and
education; and

WHEREAS, Minority Americans,
including African, Hispanic, and Native
American, experience higher incidence
and mortality rates from several of the
major cancers such as cervical, breast,
prostate, and lung cancers, This is in part
due to the fact that this cancer is often
detected when the disease is already
advanced. Chances for survival are greatly
reduced when the disease is found in its
later stages; and

WHEREAS, The goal of this week
is to increase awareness and knowledge of
cancer prevention and detection in
minority communities; and

WHEREAS, The survival rate can
increase with the availability of services
for preventive care and screening exams.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh commends the Pittsburgh
Cancer Institute for its outreach and
community efforts in educating the
Minority Communities.

88M EEE

MR. O'CONNOR
MEMBERS PRESENT:

AND ALL

No. 1510 WHEREAS, since 1865,
St. Francis has been healing the body,
mind and spirit of all in need; and,

WHEREAS, St. Francis Health
System is a large and comprehensive
health care network in Westem
Pennsylvania and includes St. Francis
Medical Center, the regional referral
teaching hospital, St. Francis Hospital, St.
Francis Nursing Center as well as St.
Francis Hospitals, Nursing Centers and
Health Centers throughout Southwestern
Pennsylvania and Southeastem Ohio; and,

WHEREAS, the 12" Annual
Courage to Come Back Awards
Campaign, sponsored by St. Francis
Health System, honors community
individuals who have overcome
devastating illness, injuries or economic
misfortune to lead productive lives; and,

WHEREAS, the awards dinner is
being held Saturday, April 17” at the
Sheraton Station Square and hosted by
Program Chair, Pittsburgh Steeler and
Courage Awardee, Rocky Bleier and Liz
Miles of WTAE-TV; and,

WHEREAS, the awards dinner
raises money to help pay for the care of St.
Francis patients who cannot afford
necessary treatment. All dinner proceeds
help to offset the costs of the free care
provided annually by the St. Francis
Health System in fulfillment of the Health
System's mission of providing health care
to all in need regardless of their ability to
pay; and,

643

WHEREAS, the 1999 Courage to
Come Back recipients are:

Lisa Burbidge

Eleanor Castine

Diane McHirella Elliot

Robin "Rob" Stemple

Edward “Bruce” Maxwell, and
Mary Lyn Caldwell

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend this
year's Courage to Come Back recipients
for their dedication and commitment to
overcome adversity; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby commend St. Francis Health
System for their ongoing devotion to the
community and declares April 17, 1999,
"Courage to Come Back Day" in the City
of Pittsburgh.

MS. MCDONALD moved to adopt the
resolutions.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Now move to public comments.
Anyone wish to address Council for three
minutes please do so now and give your
name and address for the record.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ms. Brown:
My name is Yvonne F. Brown. I

live at 2633 Brackenridge Street that’s
Pittsburgh 15219. I live in the Hill

ee
=e eee

District. I came to address the meeting
this week because of the way that the
meeting was abruptly stopped. I did not
understand why it was so, but the reason I
came was I come every week because
people in the community tell me to come
before the Council and try to explain to
you how we are feeling and in the
conditions that we are living.

Now I was talking to one of the
elders after this meeting when the
President O'Connor slammed that gavel
down and abruptly ended it. And I didn't
understand and when he told me that I
wasn't allowed to ask questions. I was
speaking to one of our elders at my
community and I was saying I was really
disturbed because I have been to these
meetings. I have seen where people have
asked questions and it has been almost like
a round table of Councilmen and woman
answering these people but when I ask the
questions I was abruptly cut off.

My question was like when I saw
Greenfield received five or $6,000, in the
Hill District the area I live got one or two.
So the elder said to me and I am going to
tell how she said it to me, what district did
you say? I said Greenfield she oh, oh, oh,
that was Mr. O'Connor’s. Quite naturally
he was going to stop you when you were
trying to question why there was some
inequity, why did one district get more
than the other?

She also spoke about you,
Mr. Ricciardi. She said that the way you
answered me was disrespectful and it
appeared that if your eyes could have shot
me I would have been dead. The reason,
what I was asking about you were insisting
that the children must pay to go to the
public swimming pools when last year you

644

said no and then this year you dug it up
and you changed. Now I approached you
as you walked out I talked to you because,
Mr. Ricciardi, you told me a lie. You
changed. You were very cordial there, but
when | asked you a question here I get
slapped up.

I come because the people in my
community say come. I made a statement
about the Pittsburgh Public School Board.
I told you I had started a paper where it
was the concem parent. I want you just to
read when | say that they allocate money
according to what race and what area. In
1996 the decision was made to remove the
white students out of the (inaudible)
Middle School located in the Hill District.
2.5 million dollars was spent to build the
middle school for these students, $10,300
was spent on tact board and chalk in the
new school. The new books and
instruments were purchased, the staff of
the schools were provided at the expense
of all other schools in the district. This
new school called South Hills Middle
School only had five black children yet in
Homewood and Belmar Elementary
School. We had our black children had to
wear coats.

Now my time is up and Mr.
O'Connor will snap me up if I don't stop.
But I will be back next week because I
need you to understand that you are
discriminating against some of the
neighborhoods.

Thank you for the time and have a
nice day.

The Chair:

Thank you. Any more comments
from the public?

6=6CN—vaya————eeeee

Mr. Snyder:

Good morning. My name is Mark
Snyder. I am a resident of the 31st Ward,
1426 Mifflin Street, Pittsburgh 15207. I
am President of the Fraternal Association
of the Professional Paramedics. I wasn't
going to speak, but I think I would like to
address one quick issue that will be on
your agenda today.

The motor medic issue, the
Pittsburgh Paramedics support this. This
is a new concept that was just recently
brought to our attention. As far as
paramedics responding quickly with a
paramedic on a motorcycle, this is a plan
that actually we started and actually
volunteered about ten years ago with the
beginning of the races with the marathon.
A lot of the paramedics had volunteered to
use their own motorcycles to follow and
catch people quickly when they go down.
Sometimes older folks have bad hearts,
don't know it and try to run these races and
you know the problems that have tumed
out in some of the races where actually
some of the people have went into cardiac
arrest and the paramedics were able to
bring some back.

This is an important issue. The
media has turned it into a firefighter issue.
I can just tell you that we as the
paramedics think anything that makes us
quicker to get to people's homes with the
proper IV's, defibrillators, the mechanisms
that make people breathe better and save
lives is always important for us. We care
about the citizens and we commend
Councilman O'Connor and Diven for this
issue and we do like the ideas of having
the motorcycles available.

1 don't know if it works on a daily
basis, again that's something the concept
will have to be discussed. But again, for
the major issues like the Fourth of July
trying to get down to the Point, we actually
stationed two vehicles down, staffed with
people and we try to give them golf carts.
In the old days, being a 20 years medic, we
used to have to try to walk through that
crowd to try to get to somebody quickly
for a heart attack. This is a good thing and
it has to be looked at properly. Again, the
media has tumed it a different way.

I was not asked to comment
through the media so I will take this time
and thank the Council that again looks like
you guys are looking to make things safer
and better for the people. And the
paramedics and EMT's soon to be here
have the same issues at heart. We care
about people. Thank you.

The Chair:

For the record, that will be
discussed next Wednesday. Anyone else
wishing to address Council? Hearing none
move to presentation of papers.

PRESENTATION OF PAPERS
MR. COHEN PRESENTED:

No. 1511 An — Ordinance
SUPPLEMENTING the Pittsburgh City
Code, Title One: Administrative, Article
Eleven: Personnel, by adding Chapter 186
to Recognize Domestic Partnerships and
Common Law Marriage Relationships
within the Context of City Employment. —
-(SPONSORED BY MR. COHEN &
MR. FERLO)

———————————————
—aeaeaeaaaeeeeaea aaa

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

No. 1512 Resolution Further
amending Resolution No. 781, effective
January 1, 1999, entitled “Adopting and
approving the 1999 Capital Budget and the
1999 Community Development Block
Grant Program; and approving the 1999
through 2004 Capital Improvement
Program,” by creating a new line item
entitled “Traffic Signals at Seventh Street
and Penn Avenue.”

No. 1513 Resolution Providing for
a Contract or Contracts, or use of existing
Contracts for the purchase and installation
of new traffic and streetlight poles and
fixtures at Seventh Street and Penn
Avenue; at a cost no to exceed $40,000.00.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Engineering and
Construction.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

No. 1514 Resolution Approving
the Eastgate Redevelopment Proposal,
Council District No. 9

MS. MCDONALD moved to suspend
Rule 8 by providing for consideration of
the bill only until or afier the 8th calendar
day following the meeting in which the bill
was introduced so the bill will be on the
agenda this Wednesday.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.

Also,

No. 1515 Resolution Approving
Modification No. 7 to the East Liberty
Redevelopment Area Plan (Council
District No. 9).

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Housing, Economic
Development & Promotion.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

No. 1516 Resolution Approving a
Conditional Use exception under Section
993.01(a)A(9) of the Pittsburgh Code,
Title Nine, Zoning, Article V, Chapter 993
to the University of Pittsburgh for
authorization to construct a_ six-story
multi-purpose academic center on Forbes
Ave. between South Bouquet St. and
Oakland Ave. on property zoned "C4"
Commercial District, 4" ward.
(COUNCIL DISTRICT NO. 3)

No. 1517 Resolution Approving a
Conditional Use exception under Section
993.01(a)AQ) of the Pittsburgh Code,
Title Nine, Zoning, Article V, Chapter 993
to the University of Pittsburgh for
authorization to construct five, four-story
garden-type apartment buildings for
Student housing, each with sixteen four-
bedroom units to house four students per
unit, for a total of 320 beds, located at 201,
221 and 291 Oakland Ave. and 200 and
230 South Bouquet St. on property zoned
“R4” Multi-Family Residence District and
"C4" Commercial District, 4° ward. ---
(COUNCIL DISTRICT NO. 3)

No. 1518 Resolution Approving a
Conditional Use Exception under Section
911.04.A.64(a) of the Pittsburgh Code,
Title Nine, Zoning, Article, Chapter 911,

ee
8 ETN

to Ellis School for authorization to
construct a 3-story building and two I-
story extensions to the existing school
building located on the campus of Ellis
School at 6425 Fifth Avenue on property

zoned “RM-3” Residential Multi-Unit
Moderate Density, 7" Ward. —
(COUNCIL DISTRICT 8)

MR. ONORATO moved to suspend Rule
8 by providing for consideration of the
bills only until or after the 8th calendar day
following the meeting in which the bills
were introduced.so the bills will be on the
agenda this Wednesday for purposes of
scheduling a public hearing.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

No. 1519 An Ordinance Amending
the Pittsburgh Code, Title Nine, Zoning,
Article I, Chapter 902, Section 902.03.A
Zoning District Map No. 7 by changing
from “C6-A” Downtown Riverfront
District Area to “C6-B” Downtown
Riverfront District Area “B” all that
certain property bounded by North Shore
Drive, Allegheny Avenue, the “M1” and
“RS” Zoning District boundary line
located south of Ridge Avenue, the “C6-
B” Zoning district boundary line located
east of Allegheny Avenue and Stadium

Drive, 22" Ward. --(COUNCIL
DISTRICT 6)

No. 1520 An Ordinance
Amending the Pittsburgh Code of

Ordinances, Title Nine, Zoning, Article
IV, Chapter 910, by revising the site
development standards for height of
structures in the “DR-B”, Downtown
Riverfront, Sub-district B.

647

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Planning, Zoning & Land
Use.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

No. 1521 Resolution Amending
Resolution No. 349, approved June 15,
1998, effective June 23, 1998 entitled "
Authorizing the Department of Parks and
Recreation to enter into a contract or
contracts, agreement or agreements, or the
use of existing contracts or agreements for
the purchase of furniture and equipment in
an amount not to exceed One Hundred
Thousand ($100,000.00) Dollars for the
Parks and Recreation Senior Interests
Program," by reducing the amount of the
resolution by $25,000.00.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Parks, Recreation & Youth
Policy.

No. 1522 Resolution providing for
the transfer of the amount of One Hundred
Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($115,000.00) to
the Special Parks Program Trust Fund ,
Account 491120, Fund 7314, Organization
523000, Budget Year 1999 from the
Special Summer Food Service Program
Trust Fund, Account 581130, Fund 2855,
Organization 521220, Subclass 600,
Budget Year 1999 all in the Department of
Parks and Recreation

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

No. 1523 Resolution authorizing
the City of Pittsburgh to accept ownership
of the following vacant lots located within
the City of Pittsburgh to be dedicated for
public use as parklets.

a I OOOT_T_TSS

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Parks, Recreation & Youth
Policy.

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

No. 1524 Resolution Providing for
the issuance of a $16,330.49 warrant in
favor of Housing Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh, 200 Ross Street, Pittsburgh,
PA 15219 in settlement of a claim in
which a City Police vehicle hit and
damaged claimant’s vehicle.

No. 1525 Resolution providing for
the filing of a petition or petitions for the
sale of certain property or properties,
known as Lien Excluded Properties
acquired at tax sales, in accordance with
Act No. 171 of 1984, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

No. 1526 Resolution providing for
the filing of a petition or petitions for the
sale of certain property or properties,
known as Lien Excluded Properties
acquired at tax sales, in accordance with
Act No. 171 of 1984, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

No. 1527 Resolution providing for
the filing of a petition or petitions for the
sale of certain property or properties,
acquired at tax sales in accordance with
Act No. 171 of 1984, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

No. 1528 Communication from
Barbara Parees, Director, of Personnel and
Civil Service, requesting permission for
John Turyan, Chairman of the Private
Industry Council, to attend he

Pennsylvania Pariner’s Annual Conference
in Hershey, PA from May 5-7, 1999 at a
cost not to exceed $920.00, chargeable to
and payable from the JTPA-1 Trust Fund
(Mr. Turyan is a non-city employee)

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:

No. 1529 Resolution Authorizing
and directing the Director of Public Safety,
in conjunction with the appropriate Chiefs
of Bureaus within the Department of
Public Safety and, and the Directors of
General Services and Personnel, to take
the appropriate actions to develop a pilot
program wherein medical emergencies can
be responded to by utilizing a motorcycle
mounted Emergency Medical Technician
in order to augment the City’s existing
First Responder Program,
(SPONSORED BY MR. O°CONNOR &
MR. DIVEN)

The Chair:

We have a request from Ellis
School to Rule Eight a bill that we're
trying to find -- Bill 1518

MR. UDIN seconded the motion.
The Chair:

T think it requires a Public Hearing
that was the reasoning.

——eeee

Mr, Cohen:

Okay. I would not want us to
move that through because I haven't had a
chance to discuss that yet.
The Chair:

Just moving the public hearing.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Under unfinished business. Is
there any unfinished business to come in
front of Council?

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

I would like to announce the
Oakland Business Improvement District
their bylaws request a member of Council
to be on their board. With unanimous
approval Councilman Ricciardi has
requested and he represents that area and I
would like to appoint him to that board.
Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you, Mr. President.

The Chair:
All in favor?

Which motion prevailed,
The Chair:

I would like to move to Committee
Chair Reports.

CHAIR REPORTS

Mr. Udin:

Thank you, Mr. President.
Colleagues should have a copy of the
report before them on letterhead. We
negotiated the budget correction items for
1999 with Director Hennigan and
submitted the final amendments to
Council, which have been approved.

We also finalized arrangements
with the Controller's Office and Council
increased the authorized funding to
support additional staff needed to manage
the PeopleSoft accounting system in the
Controller's Office. However, there
continues to be glitches in the PeopleSoft
System, which prevent reliable balance in
the trust fund acts and other accounting
functions. It is anticipated that the current
staff arrangement in the Controller's Office
will improve the accounting system.

The Controller is scheduled to
release the audited financial report, the
CAFR, for the year ending December 31,
1998 May first as required. It is expected
that the report will be completed on time.

It was reported in the local media
that the Pennsylvania House of
Representatives decided to cut funding to
the City of Pittsburgh to reimburse
expenses for the Magistrate's Court. It
should be pointed out, Mr. President, that
it appears not only was the additional four
million dollars cut from the state budget
but the basic $1.2 million seems to have
been cut as well. So that's the entire
amount of $5.2 million having been cut
from this year’s budget.

The situation will _ further
jeopardize an already under funded budget
operating on a structural deficit that is

beginning to approach $25 million.

Finally, the Disparity Study
Commission has completed the process of
selecting and contracting with a firm to
conduct the disparity study on
procurement and employment in the City
of Pittsburgh. The firm is Mason Tillman
Associates of Oakland, California. This is
the best disparity study firm in the nation
and one of the very few which has never
had any of its disparity reports successfully
challenged by the building trade industry
which has so many affirmative action
programs shut down.

To date we have only contracted
with Mason Tillman to conduct a study of
Pittsburgh Municipal employment
however we have received increasing
demand to expand the study to include
employment utilization and availability in
the construction industry as well.

The consultants are expected to
indicate how much it will additionally cost
within a couple of weeks. All targeted
authorities met with Mason Tillman to
discuss how they will be involved in the
study. The member authorities include the
URA, the Housing Authority, Parking
Authority, Water and Sewer Authority and
the Stadium Authority.

Additionally 1 have been chairing
the meetings of the Plan B MBE/WBE
oversight committee monitoring the
inclusion of minority and women owned
contractors in the three construction
projects. Although each of the projects has
presented plans for M and WBE inclusion
there appears to be resistance against
including minority and women owned
firms in the pre-construction phase.
Meetings with the Public Auditorium

Authority. the Murphy administration and
team owners and construction managers
are ongoing. That concludes my report.

The Chair:

Just on the ending part with the
business minority and women business,
we're getting kind of late. Where do you
see this, is there a final push that can either
yes or no soon?

Mr. Udin:

Well the policy has been
established by the Public Auditorium
Authority, but getting that __ policy
implemented at the top is proving to be
tough going. However, the construction
management is something that goes
throughout the duration of the construction
project and they're always bringing on new
components to the construction
management team. So there are
opportunities for inclusion even though the
process is already started. They don't
identify everybody who is going to be
involved up front. They involve them as
they go along and as they reach new
phases of construction.

So we are hopeful that we will be
able to get the kind of inclusion we need
still in the pre-construction design and
construction management phases. As far
as the actual demolition is concemed there
has been some participation all though it
has not reached the 25 percent goal. The
minority inclusion has been at about
18 percent, I believe for minorities and
around eight percent for women. So there
needs to be a harder push I think from all
parties involved to really find ways to
bring women owned and minority owned
companies into the industry.

sree
See

The Chair:

So,
Comments?

that's an ongoing process.

Mr. Diven:

I wanted to bring up the issue of
the court system. As you're aware Council
President and ] went to Harrisburg in order
to try to lobby to the state to replace this
into the budget. Unfortunately, from what
1 have heard in conversation with some of
our legislators, we were on a good pace to
have that money retumed to the budget
until Mayor Murphy blasted four
demographic legislators and accused them
of not being able to lead their way out of a
paper bag,

After those comments appeared in
the Post Gazette, then the State House
went and got together and decided that
they were going to send a message to the
Mayor's administration about his position
in regards to these legislators. I don't think
it’s right that we have lost $5.2 million of
our politics. I think this is tied up with the
County Executive race and it's going to
hurt Council the hardest. Because I can
guarantee you that come June or July when
we have to start looking at plugging up the
holes in our budget to make our budget
work for the rest of the year, the first place
they're going to start looking at is cutting
the additional money we put for asphalt or
not filling vacancies within the various
departments.

I think all of this could have been
avoided if our Mayor would have just kept
his mouth shut. I mean that's the bottom
line of the situation. We lost $5.2 million
because he went out and attacked local

legislators who stuck with him on the Plan
B argument. After debacle of the stealth
legislation in November, he should have
known to keep his mouth shut when it
comes to dealing with the State House
members. They're elected officials, they
deserve the respect of their position, he
may have a different disagreement with
them politically but that is okay, because
they are still elected and they deserve the
respect of the administration.

It is unfortunate because now those
comments are going to cost us a great deal
of money and it is going to cost us a lot of
projects that are important to members of
Council. I would hope that between now
and the time when we are called to task on
how we are going to replace this money in
our budget, we need to look at programs
and projects that are specifically the
Mayor's pet projects. See about taking the
money to replace this hole in our budget
from those projects rather than the
important issues that Council has worked
on regarding paving more streets or
putting more people in our park system or
putting more Public Works people on.

It's not going to be acceptable
because this message that the State House
has sent to the administration is going to
end up hurting Council members much
more. When we were in Harrisburg and
we talked with the leadership of both
parties, we voiced our concems. I thought
you might want to comment on this,
Mr. President. I thought that we did a
pretty good job of trying to smooth over
some rough edges and had the
administration kept quite on this issue, I
thought we had a pretty good chance for
success of getting this money back in the
budget. Now as it stands there is going to
be continued repercussions from the State

SE OO

House because a lot of these legislators
feel like when the chips are down and the
Mayor came out and attacked them, they
did the right thing, and stood up for the
region and they brought back the money
and put up the votes for Plan B.

As soon as Plan B was passed then
the Mayor came after them and blasted
them with both barrels which is not right.
I mean if you ask these people to help and
be a part of a team and moving the region
ahead, you don't go into the Post Gazette
and criticize them and make comments
like they can't lead their way out of a paper
bag. So, I think that is one thing that
Council needs to be aware of when we
start to have to make tough choices we
need to be focusing on whose
responsibility it was for dropping the ball,
which was the Mayor's administration.
And start to look at the projects that are
most important to his administration
instead of cutting the projects that Council
has worked and scraped and fought for to
make sure that the entire City of Pittsburgh
gets the kind of representation and services
that they deserve and they pay for.

Mr. Ferlo:

I would -- I don't really have any
direct comments about the Mayor's
comments. I would appeal to our
delegation from the Pittsburgh and
Allegheny County democrats and
republicans to rise above the pettiness of
the moment.

Obviously over the last couple
weeks and I am sure it’s going to get
worse between now and May 18th we have
a high profile Mayor involved in
supporting a particular candidate for
County Executive. We also have high

profile state reps. who are not supporting
that candidate and are supporting someone
else. I would ask that both sides just cool
it and step two steps back and try to look
at the better part of the whole in terms of
what is needed for city budget and city
residents.

These state reps. I think they need
to rise above the pettiness of the moment,
the city court is statutorily mentioned in
the Pennsylvania constitution just like the
Philadelphia Court. The City of
Philadelphia gets over seven million
dollars from the state legislature to support
its municipal courts and I don't think it is
unreasonable to get a million four to four
million dollars to heip us in the operation
of the court system. So I would ask the
State reps. to please keep that in mind and
don't invite the Mayor on a golf outing or
pick on him for something else but when it
comes to representing the city you really in
the end are hurting our own constituent.

It is unfortunate probably it is
never going to happen in my life time but
if the Allegheny County delegation can at
least once act in concert with some unison
for an agenda for the city and the county it
would be great. I mean Philadelphia does
that every time they go to Harrisburg in the
short trip that they make. I mean
Philadelphia _ continually gets a
disproportionate share of the state dollars
back to their community and to their
county. Because in the end they go
together as a united group and there is
always continual urban versus county rural
or suburban interests DeLucca versus the
inner city legislation. It's just a ridiculous
situation.

We have so many state reps. that
have a large part of their district

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representing city residents. But I would
ask that they please think of the city
agenda, the county agenda. And most
times the agenda is a shared agenda, but in
terms of the court, the immediacy of the
court money and if there is still time today
to amend the budget before the final
action, I think we deserve some
consideration. I think we're only asking
for equitable treatment with the
Philadelphia municipal court. So it is very
disappointing what is going on in the last
few weeks.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes. Thank you. First let me say
Council President O'Connor I think your
initiatives to meet with different municipal
and officials including those that represent
us in Harrisburg is a very good idea
because hopefully that could be the bridge,
the avenue that even looks at this type of
dispute.

Obviously Mr. Ferlo is correct that
we would hope that elected officials and
public servants would rise above the fray
and do what is best for taxpayers in the
City of Pittsburgh and throughout
Allegheny County. But that cannot set
aside what has occurred because we're all
human beings and I think that the
comments by Mr. Diven are very principal
and very courageous and that is that we
have to look at the past and what occurred.

Mr. Diven unfortunately didn't
bring up one point that the discussion in
the article was the political race for County
Executive. The discussion in the article
was four or five state legislators
supporting Dr. Cyril H. Wecht, Coroner
here in Allegheny County and Mayor Tom
Murphy supporting at this particular time

653

even though I see it’s starting to waive by
his spokesperson in yesterday's Tribune,
but supporting Michael Dawida, the
Cranmer Dawida team. So what occurred
is the newspaper person, the reporter asked
Murphy regarding the people that were
supporting Cyril Wecht and that's where
the fray started.

In the past I have stated that when
it came to snow removal we had a bad
agreement with Allegheny County. And
Mayor Murphy to his credit he is loyal and
I appreciate his support for Michael
Dawida that's one thing someone can't say
about Murphy that he will tell you what he
feels. But once again we're going to suffer
up to four to five million dollars. So the
taxpayers in the City of Pittsburgh because
of Murphy and Dawida's position and their
personalities and Dawida's non-popularity
within the legislature will cost the city
$4 million which will because we can't
shut down the municipal court, the
$4 million will probably come from fixing
potholes, cleaning some of our vacant lots,
resurfacing some streets, maybe
recreational programs for our children and
possibly even cut backs in our senior
programs.

So I would venture to say or just
end with these comments because I am not
going to get into the fray on this particular
issue. I would say Mr. Ferlo is correct. I
hope Mayor Tom Murphy and others rise
above the fray. I hope they keep the
budget out of the political process because
let me say one thing. TI will not cut
services, city services because of this four
million dollar problem, this $4 million
hole that's created by now Dawida,
Cranmer and Murphy. Before I do that I
will be using the surplus. Thank you.

SSS TOOT

But on a positive note, I think
Mr. O'Connor you really have set the
bridge. And now I am asking you to look
into this gap of four to five million dollars
because our Finance Chair is doing a
wonderful job, Mr. Sala Udin. But he's
not going to come in my office and tell me
that Iam going to have to cut more here,
here and there because of this $4 million
debacle. Thank you.

Mr. Udin:

Yes I want to suggest that what we
teally do need in this situation is some
maturity and some adult behavior. All of
the representatives involved that we have
been discussing the State Representatives,
the Mayor, the County Commissioners
they all represent the people. They cannot
take out their disputes on the people of
Pittsburgh and they have to find a different
way to solve their problems other than
cutting back services to the residents of the
City of Pittsburgh.

The city budget needs those funds
and deserves those funds and they should
be restored and they should be restored
immediately and they should find a
different way to conduct this battle. This
is not appropriate. It is not fair to the
taxpayers that all of these gentlemen
represent.

The Chair:

We have these meetings with our
legislators and our School Board and we
have had two so far. I will try to have one
before the final vote in Harrisburg on this.
Mr. Diven and I we were certainly
disappointed. We went with the two
Deputy Mayor's, Mr. Frederick from the
School Board, Mr. Suber, our two Deputy

Mayor's and two Council] members and I
left there feeling very confident this money
was going to be restored, total 5.2.
Certainly | think we moved one step
forward and maybe these comments
Moved us two steps backwards and we
will work together to try to get it back on
track.

But I really like what you just said.
I am tired of this petty politics. I have
seen more pettiness in the last couple
months. I have seen it from people in my
neighborhood, business people because
somebody supported someone else. I am
going to tell the Mayor and the
Commissioners and those people in
Harrisburg including us, we represent
everyone here, black, white, rich, poor.
Those young kids that were here we better
put this pettiness behind us if it is going to
be one month or until next January until
the new executives are elected. The
people of Pittsburgh deserve better from
all of us including across the hall and the
three commissioners.

If it doesn't stop, I will use this
podium for a five-minute update on what
is going on behind the scenes. I mean I am
tired of what I hear going on and I am
not -- there is enough for everyone to share
in the blame. I am not pointing my finger
at one person. But I am not going to stand
for it and I will use this podium to bring it
forward to the public if it continues.
Because the people of Pittsburgh as Mr.
Ricciardi said, are going to suffer because
of this battle. Calling each other names,
doing what they have to do for a one
month election is one thing but losing
services and we are tight enough on our
budget right now to get -- we were hoping
to scale down a 20 million dollar deficit.
If it is over 25, there are a lot of jobs,

Neale

services that are going to be cut that don't
deserve to be cut.

Mr. Ferlo:

I would like to see maybe it is
somewhat unusual but I think
Commissioner Dawida and Dr. Wecht
should jointly cosign a letter to the state
delegation and House and Senate in asking
for support of the municipal court based
on some equity and fairness with
Philadelphia receiving a reimbursement.

I would hope that they can do that
and get this out of the fight between the
County Executive race which I mean I
don't even want to watch television. I
mean the Larry Dunn add is an example, it
is just terrible. I mean what Jim Roddey
did, whatever you want to say about
Commissioner Dunn I don't know a more
hard working individual than
Commissioner Larry Dunn. To play an
almost, a propaganda attack with running
his picture when he’s obviously not only
tired but to slow down the camera and
make it look like he's just a bumbling idiot
standing on the doorstep there falling
asleep at some ribbon cutting is just
horrendous. I think it is very unfair.

I would hope that Mr. Reddey is
going to mun a serious campaign that he
talks about all this rhetoric. He is talking
about economic development and business
and whatever else he is talking about. I
would just ask him to make it a concrete
issue and the same goes for Commissioner
Dunn. But I think a lot of people are going
to be so sick and tired. I am sure
Mr. Dawida will start this week on poor
Mr. Wecht.

The Chair:

655

It already started yesterday.
Mr. Ferlo:

I didn't know that. But I mean that
is terrible. Can't they just in principle talk
about what they want and don't want for
the future of the County and the Home
Rule? But I think Dr. Wecht both with
Commissioner Dawida should indicate to
the delegation that we badly need their
support. And it's only fair. If the state
Teps, aren't going to give us that help then
let us have a $50 occupation tax to restore
some income to the city. It’s like kicking
us when we are down. 40% percent of our
land in the city is tax exempt, we're the
regional hub for major employment and
health care, education, you name it.

We have disproportionately a large
group of middle and upper class workers
that work as a result of the city having
employment in the urban core. But they
leave their community or leave the urban
core each day and go live in the suburban
community, which is fine, its great but we
get a lousy $10 bill. So, if they are not
going to help us out and restore some tax
equity, at least give us some support. You
have a multi-billion dollar surplus in the
State legislature, I mean this is the time
when you should be reinvesting in the
urban core, reinvesting in roads and
bridges and the Mon Valley and McKees
Rocks, McKeesport, Duquesne, and the
like.

I mean I would ask that they really
refocus on that and get past the petty
comments made by the Mayor or vice
versa. I just hope that both Commissioner
Dawida and Dr. Wecht would hear our
appeal today and ask their respective allies

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in the State House to restore some income
back to the city. It’s only fair.
Mr. Diven:

I would like to follow up. I think
we should put together a letter and have all
nine members of Council send it to each
candidate, Candidate Wecht and
Commissioner Dawida asking for their
assistance on this. But 1 would also like to
point out that you were in Harrisburg and
you sat through the meetings when the
Senate and House leadership, the
democratic leadership said and in no
unspecified terms that they were very
upset with the comments the Mayor made
about him not being welcome back in
Harrisburg and some of the things that he
said after the stealth bill happened. And
then what happened was we had legislators
who were not very big fans of Tom
Murphy and we had legislators that put
aside their personal and __ political
differences with the Mayor and went out
and voted for this bill which was a tough
vote for them. And then after they make
that vote then they have to read in the
newspaper again that he's going to
continue attacking them on political lines.

I think that has to stop from our
side too. Aside from contacting both the
candidates and asking them for their
assistance in getting that legislation into
the budget, which would fund the
municipal courts, we do have to
understand the legislators side of the
equation. Here they were, they were
verbally attacked in the media when the
stealth bill went down. They put it aside
and they rose above politics and they put
up the votes for Plan B and then
afterwards instead of a thanks or sincere
thanks they have to read more sniping
comments in the newspaper regarding a

656

political race. And that's something that
they have to be able to resolve as well.

I think we have been trying to build
bridges and that kind of relationship with
the administration no matter how strong
we are able to develop ties with the
legislature, the Mayor is still the chief
executive of the city. And if the legislators
aren't motivated and working as a team
under his direction then we aren't going to
achieve the goals that we need to achieve.
All] am saying, if we don't get the money
back into the budget, we need to be
prepared to fight for the programs that we
have worked hard to put into our budget.
If we're going to make up a $5.2 million
gap in our budget, it shouldn't be the
things that we have struggled for the past
year to make available for the residents of
the City of Pittsburgh.

The Chair:

I will make one more attempt to
put this together including not only the
legislators, the Mayors Office with the
Commissioners. J think it still can be done
and we have to move on. It can't be
personalities because we are all suffering.
The people of this city are suffering
because of petty politics. Any other
discussion?

With that, we will move to Reports
of Committees.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MR. UDIN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1530:

Report of the Committee on Finance and
Budget for April 14, 1999, transmitting

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sundry of resolutions to Council.
Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bilt No. 1350:

Resolution authorizing the transfer
of Sixteen Thousand Dollars ($16,000.00)
from the Cable Communications Trust

Fund to the Equipment Leasing Authority
for the purchase of vehicles and related

accessories. (PRESENTED BY MR.
COHEN)
Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1351:
Resolution authorizing _the

transfer of Nineteen Thousand One
Hundred Dollars ($19,100.00) from the
Bureau of Building Inspection Trust Fund
to the Equipment Leasing Authority Fund
for the purchase of vehicles and related

accessories (PRESENTED BY MR.
COHEN).
Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1352:

Resolution authorizing the
wansfer of Three Hundred Sixty

Thousand Dollars ($360,000.00) from the
Emergency Medicai Services Trust Fund
to the Equipment Leasing Authority Fund
for the purchase of vehicles and related
accessories. (PRESENTED BY MR.
COHEN).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1473:

Resolution authorizing the periodic
issuance of warrants in favor of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to pay the
City of Pittsburgh JTPA Program's share
of the statewide on-line computer system
cost for the period July 1, 1998 through
June 30, 1999. The total of the warrants
will not exceed Twenty One Thousand
Three Hundred Eighty One Dollars
($21,381.00), chargeable to and payable
from the JTPA-1 Trust Fund.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1474:

Resolution providing the
authorization to make all legitimate
expenditures for | Agreement or

Agreements with various agencies and
vendors to advance the recruitment,
assessment, and coordination for the
additional employment and training
activities brought on by the increased
construction work in the City. Funds will
be committed for promotional and
recruitment activities, staff to provide
coordination services, technical assistance
to training providers, and address the
transportation issues necessary to
implement the Mayor’s Employment
Initiative, and providing for the periodic
transfer of funds to be used in the Mayor’s
Employment Initiative Program. The total
amount payable under this Resolution
shall not exceed $400,000.00, chargeable

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to and payable from the Mayor’s
Employment Initiative CDMO Account.

Which was read.

Also,
Bill No. 1485:

Resolution authorizing the transfer
of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) from
the Confiscated Narcotics Proceeds Trust
Fund, Fund 2416, Org. No. 230000,
Subclass 600, Account 540000, Budget
Year 1999 to the Equipment Leasing
Authority, PNC account number 00-122-
7872 for the purchase of vehicles and
related accessories. (PRESENTED BY
MR. COHEN)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1489:

Resolution authorizing the transfer
of Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars
($550,000) from the Local Law
Enforcement Block Grant Trust, Code
Account LLEBG, Fund 2445, Org. No.
230000, Subclass 600, Account 540000,
Budget Year 1999 to the Equipment
Leasing Authority, PNC account number
00-122-7872 for the purchase of police
vehicles and related —_ accessories.
(PRESENTED BY MR. DIVEN)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1494:

Resolution amending Resolution

No. 781, effective January 1, 1999,

658

entitled, “Adopting and approving the
1999 Capital Budget and the 1999
Community Development Block Grant
Program; and approving the 1999-2004
Capital Improvement Program,” by
making certain corrections.
(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD
AND MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
The Chair:

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ricciardi abstained to Bills 1473
and 1474)

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1531:

Report of the Committee on Planning,

S=”=”299. CaNeeaocQnaeaonaeaeaeeeeaaaaaa aaa

Zoning, and Land Use for April 14, 1999,
transmitting one ordinance to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1311:

An Ordinance amending _ the
Pittsburgh Code, Title Nine, Zoning
District Map No. 6, by changing from
“RP” — Residential = Planned Unit
Development District to “CP” Commercial
Planned Unit Development District certain
property having frontage on the southerly
side of North Commons between East and
West Commons, 22™ Ward. (HEARING
HELD, APRIL 13, 1999)

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
discussion on the bills, is there any
discussion on the bills? Bills are now
ready for final action. All in favor of the
passage of the bills vote aye when your
names are called; all those opposed vote
no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

659

AYES Nine NOES None
Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed

finally.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1532:

Report of the Committee on Housing,
Economic Development and Promotion
for Aprill4, 1999, transmitting two
resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1395:

A Resolution approving _ the
amended Redevelopment proposal dated
February 1999, including Modification
No. 8 to the Redevelopment Area Plan, for
redevelopment Area No. 12, Allegheny
Center, in the 22" Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh Council District 6). (HEARING
HELD, APRIL 13, 1999)

Which was read.

Also,
Bill No. 1421:

Resolution approving execution of
a Contract for Disposition of Land by and
between the URA and UPMC Health
System, or related entity to be formed for
the sale of Parcel E-1b, Subdistrict II and
Parcels F5 thru 12, F15b, F16, Subdistricts
U & HL, & Road row and park area, (PT
B&L 29-J-8) in the 16" Ward of the City
of Pittsburgh in Redevelopment Area #55,
Carson Street, Council. 3 (sports medicine

aS 0850 0 0 0 0 O09

campus). ---PRESENTED BY MS.
MCDONALD & MR. HERTZBERG)
(HEARING HELD APRIL 7, 1999).

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Ferlo:

On Bill Number 1421, I still have
some reservations about this. This is the
transaction, which the City Council must
authorize to allow the Urban
Redevelopment to enter into an agreement
with the University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center for their sports complex.

I have two concerns and I am not
sure at this point I will be offering
amendments and I just wanted some
assurance especially maybe from
Councilman Hertzberg could help me out a
little bit as a URA board member. But I
am concerned that, first of all every time
UPMC says they are non-profit | want to
choke in my morning coffee. This is
probably more so at the case of this
institute for sports medicine. It is clear
that they are going to be making major
teimbursements from third party health
insurance coverage entities, are going to be
getting resources from _ for-profit
professional sports teams.

So setting that issue aside, I am
concerned about this issue that it is a very
large tract of land. I want to be assured
because when I read the agreement nothing
explicitly states that there will be a
payment in lieu of tax or however you

660

want to phrase it that guaranteed the
reference that the staff have made at the
table. That all of this land will generate
some tax income on lands and buildings
regardless of the non-profit status of
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

I am concemed about this. Some
specific numbers were stipulated at the
table. I hope that those are legally,
minimally the legal numbers that end up
whatever the final disposition agreement is
because the way | read the resolution it
doesn’t state that. I also asked will that be
in perpetuity and the answer was yes. But
I am also concemed legally that if in the
future there were legal transactions
transferring the land from UPMC to some
other entity including possibly a for-profit
entity. I don’t see why I shouldn’t go right
immediately back on the tax rolls and be
assessed for lands and buildings just like
any other property owner would be
assessed.

So I am concemed that the final
resolution that we are approving today
1421 doesn’t explicitly spell out this
Tequirement of the taxes being paid to the
city, to the school board, and to the county.
So I have a reservation about that.

Secondly, and the tax issue is
directly related to the bill, there is a
secondary issue which I am concemed
about which I guess some will argue it is
not directly related but I am concerned and
I am not sure we should address it in this
bill. But we have the University of
Pittsburgh Medical Center at this point I
don’t know if they are taking legal action
but they are intervening in the issue of
West Penn Hospital and Allegheny
General Hospital creating a merger.
Basically the financial resources of West

Penn Hospital will help secure the
foundation and the financial footing in the
future of the Allegheny General Hospital.

Now this Council, we have deals
going with UPMC on a variety of issues,
we have a lot of deals going with the
University of Pittsburgh to their credit, but
we also have a big investment of West
Penn Hospital and Allegheny General
Hospital. JI mean least of which is the
Federal North Development Project. But
at least in my Council District, West Penn
Hospital is a major institution in my
Council District, it is a major employer,
people throughout all of our respective
districts benefit from employment at
Allegheny General Hospital, at West Penn
Hospital.

Now I don’t know that this is the
best financial plan to save or to salvage
AGH, Allegheny General Hospital, we are
talking about West Penn Hospital putting
up four or five hundred million dollars. I
believe 150 of that is being secured by
Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield. So I
can see why UPMC is concemed about
what the arrangement is. But we have a
concer here. This is just as important as
the Nabisco Plant or the LTV argument in
Hazelwood or any other economic
development initiative. I mean we have
two major employers, Allegheny General
Hospital and West Penn Hospital, and I am
concemed that they exist into the future. I
am little bit resentful that UPMC is
intervening now basically trying to disrupt
and kill that deal.

Now if there is a better deal that is
going to come along, maybe we will look
at it. But I don’t think it is in our best
interest at least for the residents that I
represent and the healthcare dollar for a

North Carolina for-profit firm to come in
and acquire AGH and just slash and buy
out the doctors’ practices and do other
things that UPMC has already done. So I
mean this is a concern that I have and here
we are going out of our way to assist the
development of UPMC sports complex
project. Now some of my colleagues may
argue they are apples and oranges, they
have nothing to do with each other, but I
would ask that we keep this in mind on a
final vote today.

If we are going to proceed with this
vote, then I guess I will be stuck and be
supportive of the deal that is on the table.
But I am very concerned that this Council
play an advocacy role in helping to secure
the future existence of West Penn Hospital
and Allegheny General Hospital. There
are a lot of people effected not only with
employment, certainly North Side
communities are effected by the financial
health of the Allegheny General Hospital
and all kinds of issues that I can’t talk
about now.

But I would ask minimally if the
bill proceeds today that the minutes of the
meeting be conveyed to further clarify the
commitment that has been alluded to about
payment in lieu of tax regardless of what
the status is in the future as well. And
secondly, I think we have to send a
message to the parties involved that this
Council is concemed that Allegheny
General Hospital and West Penn Hospital
continue as viable institutions in the
future. I personally resent the dominating
profiteering attitude of UPMC, University
of Pittsburgh in their attempt to squash the
deal that is on the table for West Penn
Hospital. I hope to salvage Allegheny
General Hospital.

8 gmc

I would ask maybe as a side bar if
the bill is going to proceed that we ask the
solicitor if we can intervene or do we have
any legal standing with the Pennsylvania
Insurance Commission. I think as a
municipality we should speak out on this
issue. I think we should some how find a
way to be supportive of the continued
existence of these two institutions while at
the same time protecting the health care
dollar and our employee benefits and
consumer choice and all that other stuff.
But I am concerned about the monopolistic

tendencies of UPMC, University of
Pittsburgh.
Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. On the issue of paying
property taxes, the URA has covered this
vote and the disposition contract that is
teferenced in the legislation and the deed.
It can’t be described though and I know it
is funny you can say it is a payment in lieu
of taxes. UPMC wants very much to
maintain its charitable status and everyone
may disagree. You have doctors making
the big money they are making, but I don’t
think UPMC is any different than Saint
Francis, West Penn, or Allegheny General.
But I think those issues are all very well
covered in the documents that are going to
be executed.

Also, in the future if it is conveyed
to someone else, that is not a charitable
organization, the paperwork specifies it, it
will be then fully taxable.

On the issue of Allegheny General,
I am very concemed about Allegheny
General Hospital and want it to succeed
and not be taken down financially. But I
think what Pitt has raised as an issue is a
monopoly issue. Their concem is about a

662

particular insurance company that is going
to finance potentially I guess with maybe
bankruptcy court approval. But there is an
insurance company that is putting up all
the money and there is a concern on the
part of UPMC of a monopoly entering into
that picture.

So, you know there is a lot of - it is
a very complex issue and | really don’t
think it is one that we should be tackling at
this time with this legislation. I think what
this legislation is about is a good thing for
Pittsburgh. It is a great thing. We have a
internationally known doctor in Dr. Freddy
Foo (phonetic) who wants to expand his
operation and is going to bring us even
more gains on a_ nationwide and
international basis with the brand new
sports medicine facility. We have to play
to our strengths. I mean we talk about you,
now we need to grow manufacturing and
those kinds of things. But here we have a
strength in our community in the great
medical people and facilities that we have
here and we are proposing to do even more
with it and make it even better.

I think that is the kind of thing we
need to be doing. We also need to work
on our strengths. This is one of them. It
will be that much stronger. I think it is a
great project, I hope we will go ahead and
move on it today.

Mr. Ferlo:

I think as Councilman Hertzberg
spoke eloquently, obviously the pluses for
this deal outweigh any negatives. The
only concem that I have I will be
supporting the resolution that is before us
and I think clearly it is important that we
move ahead. I think the nature of this
particular part of the South Side Works

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site is such that it lends itself best to this
kind of development as opposed to other
things that would have a difficult time
going in there because of the presence of
the railroad tracks. So I am supportive of
that.

But I would ask as a sidebar that
we ask the Solicitor to review this issue
because I believe we should intervene in
this matter with the Pennsylvania
Insurance Commissioner. Because J don’t
necessarily object to Highmark Blue
Shield helping to bea part of the financial
deal with West Penn to secure Allegheny
General Hospital. There is a way for us to
do that in a way that is pro-consumer.
That is for the Insurance Commission to
approve that but to not allow Highmark
Blue Cross/Blue Shield into tracking
patients solely to AGH West Penn. { mean
there is a way for them to do this and in
print upon that agreement the power of the
Insurance Commissioner to not allow any
either director or indirect tracking of
patients solely to the AGH West Penn.
There should be some consumer free
choice.

I wish the health systems agency
and that federal law regarding health plan
and resources still exist. It doesn’t, if it did
we would be able to direct some of these
decisions. But right now the consumer is
not being represented in this discussion
and it is a big battle between two giants,
AGH and UPMC and as far as I am
concerned none of them are lily white.
They are not pure, they both have for
profit and market control of the health care
dollar at the bottom line.

So I would ask as a sidebar if we
are going to facilitate UPMC’s further
expansion and security with this sports
complex, I think we have a right and an

obligation to intervene on an important
issue involving the future of Allegheny
Gencral Hospital in our city.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes. I think Councilman Ferlo is
raising some very good points, but I am
not sure we are able to make that type of
leap regarding this proposed deal.

Number one, UPMC is paying for
the property. Jt is going to be prime dollars
what they are paying for the parcels of
land. Number two they will be paying
revenues to the City of Pittsburgh,
Allegheny County and the Schoo! Board in
lieu of taxes. Number three, the property
will be reassessed no different than any
other property in the City of Pittsburgh or
in the South Side. So, those revenues will
increase to our city coffers and also if the
property is tumed over to any other entity,
Tevenues will continue to flow.

If I could go on, there is definitely
going to be, we are going to generate
Tevenues, we are also going to create jobs.
I think Mr. Hertzberg has really articulated
the good that is going to occur because of
Dr. Foo but I want to just say one thing
because it appears the votes are here. I
realize it is sexy once again to talk about
sports, this is not going to be a sports
complex, even though that is an important
component of it. Any persons throughout
the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County,
the United States, someone from the South
Side can make an appointment there and
will be able to make an appointment. No
different than they can now in the Oakland
area and be seen by some very, very
outstanding physicians and that is very
important.

ooo eee

I have to say publicly I have been
very pleased with UPMC’s South Side
Hospital and their outreach in the
community. Number one through the
foundations, 1 am talking about hundreds
of thousands of dollars going to my
councilmatic district. But number two,
their outreach. Regarding how they have
outreached to the senior citizens, regarding
some of the problems seniors experience
such as arthritis and rheumatism. I have
met with these individuals several times
and that outreach is going to continue for
the young people, for single moms, for
children and for our seniors. It appears on
the face that is going to be a good deal.
You notice that the fields are not going to
be 100 yards, this is not going to be tumed
into a sport complex. We are not going to
have high school football on site. We are
not going to have the Steelers, the
Panthers. We are not going to have other
football teams on site. This is going to be
really focused in to health system. I think
that is just so, so important.

I am looking forward to it. I just
hope that the design is going to remain
firm and they have gone through a public
process and Mr. Birru and Jerry DeTorre
have been doing such a wonderful job on
the URA. Thus far, every commitment or
word that he has given to the South Side
community and myself has come true. I
am very pleased with Jerry heading this
project.

The Chair:

Certainly I agree with almost
everything that has been said. The bridge
is — I was thinking about the bridge
though, that MC railroad bridge. Again,
that is a link between the university and
the South Side, which I think is a benefit.

664

Can we convince the medical center and
the university to help pay for that? Freeing
up money for some of our other projects
that we are talking about? There are so
many benefits here and it also ties them
with a high tech center which they have a
building at, CMU has a building at, I don’t
know if we have looked at the
transportation.

I do question, I am very supportive
of it because as you said, rehab for anyone,
senior citizens take rehabilitation at that
center will be there. It will be an asset to
South Side Hospital. I must compliment
you, Mr. Ricciardi, on South Side
Hospital. Since UPMC, they have done a
lot in that community. I have seen that.

Two questions I have I guess I
would like to think about and maybe we
need a post agenda or a public hearing.
What is Pitt’s overall bigger plan? There
are so many good things happening in the
Oakland area. What are they going to do
with the Hollow? You know we are going
to court, I think we have lost the city, the
administration has lost about twelve
million dollars in court for that Hollow
there. Is there any future with Pitt? I am
talking about Panther Hollow. You know
the 40 soccer fields that we don’t where
they are going if they do go they will be
probably eight million dollar or six million
dollar soccer fields if there are two of
them. There is room to tie in with either
CMU or Pitt there is a lot of work going
on there.

1 am afraid though and I will get
back to Mr. Ferlo’s point and Mr.
Hertzberg, if you look at the hospitals they
are the old steel mills. I never realized so
much as when you go to Saint Francis or
West Penn I am sure Allegheny, maybe the

doctors live in Fox Chapel but probably
75% of the workforce walks to work.
They live in the neighborhood. Putting
those nine hospitals together, they are
major employers. I feel Council we have
missed out on the opportunity, gentlemen,
and my question to ask you is especially
with this TIF going to Allegheny, if that
falls apart the taxpayers are stuck. It is
certainly not getting the highlights that the
stadiums are getting. I believe we need a
meeting to make sure we are included.
You should be on with West Penn
Hospital what is going on there. Mr.
Onorato with Allegheny, somewhere along
the line I think Council has to be involved.
I am not saying all nine of us but I would
ask the administration to involve the
Council member who lives in that district
who has some allegiance to that hospital or
that neighborhood. Because if we just let
this go by the way, we are stuck with
picking up the pieces a year or two years
from now.

So, I will ask you. I am not sitting
here saying I have the answer, but how are
we going to do that with the
administration. I think we have to bring us
more into the loop like it or not and there
aré so many things going in so many
directions. We have to save those
hospitals, we have to keep them all
energized for Public Safety, public welfare
and the jobs. The more we get involved
the better on an individual basis.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I am up on yourself on that Mr.
O’Connor regarding the University of
Pittsburgh for example, I am very pleased
with what they have been doing the last
few years. I am pleased that they are
building the student housing. You were

665

there with myself right off of Forbes
Avenue, that is going to allow or give
students housing outside of the
community. This way we can remain,
keep our residential neighborhood in tact,
the character and the flavor of it. J am
very pleased that the University of
Pittsburgh is picking up the expenses for a
building inspector in the South
Oakland/Central Oakland area. So I am
pleased in some of the leaps that they have
been making the past few years,
unfortunately over the previous decade
when I don’t believe any of us were
around, that is when the snowballs start
rolling. Now we have to slow that down.

So I am willing to work with you.
I think we have to remember there is a
separation between UPMC and the
University of Pittsburgh however and what
they are responsible for. On that note, in
the last several years, hopefully we can
continue to make certain gains both with
the University of Pittsburgh and the
UPMC.

Ms. McDonald:

Not to repeat everything, I just
wanted to make sure my comments are
brought forward from last Wednesday’s
Standing Committee Meeting. I applaud
all the work that has been put forward in
this proposal over all. This is just one
step. The zoning piece is one step. I had
side barred with Councilman Hertzberg to
affirm that this legislation is not an out and
out TIF. Not this one at least. A
representative from the Pittsburgh School
Board had called my office yesterday
expressing concer that there would be a
TIF involved and I had researched and
found out no this is part of an overall TIF,
but this particular site in question is going

—SeEV—— ool

to be financed by UPMC.
providing the infrastructure.

We are

Again, it brings in jobs. The only
not even question, the only concern that I
would have and that can be dealt with
through other mechanisms is to insure that
the construction that there is MBE/WBE
participation. I believe will be reviewed
through our committee, the city’s review
committee, but also to make sure that
UPMC does have an all out effort when
we talk about employment and new jobs.
That they do reach out to Pittsburghers and
to the minority community which has been
underemployed for quite some time now
through reports.

So, not to necessarily be the big
brother watching, but there will be some I
guess circumspection going on to make
sure that there is inclusion, that there is
diversity. That this is not a giveaway. The
city is working with UPMC, I personally
don’t have a problem with expansion of
any entity as long as it doesn’t gobble up
and take away from people. If they are
going to be a benefit, no different than our
big Fortune 500 Corporations that have
been in the City of Pittsburgh traditionally,
they have been an asset. They have been
actually a salvation to the City of
Pittsburgh area. Many of them have left.
So, I have no problem with the big boys,
we just want to be part of the play that is
all.

The Chair:

Again, I think everybody is
supporting the South Side initiative. We
did get a little off the track thanks to Mr.
Ferlo. But seeing Mr. Jay Rollings in the
audience we could ask him that maybe it is
perfect timing, we have a follow up

meeting when you were President we met
with Chancellor Nordenberg. I would like
to maybe have a follow up meeting just an
informal meeting to get together where we
are going with that. Where they are, I
think they have done an excellent job
certainly moving in the right direction, but
let’s get back together with them.

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Diven Mr. Ferlo
Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald
Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Cohen abstained on Bill 1421
because of potential conflict, which has
filed with the City Clerk).

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

The Chair:

Let it be noted that Mr. Ferlo put
personal agendas behind him and voted for
the good of the city and Pitt. I hope other
colleagues in public office can do the
same.

MR. COHEN PRESENTED:

SS EE OOOO

Bill No. 1533:

Report of the Committee on Lands,
Buildings and Procurement for April 14,
1999, transmitting one resolution to
Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1471:

Resolution. providing for a contract
or contracts, or use’of existing contracts or
agreements for the purchase of an Alpha
Numeric Message Generator and related
equipment at a cost not to exceed Thirty
Seven Thousand Dollars ($37,000.00),
chargeable to and payable from
Organization 124000, Account 543000,
Fund 2815, Sub-Class 600, Budget Year
1999, Cable Communications Trust Fund,
Department of General Services.

Which was read.

The Chair:

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

667

Mr. Ricciardi Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)
AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

The Chair:
Now move to motions and
resolutions.
MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
Mr. Cohen:

Thave a short one, Mr. President. I
just wanted to take the opportunity to
remind Council members that we have two
meetings this afternoon for briefings on
cable franchise renewal negotiations. One
at two o'clock and one at three o'clock and
I know that our City Clerk, Linda
Johnson-Wasler has assigned people to
those meetings. But please if you could
make it and if you cannot make it please
send someone if you will. It's an
opportunity to update members of Council
on a lot of hard work that is being done by
the negotiating team. And that includes
Guy Costa the Director of General
Services, Jacqueline Morrow our City
Solicitor, Rodney Akers in the City
Solicitors Office, Gil Lancia, Chair of the
Cable Advisory Board and myself.

We have been meeting every week
for our internal -- our negotiating team has
been meeting every week we also have
been having negotiation sessions with TCI
virtually every other week. They have
been hard fought negotiations a lot of in
tense work has gone into this. So if you

a — SOTO OEE

can make that meeting I would appreciate
it very much. Thank you.

Mr. Ferlo:

Two very brief points under news
of the weird. A few weeks ago I made
comment about potholes in my Council
district and I actually encouraged graffiti
vandals to spray paint the streets where
there is these potholes instead of doors and
garages and the like. Apparently someone
in Public Works or the Marathon
Committee I am not sure, which took me
up on it. Because I noticed along the
marathon parade route especially through
the heart of Bloomfield last night there
appears yellow spray paint around the
circumference of each pothole along the
marathon route, which I think is great.

So finally Public Works can
actually see the potholes, you don't have to
just experience it riding their car, so they
will see the pothole and they will know
that within that yellow circumference they
have to fill it with some material. So, I
would only ask if I could please borrow
that yellow spray can whoever has it in the
Marathon Committee or Public Works, so
I can borrow it to also proceed down on
other streets and alleyways and byways.
So I would like to ask if we could put the
call out for whoever has that magic yellow
spray can I would like to borrow it to
continue past the marathon route in hopes
so that we can get the X amount of other
potholes filled.

Secondly, I received a fundraising
letter from Vice President Al Gore who is
seeking financial support. I wrote him
back a letter explaining that I would not
support him, how upset J was that he
specifically did not fund the empowerment

zone project, which I thought was a great
proposal that the URA and the Mayor and
everybody worked so hard on including
the private banking community, you name
it was a great proposal. We got denied yet
again only for Ohio to receive three
empowerment zones, and Ohio had more
Congress people voting for impeachment
than anybody so I don't understand the
logic politically or otherwise.

T also was upset about Star Wars
being refunded now by the Clinton
Administration and everything else that
they are doing horrendously. So I sent him
two cents as my contribution, low and
behold they deposited the two-cent check.
So I just want you to know that it is not as
good as the Chinese money but it was also
so noticed.

The Chair:

If I could comment on both?
Mr. Cohen:

For once he got his two cents in.
Mr. Ferlo:

That is what I wrote, my two cents.
Signed by Al Gore.

The Chair:

If I could comment on both, maybe
it shows what we talked about as petty
politics. I think the leaders of Washington
especially on the democratic side just take
Pittsburgh for granted because we always
vote their way. So what else they just take
us for granted and so what they are going
to vote for us no matter what. Hopefully
we will jump on a new train.

668

_——
See

Concerning potholes, actually I
don't know if you guys remember Rege
Kordick (phonetic) very _—_ famous
Pittsburgher who actually went to school
with my mother and went to LA about 25,
30 years ago. He was one of our most
famous radio personalities passed away.
And we are certainly saddened by his
death, but also he was quite known for not
only frothinslosh, but potholes. He was
the one who brought potholes to our
attention 30 years ago. I think he was
famous because we. was actually run into
one and the family could actually move
into some of the potholes.

It is sad to say that we're getting
back to where we were 30 years ago. I
don't know who the Mayor then was but
25, 30 years when I learned how to drive,
that was the big challenge was to stay in
the streetcar tracks so you could avoid the
potholes. So unfortunately we don't have
the streetcar tracks any more. I don't know
what young kids do just maybe it is a good
thing we have radial tires or we would
probably have cars pulled over all day.

So hopefully the administration
gets the message and the retirement of one
of our directors hopefully we don't fall
behind any more than we have already.

Mr. Onorato:

I want to point out that the streetcar
tracks are pretty much back on the North
Side with the size of those potholes. I see
them every where.

The Chair:

Might be good for the kids leaming
how to drive then, they can stay in the

669

potholes.
Mr. Ricciardi:

Just the same issue. Obviously I
was very pleased that we had a Post
Agenda on this because this is real money.
These are empowerment zones that bring
in $100 million of federal money --
possibility times that by ten you're talking
about a lot of development, a lot of jobs,
you are talking about real good paying
jobs. We keep raising this issue.

I think Mr. Cohen was on point, I
don't have the information in front of me
that when we were rated, our application
was rated one of our weakness was one of
our strong points. I forgot which exactly
point that was, Mr. Cohen. Maybe I don't
fully understand the politics, the
professional and the personal relationships
in Washington, DC but it can't be different
than this legislative body. Let me give you
a perfect example, the re-opening of 30th
Street in the South Side is $500,000, a half
a million dollars. I mean I thank all of my
colleagues on this body for supporting
that. That was very parochial, that was for
the Hollow community and the
neighborhoods really thank you for that.
But I had worked with all of you. I
worked with all of you.

I was patient, I worked with the
administration and it came about. I mean
how can we always continue to lose.
When it gets down to it we have some
direct questions. Gore could have made a
difference. We have our congressional
delegation we have seniority. I must be
missing something and we keep putting it
on Al Gore. There has to be more to this.
We have professional lobbyists. We are
paying tens of thousands of dollars,

eee eee

probably in the hundreds of thousands of
dollars for these professional lobbyists to
go to DC to do what?

We might as well just bring them
back home. I mean we are not talking
about just maybe a thousand dollar grant.
Tam not articulate on this issue as much as
my other colleagues who follow the
workings of Washington, DC. But I am
not pleased with them and I believe
Councilman Ferlo is right. When Al Gore
comes to this City I am not going to be
there welcoming him, I am not there too
often anyway for our Washington people,
but I am not going to be there. But Jim
Ferlo is right. We should send them a
message and he brought up some very
good points which I am not aware of on
how the votes in Ohio.

I think Mr. Ferlo you mentioned
the impeachment vote, the folks in Ohio
voted such and such and even if you look
at the Ohio Congressional delegation, I am
not sure if they even have the seniority that
we have. J] am not sure if they have the
democratic cognizance that we have. I am
not sure of any of that stuff. All I know is
we continue to come up short. Something
is wrong that is all I know and something
needs to be corrected soon. Thank you.

Mr. Cohen:

I can restrain myself no longer.
You may recall I raised this issue a few
years ago when we lost the first hundred
million dollars from Washington. Now we
lost our second hundred million dollars.
What concerns me and let me just follow
up with what Councilman Ricciardi said
because I appreciate him mentioning this.
Let's take at face value for the moment that
there isn't politics involved. I know you

670

are all going to laugh, let's just -- we all
know it is not true but let's take at face
value that there wasn't politics involved,
that they really were deciding this issue on
the merits of the proposal.

For arguments sake let's say that.
Well when I read the Department of
Housing and Urban Development paper on
why Pittsburgh did not get this hundred
million dollars, they said we were weak in
three areas. The three areas were and this
is what Councilman Ricciardi was
referring to neighborhood development,
information technology and workforce
development including childcare. Those
are three areas that we are strongest in.

When it comes to information
technology obviously AT&T has just
announced that Pittsburgh is one of ten
cities nationwide that they're going to
invest over 30 million dollars to upgrade
our entire cable system.

When it comes to neighborhood
development every single one of us can
talk about neighborhood development.
We certainly want more of it but a lot has
been done from Home Depot to Nine Mile
Run, etceteras. Workforce development
and they said in there including childcare.
So they take workforce development truly
from cradle to job.

The United Way of Allegheny
County has a multi million dollar early
childhood initiative, which is a model for
the nation. So the three things that they
point to us as our weaknesses, truly are our
strengths. So something is wrong here.
There was no reason for us to lose it the
first time and certainly no reason for us to
lose it the second time and it is very, very
frustrating.

ee
=SaVC=lnm— lee

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. I will tell you what, I
chaired the Post Agenda on that
empowerment zone just a couple of weeks
ago. I am going to get the tape and look at
it again because the comments here are not
reflective of what went on at that Post
Agenda at all.

I sat there and the gentleman came
from Washington and actually ran the
program and he was drilled by a lot of
people including Congressman Clink and
Congressman Coyne. Maybe I am not a
good judgment of character but it appeared
to me that he was being very open and
honest with us when he told us it wasn't
the political process. It may have been the
first round, but they had done everything
possible to de-politicize it on the second
round. I think the biggest weakness that
they were very public about and put in a
report that was sent to everyone involved
was a lack of sufficient documentation of
public participation in the process.

I believe we lost ten points on that
on a scale that is like a test, you lose ten in
one area like that unless everything else is
perfect you’re going to lose and | think
that's what happened with the thing. But I
have another topic if we can move on.
Thank you.

Today is exactly four weeks before
our Primary Election Day and it is that
time of the year when things start growing
out of the ground, they are campaign signs.
And this May election, in my recent
Memory, has more candidates than any
election ever. We have I believe between
50 and 75 individuals running for the
Court of Common Pleas, we have all of

671

our row offices, we have a couple of
statewide offices and now we have the
new County Council involved also. So we
have a lot of people running for office.
There are some local spots, district
justices, there is a long list and City
Council 1 shouldn't forget that either. Five
of us are running this time.

I just want to remind everyone that
this Council took an action last year
relative to the signs that are sprouting up.
Last March we passed an ordinance, that
was Ordinance No. 4 last year, and a
couple of things that we said was our
intent in there was that unauthorized signs
and along city roads spoil the natural
beauty that is an invaluable asset treasured
by residents, commuters and visitors. And
there are a number of alternatives available
to advertisers that do not have to have the
negative impacts that signs on roads and
utility poles have.

And then we enacted an ordinance
that prohibits all unauthorized signs on our
roadsides. We also put in there a couple of
provisions for removal by our Public
Works personnel or those others that are
designated to do that job. We also asked
that our Public Works Department send
written notices out to people that we may
think are inclined to violate the ordinance
including candidates for elected office.

I have been informed that in fact
the letters would have gone out either
Friday or today. I asked everyone to abide
by this ordinance in the City of Pittsburgh.
And if people have a problem, if they see a
proliferation of signs or the appearance
and the litter that is going to ultimately be
the result bothers them call your local
Public Works Division they are authorized
and they will respond by removing the

a TLELESESESS_OOO___=_— SSN

signs.

And I would ask and call on
everybody in this room who is running
please abide by this ordinance.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Just on that note, I think
Councilman Hertzberg has done a great
job on that. Because some of these signs
not only are they ugly esthetically
displeasing, some of them are put in some
areas that are really a hindrance to vision
for automobiles. I have run three
campaigns; I have never had a sign on
property to date,

But, Councilman Hertzberg, just
for your information, I have contacted the
Department of Public Works. Mr.
Hertzberg Chairs Public Works and I have
contacted them and I was just going to say,
Councilman Hertzberg, if you could
follow up for us as Chair of Public Works.
I have contacted them for weeks now and
those signs are still there and those signs
have not been removed. They're going up
18th Street in the South Side, one is at a
very bad intersection and there are a
number of some other streets, so if you
could follow up.

Mr. Hertzberg:

All right. I will be happy to.
The Chair:

It shouldn't take a phone call when
they are on public property or parks just
pick them up, Public Works, they're riding
by a hundred times a day.

Mr. Ricciardi:

672

Just a different issue, 1 will try to
be brief. Thank you, Mr. President.
Councilman Dan Onorato and I attended a
town meeting that was arranged by District
Attorney Steven Zappala and it was a very
beneficial meeting regarding reaching out
to the elderly and even David Wecht was
there.

But one question keeps coming up
at all these town meetings and meetings
that J attend and that is the issue of paper
streets. And Mr. Onorato was there so
there is no embellishment of this problem.
But I think we know the problem of paper
streets. They are undeveloped pieces of
land that the City of Pittsburgh has not
dedicated to streets. But there is a real
problem out there.

There are paper streets throughout
the City of Pittsburgh, taxpayers have a
problem regarding the maintenance of
paper streets, regarding trees that need to
be cut, maybe need to be trimmed, there is
areal problem out there. I am not going to
go into the details but only to say I am
going to once again reintroduce legislation
that J introduced on April 9th of 1996 that
the administration did not embrace. But
once again introduce it and what it does is
it is going to ask let's do an inventory of all
paper streets in the City of Pittsburgh.
Let's do it gradually, see what is out there.
See what it would cost to maintain them at
the expenses of the City of Pittsburgh. See
what needs to occur on them. See if there
are any real hazards out there. Some very
safety problems in terms of trees itself and
maybe just do a pilot program and see
what we are able to do within our own
coffers. Maybe we see if we can set up a
public arrangement where the city and the
homeowner that abuts that paper street

SIS OOOO

maybe will go 50, 50 but we really need to
address that problem.

I think Councilman Hertzberg and I
still can't remember, I think it is right
below the Edge Restaurant there is a paper
street that is down there and 1 remember
the constituent down there, and it might
have been before you took office had a big
sign that said sure we live on a paper street
but we also pay taxes.

Mr. Hertzberg:
That street has been paved.
Mr. Ricciardi:

Oh great. Great. So you have
done a fine job and took care of it. But I
just want to let you know I am going to
reintroduce this legislation and I will bet
that I have the support of many taxpayers
or constituents in the City of Pittsburgh
too asking us to address quote paper
streets here in the City of Pittsburgh.
Thank you.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Just one follow up. I think this is
one of the biggest problems is the
maintenance of them. I think there is
going to be a problem because our
administration is taking the position that
we have, the city has no responsibility for
maintaining paper streets. Well if the city
has no responsibility to maintain them then
nobody does. Because if you are the
homeowner unless the street has been
vacated you don't own the property. So
who is responsible for those paper streets?

I think that's a big cop out and we
may be able to alter. If the administration

doesn't understand that there is a problem
there maybe legislation will take care of it.
Maybe we have to legislate that we are
responsible for maintaining paper streets.
Other wise they're just in no mans land.
No one has any responsibility there they
just sit there and you know they are just an
accident waiting to happen and a problem
for whoever lives near by.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I think this time around, Mr.
Hertzberg, we could and possibly have the
support of Mayor Tom Murphy because it
takes a partnership as you pointed out, Mr.
O'Connor. | recall when he was running
and we were up in Arlington and there
with his lovely wife and a woman had a
problem with a tree. And she was
explaining to Mona Murphy regarding the
tree is on a paper street and Mayor Murphy
he wasn't the Mayor at the time, he was
listening very closely. He, I recall him
saying that's crazy that is not an excuse
that tree should come down.

So I think this time around Mayor
Murphy will understand the problem that
we're having with paper streets. I am
going to reintroduce this legislation. I
haven't talked about the particulars
because of the interest of time but I think
this time around there is support for this.

The Chair:

There are a lot of requests, I get a
lot of requests from people to either fix or
they will buy it themselves. It seems like
to be a very difficult situation for them to
do.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I am not even going to change the
dates, I will just put it in as is and
hopefully John Mascio and Linda
Johnson-Wasler will --

The Chair:

A couple of announcements,
tomorrow Wednesday, we have a Post
Agenda concerning tire deflation devices.
I think Chief McNeilly wanted to update
us on that and Smokie Heinz from the
F.O.P. will be here.

And tomorrow is also Secretary's
Day and SIDS is selling baskets for your
secretary's. If you didn't buy anything yet,
please remember your secretaries. And
also Thursday, this pertains to especially
the four of us, is bring your daughters to
work day. So I can bring my daughter and
my three granddaughters and Linda can
baby sit.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Normal school day for my
daughter.

MR. RICCIARDI moved to adjourn the
meeting.

MR. HERTZBERG seconded the
motion.

And on the motion made by Mr.
Ricciardi, the meeting adjourned.

ADDENDUM

Ms. McDonald’s comments on Bill
1421 can be found in the Standing
Committee Meeting minutes of April 14,
1999,

674

MUNICIPAL RECORD

Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh

VOL. CXXXIII

April 27, 1999

No. 17

Municipal Record

—_—_———
———— TTT

ONE-HUNDRED
THIRTIETH COUNCIL

BOB O'CONNOR President

LINDA M. JOHN: ~~ City Clerk

JOHN R. MASCIO veesessessee Deputy City Clerk

Pittsburgh, PA

Tuesday, April 27, 1999

PRESENT:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato

Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. O’Conuor
(Pres't)

ABSENT:

Mr. Ferlo

The Chair:

Will we all please rise for the
pledge of allegiance and remain standing
for a moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the world.

Let's especially remember in our
prayers the children and families of
Littleton, Colorado.

675

With us today we have a special
guest Collin Patton. he is ten years old.
He goes to Belmar Elementary School. He
is an honor student and citizenship scholar.
He is the son of Bruce and Rose Patton
and his hobbies are collecting toy cars and
he enjoys many sports. He lives in
Councilwoman Valerie += McDonald's
District.

Collin Patton:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.

The Chair:

Thank you, Collin. We have a gift
for you. Collin is also accompanied by
Dr. Washington, his principal. I want to
thank you for your support of all the
youngsters. We have many special guests
in the audience today.

PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. Folks
here to declare Bloomfield as Pittsburgh’s
Little Italy please come up.

Ladies and gentlemen, as you know
Pittsburgh is a city of rich ethnic character
and diversity and this weekend is
marathon weekend, hard to believe that it
is here already. And one neighborhood in

our city does the marathon up right.
Actually they're many neighborhoods in
the city that do it upright but one of them
is Bloomfield and Bloomfield is really a
wonderful series of events on marathon
weekend.

The Bloomfield Business
Association sponsors a number of those
events and of course they occur right on
Liberty Avenue where the marathon passes
by in fact one of our own Councilman
Alan Hertzberg passed by that spot last
year as a marathoner. This year we're
doing something special in Bloomfield and
that is -- No, he was actually running on
his feet. He was not on a bike or a car.
This year the neighborhood of Bloomfield
is doing something very special and that is
to declare the Bloomfield Business District
as Pittsburgh's Little Italy.

The ethnic, Italian character of
Bloomfield is well known and really is
something that makes the City of
Pittsburgh a distinctive place. So I would
like to read this proclamation and then
introduce those who are down here this
moming particularly the person who came
up with this idea and that is Bob Mariani.
He called me several months ago, and is
the proprietor of a Bloomfield institution,
the Pleasure Bar and I will bring Bob up
here.

T also want to say before I read this
proclamation that Councilman Jim Ferlo
was very, very much a part of this. Yarone,
I want to thank him for doing this
proclamation. Unfortunately Councilman
Ferlo could not be here he's back at home
in Rome, New York, on a personal matter.
But said that he would have very much
like to have been here.

MR. FERLO AND MR. COHEN
PRESENT:

No. 1534 WHEREAS, | the
neighborhood of Bloomfield possesses a
strong and proud Italian-American
community as well as members of a
number of other ethnic groups whose
heritage and tradition are reflected in the

homes, shops and churches of the
charming neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the Bloomfield

Business Association with the cooperation
of the Bloomfield Citizens Council, is
embarking on an exciting beautification
project to enhance the streetscape of
Liberty Avenue, the Jargest segment of the
Bloomfield Business District, and the
surrounding environs; and

WHEREAS, this beautification
project entails making significant aesthetic
improvements to the neighborhood’s
business district by strengthening the
area’s already distinctive Italian flavor
through the addition of flower boxes,
flags, and various other amenities; and

WHEREAS, this investment in
public improvement, complementing the
current effort, exemplified by the addition
of anew Veterans Memorial Mural, will at
once promote the business and retail
environment, please the eye and reinforce
the ethnic pride of many of Bloomfield’s
Tesidents and business owners;

NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize the
Bloomfield Business District as
Pittsburgh’s Own “Little Italy”; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council commends the neighbors,

a SESNSOOEOOOOOE_E_

Citizens Council and Business Association
of Bloomfield for their efforts to beautify
their neighborhood while paying homage
to the proud heritage of Italian-Americans
in Bloomfield and throughout the City of
Pittsburgh.

MR. ONORATO moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Cohen:

Let me introduce the people who
are here today. Gloria LaDonne, you all
know as President of the Bloomfield
Business Association; Vince Palmeire who
Tam sure all of you know is very active in
the Korean Memorial effort; Kevin
Donahue who is Italian for the day but is
also the leader of the Saint Patrick's Day
Parade every year. Mark Mackey, you all
know I am sure; Bob Mariani, who I have
already introduced.

We are going to present this
proclamation to Bob LaDonne who is a
democratic committeeman and very active
in Bloomfield and also Harry Delsamuto I
am very happy to have you here this
moming. Let me _ present this
proclamation to Bob Mariani and thank
him for this idea, which | think is a
wonderful idea. We are going to present
this by the way in Bloomfield on the
avenue this Saturday at 2:30 at (inaudible)
and you are all invited. You don't have to
be Italian, but I am going to be there and
present this proclamation to Bob Mariani
and to thank him for this idea, which I
think is a wonderful idea.

677

We are also going to present this
by the way in Bloomfield on the Avenue
this Saturday at 2:30 at Pearl and Liberty.
You are ail invited. You don't have to be
Nalian. Certainly | am not, but 1am going
to be there and let me present this
proclamation to Bob Mariani. Bob, thanks
so much for this idea.

Mr. Mariani:

I would like to thank Councilman
Cohen and Ferlo for their help in making
this come to pass and we would like to
invite you all to our marathon festival.
There will be any number of vendors on
the street selling Italian food and all other
kinds of food and crafts and everything.
And we would like to just state that the
reason for this we think with the influx of
people coming with the new stadiums and
the convention center and the way
Pittsburgh the North Shore is building up,
we think that Bloomfield being
Pittsburgh’s Little Italy will create a
destination that people might want to
come to see what is going on there. And
keep it the vibrant and_ residential
community that it is and has been since
forever I guess and that was our reasoning.
I hope you all come out and see what it
looks like. Thank you.

Mr. Cohen:

J also want to ask Gloria LaDonne
to say a few words. Gloria has done just a
terrific job as President of the Bloomfield
Business Association. She is the only
woman in a man's world over there and is
doing a great job.

Ms. LaDonne:
I would just like to say thank you
to Councilman Cohen and Councilman

Ferlo for this distinguished recognition of
Bloomfield. Although I am too not Italian,
I am Irish, I take it as a great honor to be
part of Bloomfield and to represent the
Bloomfield business district. We do have
a wonderful business district. It is made
up of all nationalities, but our landmarks
are all our Italian Restaurants such as
Dell's and —— Pleasure Bar = and
Lombardozzi’s and Donatelli's food store.

So it is recognition in our
community and we do invite you all to join
us Saturday for our marathon celebration.
Actually Bloomfield celebrates Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday. We have a whole
weekend of fun and entertainment and J
really thank Council for this award. Thank
you.

The Chair:

Better invite our two Italian
Councilmen to come up to be in this
picture.

Will Valerie and the members of
the PACE Organization please come up?
Doris Carson Williams, we have the
Whites. Thank you very much for coming
down. We will all keep an eye on him.

Everyone knows this is a big day in
Pittsburgh, a big weekend starting this
weekend and I wiil let you explain the
details. But PACE is having a dinner.
Last year I went to dinner at the Hilton or
the year before. And it was a tremendous
event and I know this year you put a lot
more planning and a lot more into it so I
can't imagine, it is really going to be
something. So I encourage everyone to
participate and I will let the ladies tell us
about what is going on all weekend. I will
read the proclamation.

678

MR. O'CONNOR
MEMBERS PRESENT:

AND ALL

No. 1535 WHEREAS, the Program
to Aid Citizen Enterprise (PACE) was
established in 1969 as an affiliate of the
United Way and has been committed to
providing programming to meet the under
served and disadvantaged communities
throughout Pittsburgh and Allegheny
County; and,

WHEREAS, through annual grants
from the United Way, PACE has provided
financial assistance to over 200
organizations; and,

WHEREAS, working in concert
with the Community Based Asset
Development Program, PACE has become
more aggressive in the areas of training,
technical assistance as well as imparting
knowledge, skills and strengths to
organizations who aid overall community
development; and,

WHEREAS, PACE has been
designated to receive funds from the
"Reunion Weekend" featuring 57 former
Steeler teammates who played in
Superbowl IX, X, XIII and XIV, including
the following:

Rocky Bleier

Mel Blount

Joe Greene

L.C. Greenwood
Franco Harris
Jack Lambert
Donnie Sheil
Lynn Swann
Dwight White
Dwayne Woodruff

aaa

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby commend PACE
on its ongoing dedication to community
development; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare April 27, 1999, as
"PACE Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

I will let Doris Carson Williams
who is the Chairperson tell us what is
going on and introduce our other guests.

Ms. Williams:

We would like to thank you for the
proclamation and encourage everyone to
come out. It’s always fun to welcome all
the former Steelers back to Pittsburgh
because this is their home in many ways. 1
would like to introduce Karen Farmer
White who is the Executive Director really
who has spearheaded this and done a
tremendous job to tell you about the
activities for the weekend.

Mrs. White:

Thank you. We are real excited
about this weekend to have 57 players
from that era comeback. I think it is really
a once in a lifetime type of experience and
I don't know that it will ever happen again.
So we would love for as many people to

come down and enjoy this weekend.

Some of the activities will include,
2:30 we will have a kick off where we will
have some dignitaries come and make
some comments to open up the weekend.
At three o'clock the U.S. Postal Service
will have a ceremony to make an official
announcement of the Steeler Stamp. I
don't know if all of you know or not the
Steeler stamp won as one of the official
stamps of the 70's decade and the Postal
Service will be holding a ceremony at
three o'clock and then it is a sports and
memorabilia collectors show.

There will be vendors that will be
selling sports and memorabilia cards. All
weekend the players will be giving out
autographs. At 7 o'clock there will be a
question and answer where all the players
will have -- it will be an open forum where
the players will be addressing questions
from the audience. Saturday is just the
show will be going on all day at the
Pittsburgh Convention Center in case we
didn't mention that, and Saturday night we
will have a dinner that is honoring the
entire team. Sunday will again be
autographs, sports and memorabilia show.
There will be an auction Sunday afternoon
and it will accommodate with a drawing
for Isuzu black and gold Steeler, Steeler
weekend truck.

So we hope you all can participate
and we're real excited. I want Dwight to
come up and say a few words just on
behalf of the players.

Mr. White:

Thank you. You know they have
been saying 57, I don't know if that's 57
players or probably the average of all the

age of the guys that played there but it's
going to a be great weekend.

I would just like to say thank you
Council for this acknowledgement. It is
now some 25 years later, that's pretty
meaningful. But we all share in the period
of the great things that happened to us
during that period, the pride and success of
the team. You know it's great to be able to
come back together. I will tell you if you
talk to any of the players that live here in
Pittsburgh now we will all tell you that as
a result of being around during that period
contributed to everyone’s life significantly
and meaningfully. I was very proud to be
a Pittsburgh Steeler then and play in this
town. And now 30 years later I am still
here and I am proud to be a Pittsburgher.

I love this town and we all have a
lot to be very proud of. J am just proud to
be part of a weekend that is going to
reflect back on something that we all have
a warm and fuzzy feeling about. So it is
great that this is going to happen this
weekend and I would like for everyone to
come out. Thank you.

The Chair:

Again, I hope everyone comes out
and supports the very important week. But
you know most of us, all of us watched
those games but it was more than just
winning football games. I think you
highlight that team. I remember I had
seven Roy Rogers at the time and we had a
Steeler in each restaurant. They were so
good to all the kids and not only winning
but you gave back all of you and especially
they still sign autographs. They still make
appearances 25 years later. I think it's
openness to the city and just today’s
athletes could really learn a lot from that

680

whole team. And you really were roll
models for all of us and you continue to be
a big part of Pittsburgh.

We want to thank you and one of
the big leaders not just in size but are a
very important part of the team and our
community and I want to thank you,
Dwight, on behalf of all of us.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I would like to ask our two guests
Lee Ferraro and Rosemary Welsch if they
could please come forward. Lee is the
General Manager of WYEP and Rosemary
is the Program Director also of WYEP.

Colleagues, public radio has
become an institution throughout this
country and especially in Allegheny
County and I believe that this radio station
WYEP 91.3 FM has become a model of
that institution. And I am looking forward
to presenting this resolution to our special
guests today.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTS:

No. 1536 WHEREAS, WYEP
(91.3 FM) signed on the air, from a small
basement in South Oakland. Created by
several individuals, WYEP was an early
pioneer in the national movement that
brought independent, non-commercial
Public Radio to many communities
throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, Twenty five years
later, WYEP continues its original mission
of serving Greater Pittsburgh with
Programming that educates, stimulates,
enhances and reflects our community.
WYEP remains a national model; and,

a6oaNnmaaelalalaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

WHEREAS, WYEP is now located
on Pittsburgh's Historic South Side, with
an expanded serving area of 50 miles and
72,000 regular listeners. Eighty percent of
WYEP's audience resides in Allegheny
County.

WHEREAS, WYEP is celebrating
their 25th Anniversary by creating special
programming that spotlights local issues
and organizations.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED THAT the Council of the
City of Pittsburgh hereby declares Tuesday
April 27, 1999 as WYEP Day throughout
the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. COHEN moved
resolution.

to adopt the

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you, colleagues, I am going
to ask both of our special guests today to
say a few words beginning with the
General Manager, Lee.

Mr. Ferraro:

Thank you. I would just like to say
on behalf of everyone at WYEP thanks to
the community at large for supporting us.
We are a non-commercial service which
means we don't get a lot of money from
commercial advertising which makes it
kind of tough to make a living in the
media. -We wouldn't be here if a lot of
people didn't contribute a lot of money
over the course of the 25 years and a lot of
volunteers in our operation.

So on behalf of everyone at WYEP
thanks for the ongoing support both
financially and time of everyone in
Pittsburgh who has joined us over the last
25 years.

We are hosting an open house this
weekend at our studios on the Southside
and everyone is welcome to stop down
2313 East Carson Street right by the
Birmingham Bridge. We would love to
meet some of you supporters who have
been there. So thank you very much.

Ms. Welsch:

As a life long resident of Western
Pennsylvania, 20 years in the city and 18
years with WYEP it’s a great pleasure and
privilege to be here in the City Council
Chambers. Working at WYEP has given
me a chance to work with many of you
sitting here. And it has given me the
chance to meet so many people in the
community, and I appreciate that. It's a
great honor to be part of Pittsburgh in this
way.

If you would like to find out more
about the station, just tune in 91.3 FM, and
thanks to City Council. Once again on
Saturday from seven a.m. to seven p.m. at
2313 East Carson Street you are welcome
to join us and find out a little bit more
about your community through WYEP.
Thank you for this honor.

Ms. McDonald:

I wanted to commend the station
for their efforts in Black History Month. I
was impressed I was treated with much
hospitality when I arrived at the studios
and again it was just a very nice

————————————
eee eee,

experience. And what was different is that
it wasn't just a little sound byte that was
part of your presentation for that month, it
was actually real dialogue. It was actually
your ability to make sure Pittsburgh hears
other Pittsburghers. So again you're to be
commended. I enjoyed it.

Mr. Cohen:
I want to thank Councilman
Ricciardi for bringing this forward.

WYEP has a real following in the City of
Pittsburgh and I think really adds to the
city in terms of providing alternative
media outlet and certainly music that many
people in the City of Pittsburgh follow. I
hadn't thought of doing this in this forum
and acknowledging it, but I am glad
Councilman Ricciardi did because this is a
very important proclamation.

Mr. Ricciardi:

I would like to ask all of our
special guests from the South Hills
neighborhoods and especially from the
Southside if you could please come
forward. Thank you.

Colleagues over the past few
months that I have Chaired the Department
of Parks and Recreation I continue to
become very impressed and amazed and
moved by the so many different and
diverse programs that Parks and
Recreation is offering throughout City of
Pittsburgh. And they're positive programs
not just programs where maybe a group of
individuals get together and maybe just sit
down and play cards. We're way beyond
that under the leadership of Mayor Tom
Murphy and Mary Esther VanShura.

The program today will be a

682

resolution and I would like to ask Mary
Esther if she would then come forward.
We are going to have other staff members
because without the professional and
dedicated staff members of the
Department of Parks and Recreation our
activities would not be possible and then
other staff members will come up and
introduce our guests today.

Colleagues, it is just so important
that all age groups remain together and
have contact with each other. I think when
we bring our young people together with
our elderly, our young people bring
energy, fresh ideas and honesty. A
frankness that is just so nice throughout
this City of Pittsburgh and our elderly, our
older residents bring wisdom. They're a
great role model and they bring their ideas
to the table and putting age groups
together is just the way to go. I think
everyone benefits from them. Thank you.
I would like to read the resolution.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTS:

No. 1537 WHEREAS, April 18-24
has been officially designated as National
VolunteerWeek; and

WHEREAS, the Department of
Parks and Recreation is committed to the
development of intergenerational
Programming to serve the needs of
changing families; and

WHEREAS, the Senior-
INTERESTS and Pre-School Programs
have fused their energies for the first time
for the development of an innovative
program focusing on the joint gross motor
and cognitive development of young
children and seniors; and

eee

WHEREAS, this initiative is
committed to building permanent
relationships between two groups on
opposite ends of the life spectrum; and

WHEREAS, this increased
interaction between youth and senior
volunteers will develop interpersonal
relationships not usually available in
traditional programming; and

WHEREAS, this new collaborative
has resulted in the development of a grant
funded program entitled “Acoms and Oak
Trees”, for the participants from the
Department of Parks and Recreation Pre-
School and SeniorINTERESTS Programs.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
hereby declares April 27, 1999 as “ Acorns
and Oak Trees Day” in the City of
Pittsburgh.

MR. COHEN moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ricciardi:

I would like to ask our friend and
colleague Mary Esther VanShura if she
could please come forward and start the
program for us. Congratulations.

Ms. VanShura:
Thank you for the opportunity to
come today and talk about an innovative

program of serving the changing needs of
families. And as you can see this is a joint

program between our little ones of the
pre-school, our acoms, and our seniors,
our oak trees.

To introduce our children Bonnie
Moss -- I want to tell you Bonnie has been
with the Department of Parks for eight
years. She is one of the unsung heroes.
She is the coordinator of the pre-school
and, Bonnie, if you could come and
introduce the children.

Ms. Moss:

Thank you very much. First I
would like to introduce my staff who
really make this program possible through
their hard work and dedication. Our
teacher Ms. Edith Palino, and her assistant
Ida Mae Dosia (phonetic). The kids who
could join us today are Chloe Deardoff,
Ryan Wesolowski, Robert Hoover, Justin
Davis, Calvin Jones, Zakair Garpel,
Gabrielle Sally, Ted Kurpil, David Yee,
and Justic Boeher. Thank you very much.

Ms. Brown:

Hi, I am Christy Brown the Center
Director from Southside Senior Center and
I would like to introduce the seniors who
are here today who are participating in the
program. First we have Alice Bailey who
is also the staff person who has
coordinated all the efforts with the seniors.
We have Loretta Binger (phonetic),
Minnie Dalanko (phonetic), Olga Fink,
Phyllis Haddock, Stan Haddock, Betty
Hawk, Nick Candravy (phonetic), Val
Kokazinski (phonetic), Rosemary
Crawlich (phonetic), Mary Rogers, Mary
Sankey, Fran Sokol and Audrey Tucker.
And thank you for all of your time you put
into the program.

Ms. VanShura:

I wanted to thank Ray Fisher who
joins us today the Program Supervisor for
this part of the city does an outstanding job
as you know. To really thank all the
commitment from the city we want to give
a token of our appreciation of our support.
And Councilman Ricciardi, as our liaison,
I would like to present you with an oak
tree shirt for yourself and for your little
daughter, Nina, we have an acom.

We would like to have the children
we're going to say thank you and they
would like to show you that they indeed
are the acorns that some day will be
moving on to oak trees so children and
thank you acorns. And thank you oak
trees,

Mr. Ricciardi:

Once again, I really want to thank
all the staff members of the Department of
Parks and Recreation for your continued
dedication to our seniors and young
people. I think all of our colleagues will
agree bringing our young people and older
people together is benefiting both groups.
lam very, very proud and pleased for this
program. Thank you and thank you for the
T-shirts also.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTS:

No. 1538 WHEREAS, on Sunday,
May 2, 1999 "Pioneers" Lodge 1 of the
Croatian Fraternal Union celebrates its
105" Anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Allegheny City, now
the Northside of Pittsburgh, was the
birthplace of Lodge 1 and the entire
Croatian Fratemal Union in 1894. It was

684

founded by Croatian immigrants for their
mutual help and protection; and

WHEREAS, although membership
of the lodge is spread throughout the
Greater Pittsburgh area, the monthly lodge
meetings are still held at the Croatian
National Hall, "Javor" on East street in the
heart of the Northside; and;

WHEREAS, “Pioneers”, Lodge 1,
was also instrumental along with other
local Croatian lodges in the founding of
the old National Croatian Society, the
forerunner to today’s Croatian Fraternal
Union; and

WHEREAS, the same individuals
who founded Lodge 1 were also
instrumental in the foundation of the first
Croatian Church in North America, Saint
Nicholas on East Ohio Street; and

WHEREAS, “Pioneers”, Lodge 1
is still actively functioning 105 years later
and still considers the North Side of
Pittsburgh to be home; and

WHEREAS, the members of
“Pioneers”, Lodge 1 are proud of the many
contributions they make to the lodge,
church, national society, to Pittsburgh and
to the world; and

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh congratulates the "Pioneers"
Lodge 1 of the Croatian Fratermal Union
on the celebration of their 105"
Anniversary and wishes them continued
longevity in the future.

MR. ONORATO moved to adopt the
resolution.

anaeaamqyTaaeeoeeeeeeeeeeeeee

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

At this time we will allow anyone
who wishes to address Council three
minutes. Please give your name and
address for the record. Anyone wishing to
address Council?

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ms. Brown:

Good moming my name is Yvonne
F. Brown. I live at 2633 Brackenridge
Street, that's Pittsburgh 15219. I live in
the Hill District.

I come before you today asking
that you please bear with me. I received as
I listen to the news I received some bad
news. When I heard that Dale Fredrick the
head of our school district, the President of
our I am sorry, not only about Dale but
about these other things but the main thing
I am trying to say is that I was very upset
and saddened to hear that he’s leaving.

He was not one of the first ones
that we had on the list. In fact, some
people felt that there were black
candidates with PHD’s that were qualified
and were not chosen. I met Dale Frederick
myself I met with him quite a few times
and J say that I felt that he could have done
a better job. He tried. The board members
did not go along with him even when he
tried to fire the head of the chief of
security. There were statements that he
made that the monkeys could take care of
our children. He also does not (inaudible)
any problems he escalates it. But the

board made the decision overruling Dale
Frederick.

I am going to deviate a little bit
more. I want to go on and try to explain to
you the reason why I am so upset. We saw
in the news about the baby that was found
on Burrows Street dead. I live in that
neighborhood. I don't live in the projects,
my daughter used to live in the building in
front of the young lady. I can remember
my son introducing me to the lady and I
had seen her and sitting out with the
children so I seen that baby that is dead. It
bothers me and troubles me being a parent
and living in the area where we know that
there are young parents, young women that
are not taking care of their children. But
you must realize and I realize as a parent a
lot of them are depressed.

We need and I am coming here
with a solution for this problem. If we
could have women my age the seniors that
were here if they could go into the projects
and into the homes where the young
parents are to try to teach them how to
clean, how to take care of the children.

T also had written a program and it
is called JUICE Program, it’s called Just
Using Innovative Community
Empowerment. This program is set up in
order that we can teach, go into the
neighborhoods and teach the young
parents about juice and raw vegetables,
about using brown rice, brown bread.
Could I just continue for a couple more
minutes?

The Chair:
Please summarize.

Ms. Brown:

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l used up time because I was a little
mixed up but what I came for is this. If]
could possibly, maybe Sala and I know
you're so busy but maybe someone else on
the other, one of the Council members
could help me petition Mayor Murphy. If
we can possibly look into this to try to start
a program where we can try to help these
young people because our children, our
babies are dying and we need to be able to
help the children.

If Mayor Murphy could also help
me, if he doesn't maybe we could call on
Mayor Murphy to help me wnite a letter to
the President of the United States. These
young people need help. They are not
given a lot of opportunities. This baby
should not have been lost in the system.
No way the baby should have went home,
CYS should have been in there.

There is no sense in standing and
trying to put the blame on and J am not. I
am coming to you as a mother, a
grandmother who sees some of the
problems that need to be taken care of.
And I am going to try to get in touch with
Stanley Lowe, possibly we can initiate this
program. The only thing that I am asking
everyone in here is if we can come
together with solutions. I am not standing
here today making negative statements I
am not standing here bringing out negative
concerns. This is a concem that I have
because we as parents, and most of you I
understand on Council are, and you know
that you love your children. We love ours
too. Thank you. And have a nice day.

The Chair:

Next speaker. Please give your
name and address for the record.

686

Mr. English:

My name is Gary English, 1504
Fairmont, 15221. As a former candidate J
am cognoscente that political signage’s is
a necessary evil. For many it is one of the
mainstays of getting their name out as the
high cost of advertising limit opportunity
for name recognition. And as the eternal
nights of spring have arrived, so have the
plethora of political placards sharing the
common theme vote for me.

Last year three wise men on City
Council] known as Euripides, Eumenides,
and Hupocrites pondered a thought of
removing all signage from public lands,
violating free speech and the first
amendment not withstanding. Euripides
known for his political grandstanding,
dubbed the political signage, litter on a
stick.

On March 3 1998, the Lords and
Lady passed legislation by a seven to one
vote with Lord Udin voting in the
negative. The new ordinance prohibits
campaign signage on public rights of way
in city limits. The legislative intent of this
law was to prevent the spoilage of the
natural beauty of our countryside and
minimize the dangers to chariot drivers as
these signs are intended to distract the
drivers causing the horses to gallop during
rush hour traffic on the parkway.

The only reasonable approach to
this issue is to exercise commonsense and
respect after the election local government
should give the candidates five days to
remove such signage then charge them
accordingly for not doing so. The main
problem is Hupocrites faces is living under
a different law. As he seems determined

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that we must live under a different law
then himself.

However, as these casualties of war
primary show, Hupocrites known as Lord
Onorato is living evidence that he can't
always live within the laws mere mortals
must obey. These signs I am told came
from public highways. The very ones
Lord Onorato was attempting to protect
when he voted for City Ordinance 423.
According to this ordinance, it not only
illustrates Lord Onorato's hypocrisy, but
indicates his actions under 423.05, which
makes him a public-nuisance.

Lord Onorato, will you admit to
your fault, and voluntarily pay the fine you
propose others that you subjected to or
will you attempt to wiggle out of the very
law you voted for the peasants wait your
verdict?

Well, Lord Onorato?
Mr. Onorato:

Mr. President, make sure he doesn't
Tespond any more. His time is over. If he
does, police please remove him. Let me
point out that I will also pay any legitimate
fine if they fine me but I will point out that
ten of my signs on private property were
removed J think by the City of Pittsburgh
and we're investigating it or by other
individuals.

The City Public Works we have to
sit down and we better read the ordinance
clearly because it said public right of way
signs shall be removed not private
property. I find it amazing that we have
hundreds of private property, drug houses,
abandoned properties, properties that need
to be boarded up, torn down it takes years

687

to do these things but they can remove a
sign in three days off of the wrong
property. It’s unbelievable what Public
Works can do when the Mayor makes the
phone call.

So anyone listening, I hope you
saw that sign, that was free advertisement
and I am proud of it. For any of my signs
that are removed from private property, I
will be sending a fee or bill to the city to
maybe put them back up, because the
ordinance cannot touch private property.
It is called free speech and if anyone tries
to interfere with it again and 1 catch them,
1 will also be sending a bill out because it
is not being implemented wisely. I think
there are some political shenanigans going
on and my signs better remain on private
property if they are up. Thank you,
Mr. President.

The Chair:

Any other speakers to address
Council? Hearing none we will --

Mr. Ricciardi:

I have another if I may. I want to
say Mr. O'Connor and colleagues, I think
Ms. Brown has brought up some very,
very good points that need some follow up
and that is what is happening unfortunately
to some very young children throughout
City of Pittsburgh. JI think we need to
make some communication and have
correspondence with Robert Nelcon
(phonetic), because Bob Nelcon is a
gentleman who has been at the cutting
edge of the forefront of living life skills,
teaching life skills.

Unfortunately and I still have a
hard time understanding, I would think

S=C=n—ae0 eee

that everyone knows basic life skills, but
Mr. O'Connor if you could make some
contact with Mr. Bob Nelcon who is
running three programs now. I think two
in the suburbs including Wilkinsburg and
one in the City of Pittsburgh, and maybe
we could go on from there.

Mr. Onorato:

Mr. President, on a different note,
if I could do a follow up on the previous
conversation the gentlemen that just spoke
was responsible for putting vote no signs
all over public property a year ago. And
it's funny that he comes here and speak
about hypocrisy but when it is his issue he
will litter the city and yet won't even live
here to pay taxes. So I really have no
respect for somebody who comes in here
and basically lies to the public when he
puts his own signs on public property
throughout the North Side and throughout
the entire city for an issue that he thought
was important and ignored the city
ordinance,

I just want to point that out. That
gentleman was personally responsible for
littering the entire city just 18 months ago.

The Chair;

I will follow up with Mr. Ricciardi.
Ms. Brown, I think you do bring up a very,
very important issue. We can probably
speak together how do we solve this
problem? How do we all work together?
And I think it's four young babies in the
last month and that's unacceptable. One is
unacceptable.

Your talk is over and we don't want
to expand right now but Council can get
together with you or a group later on to

688

discuss issues. There are organizations out
there maybe they aren't out reaching
enough. I think we can all work together
to help our children.

It was a very good issue you
brought up. Your form if you leave it with
Council, we will be glad to review it.

We now move to presentation of
papers.

PRESENTATIONS
MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:

No. 1539 Resolution authorizing
members of the Fire and EMS Unions to
travel to San Francisco from May 5"
through May 9" to attend the EMS
Delivery System Seminar, at a cost not to
exceed $6,000.00, of which $3,000.00
shall be paid from the Fire Department,
Education and Training Account, and
$3,000.00 shall be paid from the EMS
Education and Training Account. —
(SPONSORED BY MR. DIVEN)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Public Safety Services.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

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No. 1540 Resolution Authorizing
and directing the Mayor, the Director of
General Services, the Director of the
Bureau of Information Systems (CIS), and
the City Clerk, to enter into an
agreement(s), professional services
agreement, and/or contract or contracts for
the design, development and
implementation of a computer based
multimedia interactive information kiosk
for placement in the lobby of the City
County Building to include the purchase of
computer equipment, equipment, supplies,
communication -hardware, software,
training and maintenance, at a cost not to
exceed Thirty Five Thousand Dollars
($35,000). ---(SPONSORED BY MR.
FERLO)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

No. 1541 Resolution Providing for
an Agreement or Agreements with the
Korean War Veterans Association for
costs associated with the construction of
the Korean War Veterans Memorial to be
located in Roberto Clemente Park at a cost
not to exceed $40,500.00.

No. 1542 Resolution Further
amending Resolution No. 976, effective
January 1, 1996, as amended, entitled
“Adopting and approving the 1996 Capital
Budget and the 1996 Community
Development Block Grant Program; and
approving the 1996 through 2001 Capital
Improvement Program,” by reducing five
(5) line items in Engineering and
Construction’s Budget for an aggregate
amount of $40,500.00 and creating a new
line item entitled “Korean War Veterans
Memorial” in the Mayor’s Office Budget.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Engineering and
Construction.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

No. 1543 Resolution Transferring
the amount of Two Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($200,000.00) from various Code
Accounts within the Department of Public
Works to other various Code Accounts
within the Department of Public Works.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. DIVEN moved to suspend Rule 8 by
providing for consideration of the bill only
until or after the 8th calendar day
following the meeting in which the motion
was made so the bill will be on the agenda
this Wednesday.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

Also,

No. 1544 Resolution Granting unto
Friendship Development Associates 5530
Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15206 and Bloomfield Garfield Corp.,
5149 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania 15224, their successors and
assigns, an encroachment to construct,
maintain and use at their own cost and
expense, a handicap ramp on a portion of
the sidewalk area of 5530 Penn Avenue in
the 8" Ward, 9" Council District of the
City of Pittsburgh.

No. 1545 Resolution Granting unto
Shah Chinulal Mafatlal, 5165 Butler
Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15201,
their successors and assigns, an

encroachment to construct, maintain and
use at their own cost and expense, a
handicap ramp on a portion of the
sidewalk area of 5165 Butler Street in the
10” Ward, 7” Council District of the City
of Pittsburgh.

No. 1546 Resolution Granting unto
Home Depot, Regional Headquarters,
3096 Hamilton Blvd., South Plainfield, NJ
07080, their successors and assigns, an
encroachment to construct, maintain and
use at their own cost and expense, an 18”
storm sewer encroachment under the
sidewalk of East Liberty Boulevard in the
11" Ward, 9"" Council District of the City
of Pittsburgh.

No. 1547 Resolution Granting unto
Valenta Platt Design Group, Inc., 2006
East Carson Street, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania 15203, their successors and
assigns, an encroachment to construct,
maintain and use at their own cost and
expense, a double-faced projecting sign
over the sidewalk area of 2006 East
Carson Street in the 17" Ward, 3° Council
District of the City of Pittsburgh.

Which were read and referred to the

Committee on Public Works, &
Environmental Services.
MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

No. 1548 Resolution Providing for
an Agreement or Agreements, with various

community organizations for
operational/administrative expenses,
maintenance, purchase of equipment

and/or rehabilitation of neighborhood
facilities for the benefit of residents of the
City of Pittsburgh and further, authorizing
various departments to enter into contract
or contracts or use existing contract or

690

contracts for the purchase of equipment
and/or furniture at a cost not to exceed
$1,182,175.00.

No, 1549 Resolution providing for
an Agreement or Agreements with
Community Based Organizations for
community and economic development
planning assistance in various
neighborhoods in the City and providing
operating support for these groups in an
amount not to exceed $900,000.00

No. 1550 Resolution providing for
an Agreement(s) and Contract(s) with
Consultant(s) and Vendor(s) to assist the
City in improving its Citizen Participation
Process and providing for the payment of
the cost thereof, at a cost not to exceed
$215,000.00.

No. 1551 Resolution providing for
an Agreement or Agreements or Contract
or Contracts, or use of existing
Agreements or Contracts, with a
Consultant or Consultants, or Vendor or
Vendors, for the purpose of conducting
planning and management studies, and
related activities in support of such studies
including the purchase of data and data
analysis equipment, at a cost not to exceed
$225,000.00.

No. 1552 Resolution Providing for
an Agreement or Agreements or Contracts,
or use existing Agreement(s) or
Contract{(s) with consultants, vendors,
and/or contractors for the purpose of
planning and/or implementation costs of
the Saw Mill Run Transportation Study
Project and related costs in support of this
project, at a cost not to exceed $69,000.00.

No. 1553 Resolution Providing for
an Agreement or Agreements with the

———————

URBAN LEAGUE OF PGH., for the
implementation/administration of the
HOUSING COUNSELING PROGRAM,
and related costs, in an amount not to
exceed $100,000.00.

No. 1554 Resolution providing for
an Agreement or Agreements with various

community organizations for
operational/administrative expenses,
maintenance, purchase of equipment;

and/or rehabilitation of neighborhood
facilities; and for
administrative/operational costs,
maintenance, purchase of equipment,
and/or rehabilitation of neighborhood
facilities of various departmental
programs/projects for the benefit of
residents of the City of Pittsburgh, at a
cost not to exceed $582,279.00.

No. 1555 Resolution Providing for
an Agreement or Agreements, in a form
approved by the City Solicitor with the
Jewish Healthcare Foundation, to provide
administrative and operating expenses,
housing and housing related supportive
services to persons with HIV/AIDS and
their families, at a total cost not to exceed
$491,000.00, chargeable to and payable
from the HOPWA Trust Fund, 566100-
2650-110000-H1999-2216302-1999.

No. 1556 Resolution Providing for
the filing of a Community Development
statement by the City of Pittsburgh with
the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development for a grant in
connection with the 1999 Community
Development Block Grant Program;
providing for the execution of grant
contracts and for the filing of other data
providing for required assurances;
providing for execution of payment
vouchers on letter of credit and for

691

certification of authorized signature; the
deposit of the funds in a bank account and
providing for the payment of expenses
within categories.

No. 1557 Resolution Amending
Section 3 of Resolution No. 45, effective
February 18, 1999, entitled Adopting a
Tax Increment Financing Plan presented
by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh creating the Fulton Building
Tax Increment Financing District, and
making certain findings” (Council District
No. 9)

No. 1558 Resolution Authorizing
the Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh to Acquire all of the City’s
Right, Title and Interest, if any, in and to
the following Publicly-owned Property in
the City of Pittsburgh (Council District
No. 3):

18thWard
15-G-296 B/L
135 Freeland Street

18" Ward
15-G-297 B/L
137 Freeland Street

18" Ward
15-G-298 B/L
139 Freeland Street

18" Ward
15-G-303
201 Freeland Street

18" Ward
15-G-304 B/L
203 Freeland Street

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Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Housing, Economic
Development & Promotion.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

No. 1559 Resolution Providing for
an Agreement or Agreements or Contracts,
or use existing Agreement(s) or
Contract(s), with consultants, vendors,
and/or contractors for the purpose of
planning and/or implementation costs of
the Hazelwood Second Avenue
Development Project and related costs in
support of this project, at a cost not to
exceed $27,600.00.

No. 1560 Resolution Providing for
an Agreement or Agreements or Contracts,
or use existing Agreement(s) or
Contract(s) with consultants, vendors,
and/or contractors for the purpose of
planning and/or implementation costs of
the Trail Development Project and related
in costs in support of this project, at a cost
not to exceed $427,800.00.

No. 1561 Resolution Approving a
Conditional Use exception under Section
993.01(a)A(27) of the Pittsburgh Code,
Title Nine, Zoning, Article V, Chapter 993
to Gildas A. Kaib, Jr. for authorization to
construct three, two-unit townhouses to be
located at 19-21, 23-25, and 27-29
Vinceliffe Street on property zoned “S-A”
Special District, Class A, 18°" Ward.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Planning, Zoning & Land
Use.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

No. 1571 Resolution Authorizing
and directing the Mayor, the Department

692

of Public Works and the Department of
Finance to conduct a study of all
unimproved rights-of-way, better known
as “paper streets” in the City of Pittsburgh.
The study shall include the location,
condition, use (if any), and estimated cost
to open and/or maintain these rights of
way. —(SPONSORED BY MR.
RICCIARDI)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Public Works, Water &
Environmental Services.

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

No. 1562 Resolution repealing
items in Resolutions, approved on various
dates, authorizing the sale of properties in
various wards of the City of Pittsburgh, in
accordance with Act No. 171 of 1984.

508 Richland St.
Robert E. Vance
13" 174P 16
District #9

50 Cushman St.
Rosemary K. Stull
18" 4R270
District #3

1421 Adams St.
Mary D. Lewis
21" 22 F113
District #6

1505 Allegheny Ave.
Marion Kelley

21* 221197
District #6

504 Jefferson St.
Anthony R. Brown
& Geraldine Reynolds

_————
Ssoae_Vww“Kw“le eee

25" 23 E74
District #6

327 Gould Ave.
Carl W. Dorow
26" 116 E246
District #1

43 Schuuubert St.
Daniel J. Helt

& Denise A. Helt
26" 47C 240
District #1

136 Winslow St.
Damell Grisham
12" 124N 361
District #9

No. 1563 Resolution providing for
conveyance by the City of Pittsburgh of
certain properties in the 3 and 5"* Wards,
to the Housing Authority of City of
Pittsburgh for inclusion in the Hope VI
Program. Council District #6.

WARD 3

1805 Cliff St.
9-M-123
2-1/2 sty.brk. hse.

1817 Cliff St.
9-M-131

2 sty. brk. hse.,
isty. brk. gar.
3,642 sq. ft.

1734 Cliff St.
9-M-219

3 sty. brk. hse.,
i sty. c. b. gar.
1,292 sq. ft.

1904 Bedford Ave.

693

9-M-302
1 sty. brk. bldg. (rear)
2,667 sq. fi.

1841 Webster Ave.
9-S-199

2-1/2 sty. brk. hse.
1,472 sq.ft.

WARD 5

37 Davenport St.
10-J-26

2 sty. brk. hse.
1,814 sq. ft.

139 Erin St.
10-J-45

3 sty.brk. hse.
2,306 sq. ft.

206 Devilliers St.
10-J-205

2 sty. brk. hse.
1,725 sq. ft.

2001 Webster Ave.
10-J-208
3 sty. brk. hse. & store
1,430 sq. ft.
850 sq, ft.
2019 Webster Ave.
10-J-232
3 sty. brk. dwg. & sto.
953 sq. ft.

218 Erin St.
10-J-273

2 sty. brk. hse.
2,894 sq. ft.

15 Davenport St.
10-N-44

2 sty. brk. hse.
1,900 sq. ft.

219 Erin St.

10-J-261

Brick Commercial bldg.
2,250 sq. ft.

No. 1564 Resolution providing for
conveyance by the City of Pittsburgh of
certain vacant lots in the 3 and 5" Wards,
to the Housing Authority of City of
Pittsburgh for inclusion in the Hope VI
Program. Council District #6.

5 Cassatt St.
9-M-112
1,919 sq. ft.

12 Cassatt St.
9-M-114
2,907 sq. ft.

1803 Cliff St.
9-M-122
892 sq. fi.

1811 Cliff St.
9-M-127
890 sq. ft.

1829 Cliff St.
9-M-137
3,331 sq. ft.

1835 Cliff St.
9-M-143
1,665 sq. ft.

1837 Cliff St.
9-M-146
1,665 sq. ft.
1839 Cliff St.
9-M-147
1,665 sq. fi.

10 Ledlie St.

9-M-173
946 sq. ft.

1858 Cliff St.
9-M-180
2.745 sq. fi.

1850 Cliff St.
9-M-186
1.342 sq. fi.

1843 Monaca Pl.
9-M-186A
1,342 sq. ft.

1848 Cliff St.
9-M-187
2,030 sq. ft.

1841 Monaca PI.
9-M-188
1,508 sq. ft.

1836 Cliff St.
9-M-194
6,875 sq. ft.

25 Monaca PI.
9-M-195A
1,834 sq. fi.

1830 Cliff St.
9-M-195B
1,162 sq. ft.

11 Monaca Pl.
9-M-202
1,311 sq. ft.

5 Monaca PI.
9-M-203
1,427 sq. ft.

4 Monaca Pl.
9-M-204

ooo

700 sq. ft.

2 Monaca PI.
9-M-206
700 sq. ft.

1 Monaca Pi.
9-M-207
700 sq. ft.

1809 Bedford Ave.
9-M-245
2,874 sq. ft.

810-812 Cassatt St.
9-M-246
3,863 sq. ft.

1815-1817 Bedford Ave.

9-M-251
1,586 sq. ft

802 Cassatt St.
9-M-251A
663 sq. ft.

10 Monaca PI.
9-M-258
671 sq. ft.

58 Monaca Pl.
9-M-277
9,800 sq. ft.

809-811 Monaca Pl.
9-M-279
885 sq. ft.

1918 Bedford Ave.
9-M-290
1,096 sq. ft.

1916 Bedford Ave.
9-M-293
1,050 sa. ft.

695

1914 Bedford Ave.
9-M-294
1,156 sq. ft.

1902 Bedford Ave.
9-M-303
600 sq. ft.

1900 Bedford Ave.
9-M-304
1,638 sq. ft.

1864 Rowley St.
9-M-305
1,069 sq. ft.

1852 Bedford Ave.
9-M-306
2,667 sq. ft.

1848-1850 Bedford Ave.
9-M-308
5,354 sq. ft.

1846 Bedford Ave.
9-M-309
2,667 sq. ft.

1840 Bedford Ave.
9-M-314
910 sq. ft.

1838 Bedford Ave.
9-M-315
910 sq. ft.

1848 Rowley St.
9-M-317
778 sq. ft.

1834 Bedford Ave.
9-M-319
2,667 sq. ft.

1830 Bedford Ave.

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9-M-320A
1,200 sq. ft.

1911 Webster Ave.
9-M-324
2,667 sq. ft.

1729-1731 Bedford Ave.
9-S-37
2,838 sq. ft.

1801 Bedford Ave.
9-S-38
1,690 sq. ft.

1834 Rowley St.
9-S-44
980 sq. ft.

1822 Bedford Ave.
9-S-46A
1,474 sq. ft.

1824 Bedford Ave.
9-S-45
1,280 sq. ft.

1812 Bedford Ave.
9-S-51
1,551 sq. ft.

1810 Bedford Ave.
9-§-52
1,914 sq. ft.

1815 Rowley St.
9-§-53
672 sq. ft.

1813 Rowley St.
9-S-54
668 sq. ft.

1806 Bedford Ave.

696

9-S-70
2,823 sq. ft.

1900-1902 Webster Ave.
9-S-211
5, 594 sq. ft.

1819 Enoch S1.
9-S-231
564 sq. ft.

1815 Enoch St.
9-S-231A
560 sq. ft.

1817 Enoch St.
9-S-231B
542 sq. fi.

1936 Bedford Ave.
10-J-195
1,251 sq. ft.

WARD 5

39 Davenport St.
10-J-27
1,166 sq. ft.

2032 Webster Ave.
10-J-33
954 sq. ft.

141 Erin St.
10-J-44
2,366 sq. ft.

2000 Bedford Ave.
10-J-196
1,300 sq. ft.

2004 Bedford Ave.
10-J-198
2,779 sq. ft.

8 8 OOO

202 Devilliers St.
10-J-207
657 sq. fi.

2014-2016 Bedford Ave.
10-J-216
2,535 sq. ft.

2018 Bedford Ave.
10-J-218
1.248 sq. ft.

24 Shipton St.
10-J-220
6,000 sq. ft.

26 Shipton St.
10-J-224
1,587 sq. fi.

4 Shipton St.
10-J-226
1,497 sq. ft.

3 Shipton St.
10-J-227
1,492 sq. ft.

2 Shipton St.
0-3-228
3,073 sq. ft.

3 Seal St.
0-J-245
2,500 sq. ft.

2030 Bedford Ave.
10-J-251
472 sq. ft.

2032 Bedford Ave.
10-J-252
472 sq. ft.

2034 Bedford Ave.

697

10-J-253
1,472 sq. fi.

209-211 Erin St.
10-J-263
2,160 sq. ft.

220 Enn St.
10-J-272
2,422 sq. fi.

216 Erin St.
10-J-274
3,360 sq. ft.

2101 Webster Ave.

10-J-275
2,100 sq. ft.

2109 Webster Ave.

10-J-279
2,200 sq. ft.

2111 Webster Ave.

10-J-280
1,570 sq. ft.

2115 Webster Ave.

10-J-282
1,472 sq. ft.

2119 Webster Ave.

10-J-283
1,723 sq. ft.

2121 Webster Ave.

10-J-284
2,986 sq. ft.

2123 Webster Ave.

10-J-285
2,058 sq. ft.

2127 Webster Ave.

10-J-287

_
aoe

2,100 sq. ft.

2129 Webster Ave.

10-J-288
1,758 sq. ft.

2135 Webster Ave.

10-J-289
2,076 sq. ft.

2137 Webster Ave.

10-J-290
1,600 sq. ft.

2141 Webster Ave.

10-J-291
3,150 sq. ft.

2151 Webster Ave.

10-J-297
1,920 sq. ft.

2153 Webster Ave.

10-J-298
1,920 sq. ft.

2155 Webster Ave.

10-J-299
1,916 sq. ft.

105-109 Perry St.
10-J-316
4,320 sq. ft.

4 Fir Way
10-J-324
1,083 sq. ft.

698

No. 1565 Resolution providing for
the filing of a petition or petitions for the
sale of certain property or properties,
acquired at tax sales in accordance with
Act No. I7I of 1984, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

2164-2166 Centre Ave.
Victor Grisby

s™ 10 P 109
District #6

7211 Kedron St.

Jeffrey B. & Wanda Rollins
13" 174 B 289

District #9

214 Kaercher St.

Robert G. & Roberta M. Labishak
1s" 55A 254

District #5

2314 Arlington Ave.
Jeffrey S. & Anita L. Knoch
16" 13 L240

District #3

1321 Adams St.
Michelle D. Jamison
21") 22 F 141
District #6

858-860 Spring Garden Ave.
Joseph W. Schivins

23" 24134

District #1

862-864 Spring Garden Ave.
Joseph W. Schivins

23" 24 136

District #1

112 Carrington St.
Donna M. Kenney

=——————SS:.233°35——S

25" 23 F176
District #6

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

The Chair:

We will now move to unfinished
business. Js there any unfinished business
to come in front of Council?

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mr. Diven:

I just wanted to bring this to the
attention of Council. My office has
received a number of phone calls from
both police officers and firefighters and
paramedics in regards to those who of our
employees that are either in the reserves or
the National Guard. There is obviously
some concern with the escalation of
activities in Kozovo that at some point in
the near future they may be called up to
active duty.

In researching this I believe in
1990 there was a Resolution 1400 which
was passed, which gave an extension of
city benefits to make up the difference of
those city employees who were called up
to active. So that they didn't experience a
financial setback as a result of their service
in the Golf War.

I hope that as Council we can
direct personnel and civil service to kind
of prepare this legislation ahead of time.
So that a side from the concems of being
called up to active duty to go into a
country that’s brought with crises, they
shouldn't have to be in a position to worry
about whether or not they're going to make

their mortgage payments.

So if we could have personnel and
civil service and finance take a leadership
role in drafting the same kind of
legislation for whatever happens in
Kozovo, I think it would be a good
proactive step. Just to ease the minds of
those city employees who are currently in
the reserves or the National Guard and are
waiting or expecting to be called to active
duty. So that's one thing that I would hope
Council can take a leadership role on.

The Chair:

You're also 1 guess requesting to
see if it is not on the books to put it back
on the books?

Mr. Diven:
Yes, sir.
The Chair:

All right. We will send a memo to
the Law Department and to let us know.

Mr. Cohen:

As one of the veterans on Council,
veteran Council members, I remember
quite well us passing that resolution for the
Persian Golf War for the military men and
women. I think that's a good idea to do it
this time. I thank Councilman Diven for
bringing it up.

The Chair:

We will expect to hear back before
the end of the week from the Law
Department. As soon as possible if not,
you can put in emergency legislation. I am

ee
See

sure it will have every one’s support and
thank you for bringing it up. Anything
else under unfinished business? If not
move to Committee Chair Reports.

CHAIR REPORTS
Ms. McDonald:

Thank you Mr. President. First of
all there are two items. One is the TIF
committee had formerly met. We had
representation from Council President
O'Connor's Office as well as Councilman
Diven, two School Boards members and
county officials as well as URA officials.
There was quite a bit of dialogue and there
will be another meeting set within a couple
of weeks. To finalize not to finalize but to
get something’s straightened out as to the
process, what are we -- what do we feel
this committee really should do and should
not do.

The one consensus is that this
committee will be the entity that does the
review prior to any legislation coming
before, Council, City Council, coming
before the Pittsburgh School Board,
coming before the County Commissioners.
It must receive an okay from the
committee prior to. If it doesn't it is kept
in that committee structure until things are
worked out. That way it will prevent a lot
of discourse, a lot of contention and
actually what we would have everyone on
board if it were done in this manner.

Again, it is basically to present
some of the problems that we seen in the
past where one governmental body is
operating in a vacuum and then we have
two or three different decisions going on.

In the future we want to make sure

700

we avoid a quorum for reasons that is
explicitly stated in the Sunshine Act so it
will be myself and whomever else is
interested. Councilman Diven was there
quick because of his interests and concerns
about a lot of the TIF's so the first three
individuals from Council or Council
members that’s it. You can send
representatives and that way it avoids a
quorum. But as far as actual Council
members being present it must be four or
less. And that goes for School Board as
well.

So again you will get notice of the
next TIF committee meeting. There are a
lot of details, a lot of information that is
there that is not basically part of the
Council discussion because it is a lot of
the preliminary information that evolves
into an actual legislation piece for us.

There is also concer about the
keeping integrity of the historical nature of
some of the Forbes and Fifth corridor in
terms of the urban retail project. I will be
asking for the Pittsburgh History and
Landmark to convene a meeting with
Council members to discuss their
concems. There seems to be not
necessarily an impasse but there is
definitely a difference of opinion in terms
of how much to demolish and how much
to keep. My concern is to the Candy
Rama. That's a landmark. And just a
notion of having that tumble down boggles
my mind.

So again Council is going to be the
body that ultimately is going to approve a
plan or not. So I a believe it would be
proactive to be able to hear all the different
sides of the story so that we can make an
informed decision and hopefully come up
with resolutions so that when we do vote

—eV——€—€T$* OES

on it, it is very quick. That will be
forthcoming very soon to discuss that and
to discuss the Lord and Taylor Building
because there is a problem there.

Now interesting this is news to me
too in March of 1999 the Pennsylvania
Industrial Development Authority Loan in
the amount of $144,000 was obtained
through PEIDC to assist a young company
in acquiring the former Eat'n Park
Restaurant on Washington Boulevard. It
used to be a restaurant Eat’n Park one
time, it changed. and now it has been
desolate and abandoned. Well it is
purchased. In the East Liberty enterprise
zone it's going to be converted into a
research facility not a restaurant. Now
listen to this, it is called Prolume
Limited -- P-R-O-L-U-M-E. Prolume has
patented genes arrived from sea creatures
which can be eluminated for use in cancer
research. So this will be a research facility
on Washington Boulevard.

The Stagnos Project, Stagnos
Bakery is 40% complete, will retain 50
jobs and create an additional 17.

The ribbon cutting ceremony for
the new Giant Eagle Perishable Foods
Distribution Center in Broadhead Manor is
scheduled for May 28. I know news to
you too, Alan. May 28.

Mr. Hertzberg:

That has to be tentative a Tuesday
ora Wednesday.

Ms. McDonald:
Probably that is a Tuesday or

Wednesday. I haven't looked on my
calendar. It is tomorrow. No, it is May

701

28. And it will retain 171 jobs in
Pittsburgh and add another 48.

The Home Depot has selected its
contractor. It will be RE Crawford of
Springdale, Pennsylvania so we're using a
Pennsylvania firm. Chuck Powell of the
URA has met with Gary Solomon
Construction Supervisor and RE Crawford
to insure that a minimum of 35% minority
and women owned businesses
participation and sub contractors will be
involved in this project. And again the
grand opening is slated for the fall.

And lastly the South Side Works,
okay Mr. Ricciardi, I am not going to read
all this. It's boring. We all know what we
just voted. But the second component to
begin in 1999 is expected to be the first

consolidate other efforts in the Strip
District into the new location at 29th and
Carson. It will include a ballroom
educational training component as well as
office space. And these dates are off right
now. But I don't know they're expected to
be starting soon. Like in May of this year.

The third component of
development will be undertaken by the
Pittsburgh Industrial Economic
Development Corporation, the PEIDC,
which is an arm of the URA. It will
involve a new life science center, a
biomedical office facility, housing regional
biomedical, biotechnology and software
Start up companies. All together the URA
expects these efforts of the Southside
Works project will begin to exert
considerable pressure on the balance of
property allowing the authority to more
easily entice developers for more lucrative
job creation efforts. A build out of the Ss,

_——————
SSS

of the South Side Works development
total. Private investment is expected to
reach $230 million and will provide up to
5,200 employment opportunities. And in
addition to the job creation potential of
such development public access to the
riverfront will be created.

I am available -- there is so much
stuff I can only touch upon certain
projects and highlights. Thank you,
Mr. President.

Mr. Udin:

I want to thank Councilwoman
McDonald for giving leadership to the tax
increment financing issue, and apologize
for not being able to attend that meeting. I
fully intended to be there to express some
concems that I have and I will take this
opportunity to request that the tax
increment financing district take up the
completion of the intent that Council had
when we added certain amendments to the
tax increment financing legislation.

If colleagues will recall we added a
section that requires people who are
applying for TIF's to submit plans for
including Pittsburgh residents as in the
new jobs that are to be created by these
TIF's. However, it seems that we failed to
go far enough to designate some
department within the city or some
authority that would receive that
information and follow up to make sure
that those TIF projects that come forward
with plans actually implement those plans.
And provide data on an ongoing basis to
demonstrate that they are implementing
the plans and that residents of the City of
Pittsburgh are getting some job benefits
and contracting benefits from their tax
dollars.

702

So we need to, perhaps the
administration needs to figure out who is it
within its structure of the administration is
going to follow up on this portion of the
ordinance. There needs to be someone. In
addition to that we may need to amend the
TIF's in order to require that TIF
applicants submit the data to whoever it is
that's going to monitor it. And that
monitoring source needs to be required to
submit periodic reports to Council on the
data that it is receiving from these TIF
applicants. That includes pre-construction,
construction and permanent jobs.

It is not just a question of how
many jobs will be available when you
open the doors, but how many jobs are
created in the pre-construction
professional services. How many jobs are
created in construction itself and how
many jobs are created in the permanent
institution that is built. We have a first
source ordinance and a first source
program but there seems to be nobody in
charge of keeping the records of first
source programming and making sure that
the first source program connects with the
employment program of the TIF
applicants. There needs to be a connection
there, that connection doesn't exist.

I would suggest that the committee
whoever is designated, Councilwoman
McDonald, to monitor this data and report
this data should begin by going back and
kind of a retrospective looking at the TIF's
that have already been approved. See
whether or not their plans have been
complied with the ordinance and then
follow up on new TIF's that are
forthcoming. And I would be glad to
participate in the system in whatever
manner I can, But I thank you for your

eee

leadership on this matter.
Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you. Also I am thankful, I
would like to thank Councilwoman
McDonald for bringing that information
forward.

Colleagues, ] am very excited and
grateful for the amount of projects that
have occurred and the amount of dollars in
terms of development that has happened in
District Three. The Southside, Allentown,
Knoxville and Beltzhoover and hopefully
in the future Arlington and what is
happening in South Oakland. But at the
same time I am mindful that I believe all
neighborhoods should benefit from the
economic development fund, from federal
dollars, from our Urban Redevelopment
Authority and for example some
neighborhoods continue not to show
Progress in terms of development and
Teceiving some of these benefits.

Once again as we have heard from
Councilman Diven, out of the millions and
hundreds of million that have been spent
on economic development in his district,
neighborhoods such as Brookline and
Beechview and Carrick has received only
$86 thousand so something is wrong with
that. Now the administration has stated in
the past well it is deal driven. I think there
is a little more to that. It is actually
targeting and making a commitment to
certain neighborhoods.

For example and I really mean this
in all earnest, I commend Councilman
Hertzberg. Some of the communities that
he represents now have in the past been
not benefited from development and
dollars. Councilman Hertzberg shows up,

703

look at the beautiful development that has
happened in Westwood, the amount of
dollars that have been spent private and
public in those areas. Look at what is
happening in Mount Washington with
those very upscale units that have been put
up and I guess Councilman Hertzberg has
more of the details on it.

But once again I don't want to hear
from the administration it is deal driven
because it is really a commitment by the
administration and the URA to actually
create and explore these deals. It is not
night that some neighborhoods throughout
the City of Pittsburgh probably in the
North Side and East End also, but I can
definitely speak to the ones that
Councilman Diven represents, he's correct
something is dead wrong _ there,
Mr. O'Connor. Taxpayers from Brookline
and Beechview and Carrick I would
venture to say if you look at their property
tax that they are definitely kicking into our
coffers and their coming up short.

So I would support anything by
Councilman Diven because I think he has
to be accountable and responsible to the
taxpayers in his districts and the voters.
And they’re short $86,000. I would like to
know what is going to happen with that
Council District.

Mr. Diven:

First of all, I would like to thank
Mr. Ricciardi for his vote of support. I
would like to point out that we have been
working very hard to get some kind of
investment. I understand that the
administration says that they are deal
driven, but I would like to point out one
concem that I have in regards to our
Executive Director of our URA serving as

rr —————
SSS OOS

in a joint capacity as both city and county
Economic Development Coordinator. We
worked for six months to put together a
meeting where we had business owners
and the landlord's of the business district
along Brookline Boulevard. We brought
them together and we tried to make an
informative seminar to start to build a
consensus as to how we could get
improvements made to that district
including the street face program.

Now I am sure Council is aware
that right now the streetface program is not
something that can be used in a
non-CDBG eligible neighborhood, but
there has been talk from the URA and
from members of the administration of
creating a program and tailoring something
to fill that void. Well when we had this
meeting, I personally talked with Mr. Birru
two times and invited him to this and told
him it was important if he could make it to
the meeting. My office contacted his
office and made sure it was on his
schedule, as well as the community
organizations contacted him and made
sure it was on his schedule. Now when we
had the meeting, he never showed up in
Brookline and he never called and said
that he couldn't make it. I just think that's
unacceptable because we had 60 some
people all who had a vested interest in
improving that business district there
awaiting some guidance from the
administration.

Here was a perfect example of if
they say it is deal driven here was the deal.
We had these people together with the idea
that they wanted to do a. streetface
program. I understand the staff has
worked very hard at the URA. But the
staff cannot stand up and make a
commitment to those business owners and

704

those landlords that yes we will put
together a program to accomplish the goal
of getting the streetface done and that's
just not acceptable. The thing that bothers
me the most is I had the opportunity to talk
to Mr.Birmu the next day at the
groundbreaking ceremony. 1 said I am
disappointed I wish you were there it
would have gone a long way as far as
getting these people together and starting
to build a consensus of how we wanted to
proceed with the streetface. But 1
understand that that was the wrong place
to talk business and I asked him to spare
some time so we could sit down and talk
about this.

It’s now three weeks later and I
still have not received any call or any kind
of notification from him. So if we're
paying him to be the Economic
Development Coordinator for the City of
Pittsburgh and he's off working for the
county at the airport then we have got
seven neighborhoods that don't have
someone championing their cause.
Especially when you have community
organizations that need guidance and need
assistance from the URA to start to put
together these deals. And if not there then
we really need to evaluate whether or not
we're getting the best deal when we talk
about sharing such an important role as an
Economic Development Coordinator.

That's something that I have a
concem with because just out of respect
for a member of Council there should have
been a phone call or a meeting set up very
soon after that conversation that we had.
And to this day we still have not received
any notification from him in trying to build
bridges and put together a team that is
going to come out into my district and
actually work at cultivating the kind of

development that the rest of the city seems
to be getting just a boom in. We haven't
received anything.

So I appreciate Mr. Ricciardi's
comments. I think that having more
support on Council will make it easier and
give the people of the Fourth Council
District the leverage they need to put a
spotlight on and make it a priority. So I
am going to continue to fight. But I did
have to register my disappointment in
really calling the question whether or not
the city's getting the short end of the stick
by sharing an Economic Development
Coordinator with the county and if we
don't have him there when we need him to
development in the city.

Mr, Onorato:

I just want to, I just want to add to
the conversation my perspective of it
because I think there is a piece missing
here. Ido not know who came up with the
term that this is deal driven. As far as I am
concemed what I have leamed my two
terms here on Council, I don't believe it’s
deal driven. I believe its fund driven.

What I say by there are certain
types of dollars that can only to go certain
areas. We all know that CDBG have to go
to census track areas in the city and all of
the city doesn't qualify. You also have
investment credits that apply to certain
areas pending on income levels, which is
great and fine and that's why those dollars
are set aside but the problem the city has is
we take the CDBG dollars. We take the
IRS credit investments and then we say
okay to make the deal work, there is a
piece missing we must put some bond
money in there too.

705

So what is jeft out of the deal are
the neighborhoods that don't qualify for
CDBG federal dollars, that don't qualify
for the IRS Credits. And therefore they
see their bond money being put into the
deals that are driven by the federal and
state dollars and tax credit dollars and the
neighborhoods that are just out there
struggling on their own, don't get the
benefit of any of the money.

1 have been arguing over and over
again that we should maybe start by using
the bond money, which is city bond
money, start in the neighborhoods that
don't qualify for any of the other money. It
is the Brookline, the Beechview, the
Brighton Heights the Squirrel Hills, all
around the city neighborhoods that do not
qualify for these so-called special dollars.
Yet those special dollars are sucking away
the city dollars that could be going to these
other neighborhoods. Somebody has to do
a comprehensive plan and see that we take
care of all these neighborhood. I don't buy
that they are deal driven.

These are dollar driven and the
dollars are dictating where these go and it
is the bird to get away from the areas that
historically have not received it, that have
been on auto pilot and they can't make it
on their own without the infrastructure
being attended to. We just had a debate
what four weeks ago to put $4 million
back into resurfacing the roads. Public
Works has to start refocusing back on the
infrastructure of this city and not worry
about free speech that happens to be on
someone else's right of way.

Mr. Hertzberg:

On the TIF issue, I want to thank
Councilwoman McDonald for stepping up

SSS

and taking on that, and convening the
committee. I heard some interesting
comments yesterday. I was at an SPC,
formally SPRPC, meeting and they were
talking about a proposal for some
legislative amendments. The whole
subject attacks increment financing was of
course given to us by the state legislature.
They set up the perimeters of it and so
there was some discussion about some
possible amendments to the state
legislation.

I guess part of-- one of the
problems is that the school districts give
up whatever they give up in a TIF but then
when the state calculates the state
assistance to that district, they count that in
as if the school district is in fact receiving
it. So that was one of the problems and
there were like six of them.

It was interesting, the Mayor of
McKeesport, Mayor Bendle (phonetic)
brought up another issue that wasn't one of
the legislative packages that seemed like a
very good idea and I thought I would
throw it out for everyone to think about.
He's trying to deal with the same problem
we're talking about where we set up a TIF.
It is paid for out of the real estate taxes and
then people come in and work and they
aren't residents. We are trying to find
ways to make sure they are residents. Why
can't we use the wage taxes generated by
the jobs at these facilities?

I don't believe the legislation
allows you to today, but what if we change
that legislation and you have a company
that comes in and we’re unable to get them
to hire people around here or they hire
some they don't hire the rest. What if the
wage taxes that are generated there are
captured in a TIF and used to pay back the

706

TIF regardless of the residency of the
people that are working there? And not
only the wage tax that would be payable to
the local municipality, what about the state
income tax that is generated by the new
jobs created by this TIF? So there was a
couple of what I thought were good ideas
that would help out with some of these
TIF's so it is not completely the real estate
taxes that we're giving up out of our
general operating fund when we set up
these TIF's.

Ms. McDonald:

Hopefully this will be the last so
we can move on. I appreciate all the
comments. I appreciate Councilman
Hertzberg's comments that will be looked
into.

The one thing that when you spoke
of School Board. Understand that the
School Board also has TIF legislation that
is a slightly different but not much from
the City of Pittsburgh. And in the TIF
committee what we did is or what the
URA had done is generated all the
requirements for that the city has passed in
terms of its ordinance. Then the School
Board as well as the county and dotted
each one as to what has to be done, what
has to be fulfilled in terms of the ordinance
requirement for each legislative body. So
it is almost like a checklist, like a punch
list. And what I had asked at the last TIF
committee meeting if they could combine
that so that it would be clear. So it
wouldn't be redundant where we are on
board fine just have that as one line item
and where we differ, make sure we
delineate those.

The School Board particularly was
quite vocal at the last TIF committee

meeting about the lack of communication
that it seems as though the city operates or
the deal is made and then they are
supposed to go along with it. This is why I
think the committee was extremely
efficient in terms of the dialogue because
we needed to hear that information. We
needed to hear their frustrations. We need
to hear the county's as well so we are all
on board with this.

So again this is a wonderful
opportunity for all governmental bodies to
talk to one another about their revenues
and we will be dealing with that. The
School Board is going to be considering
legislation that restricts their even passing
any TIF legislation if they have not
received adequate communication and that
will be very clear as terms of what is
needed for them to make an informed
decision. And again everyone has to be on
the same page.

In terms of Councilman Udin's
concem that is part of the TIF legislation
and we did discuss that. We discussed
employment, monitoring and backtracking.
When you come to the next meeting, you
will be pleased to hear that we have looked
into that. I had asked for them to come
back and set up a system so that we can
find out where are the jobs in terms of
Pittsburgh residents who got the jobs,
minorities, and etceteras. It will be done
by zip code and they are looking into
different tracking systems. We also are
dealing with the legalities of mandating a
private entity prior to the TIF legislation.

You see a lot of these TIF's were
already grandfathered. So these are
basically good faith efforts from the TIF
committee to encourage the developer
even though they are not required to give

707

us this information to still give us this
information and work with us to generate
jobs for Pittsburghers.

So again there will be report back
on tracking mechanism, who monitors
this? All those questions that you just
asked were asked at that TIF committee
meeting and will be addressed at the next
one, It should be probably a long meeting
again but these meetings are anticipated to
be oh, ] would say substantive until a lot of
things are worked out.

So again these are things that are
already being addressed and I look forward
to Council members being at the next
meeting to address any other concems or
questions that they may have that they may
not have communicated thus far. So again
that's basically it for the TIF. I am tired of
talking about TIF.

The Chair:

Thank you for that report. But also
if I follow up with the TIF. This week we
will have you put out an RFP to hire
outside evaluators to evaluate our TIF
where we have been, where we're going to
go. We will have recommendations of
Council. We're meeting now. Scott
Kunka is evaluating it. He's meeting with
the URA to make a recommendation to
Council. So that everyone will have input
before we make a final decision.

Also we want to take it to the
School Board and being involved with the
URA we will have county input too. So I
think that's very important. I can elaborate
for quite a while on what has been said
from what Mr. Udin mentioned about the
job follow up. I would expect this
evaluation to do that for us. But we

SeSe=a==nN—=s=>=qoao eee

certainly can't wait. I think it is a
day-to-day business decision that we make
sure those jobs are evaluated and are
working.

The key thing is the TIF working
and J understand and I don't have the chart
in front of me I meant to bring it down.
Ms. McDonald, what you said there are
three different view points of how the TIF
is working, the city, the School Board and
the county all have different ideas and are
different guidelines and we certainly have
to all be on the same page.

There are two LTV programs right
now that the School Board has questions
about. So I don't think we're going to go
anywhere the way it is now until we solve
these problems. So it is very, very
important that we get to the bottom.

Ms. McDonald:

I have one more thing. I look
forward to that. I applaud your leadership
in trying to direct Council into what is the
best policy for TIF's and where are we at
now, basically a checkpoint system. We
need that and the sooner the better.

In response to Councilman Diven I
do have to come to Dr. Birmu's aide at this
time. We have beaten up on Mulugetta
Birru endlessly because he's not in these
Council chambers except on Wednesday.
He tends to keep a low profile. He's not
very loud and vocal. He's not a politico so
to speak like us. But in all fairness if
they’re under the committee that I have
been assigned, if they’re serious concerns
about the efficiency, efficacy of
development that is going on in a Council
District, just do myself and Dr. Birru and
Councilman Hertzberg who is a URA

708

board member the courtesy of letting us
know. I will be more than happy to
convene a private meeting so we can air
everything out, get all of our frustrations
out. Dr. Birru can be there, whomever you
want and get it straightened out there.

It really doesn't make -- just doesn't
make me feel like a good policy maker to
always have to bash a person and nothing
ever gets done except a lot more tension, a
lot more animosity, hostility. I would
rather -- my philosophy is you get more
flies with honey than with vinegar. So
let’s let me be able to convene a meeting
between Councilman Diven, Councilman
Ricciardi, whoever has problems with the
development in their district, I should say
the lack of development that they perceive,
and speak with Dr. Birru as well as any
other representatives that you feel are
necessary at that meeting. So that we can
possibly come to some resolution or at
least some middle ground.

I think you will find that even
though Dr. Birru works for the city and
county he is not the commissioner and he
is not the Mayor. The reality is that the
Mayor and the commissioners set their
agenda. It's their political will as to what
goes on in what district that's the bottom
line. And Dr. Birm is very good at
fulfilling those policies, those missions. If
there is development that is targeted for a
certain area, believe me that is the political
will of the Mayor or commissioners or
both. If it is not happening instead of
directing the hostility or the frustration at
the Executive Director, I would rather the
Executive Director come forward and talk
very clearly and candidly as to what their
assignments have been, what their
missions are, what their personal feeling
are? Maybe it differs from the Mayor or

SS
EeSC=alkj=olo SS eee

the commissioners. But again I would
rather just to have a meeting of sorts to air
it out, a private meeting. That's how it is
done.

Mr. Diven:

I just want to -- I want to thank
Councilwoman McDonald _ because
definitely I will follow up on this and your
help in this matter would be greatly
appreciated. But I would like to say that I
have been here a year and a half now.

I have had a number of
conversations with the Mayor. I have had
a number of conversations with Tom Cox.
I had a number of conversations with
Mulu and his staff and even regarding this
meeting I had a number of conversations
with staff people that I have seen during
Council business and told them that I was
upset. I wanted to speak with Mr. Birru
and the only thing that I have to state is
you can talk until you're blue in the face, it
comes to a point where it's almost like the
more you bad mouth the administration the
more you get out of them. I didn't set that
policy.

I am just learning the rules of
Council here and my thing is if that's what
it takes, if the squeaky wheel gets the
grease, I mean I am more than happy to be
a team player. I have tried to be a team
player and I have talked and I have talked
and I haven't seen any results. I get
comments like oh we're going to get
around to it, or we're going to do this. I
have seven neighborhoods that I represent.
I can no longer afford to be as patient as
some people would like. If it takes yelling
and screaming, then that's what J was
elected to do. But I would rather work
quietly and work with you and J appreciate
the offer to be a part of helping to build

709

those kind of bridges that are going to
make development in this district more of
a chance of happening. I appreciate your
offer to be a part of that.

But just from what I have seen in a
year and a half, the squeaky wheel gets the
grease, and if that means standing up on a
soap box and berating the administration
then that is something as a Council
member I have to do.

Ms. McDonald:

Thank you. I thank you for your
patience and thank you for at least being
amenable to a meeting. We will see, I
think we will get some where.

Mr. Diven:
Thank you.
The Chair:

I guess you have been keeping an
eye on those two veterans, Ferlo and
Ricciardi. 1 believe there are some
frustrations and if it can't be done in a
private meeting, we may have to call a
Post Agenda to air everyone’s concems
out. Especially Brookline, Beechview, I
have neighborhoods, quite a few of us
have neighborhoods, who have been
neglected so we have to address that
whether it be how to find the funding or
where the bottom line is, but especially the
neighborhoods that are paying the taxes.

Now move
committees.

to reports of

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1566:

Report of the Committee on Planning,
Zoning and Land Use for April 21, 1999
transmitting two resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1312:

Resolution providing for the
designation as a Historic Structure under
Section 513 of Chapter 1007 of the Code of
Ordinances that certain structure located at
141 Mayflower Street, and all of the
property designated as Block and Lot
Number 124-N-095, in the Twelfth Ward,

City of Pittsburgh. ---(COUNCIL
DISTRICT NO. 9)
Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1490:
Resolution authorizing and

directing the Directors of the Departments
of Engineering and Construction and City
Planning, and the Public Parking Authority,
to conduct a traffic and parking study of
Brookline Blvd. between Pioneer Avenue
and Queensboro Avenue to examine
improving the availability of parking within
the business district. The Report is due
within 60 days. —-(SPONSORED BY MR.
DIVEN)

Which was read.

The Chair:

710

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills? Hearing none, bills are now
ready for final action. All in favor of the
passage of the bills vote aye when your
names are called; all those opposed vote
no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald
Mr. Onorato Mr. Udin
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)
AYES Seven NOES None

Bills have received the legally required
number of votes and have passed finally.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1567:
Report of the Committee on Housing,
Economic Development and Promotion
for April21, 1999, transmitting one
resolution to Council.
Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1514:

Resolution approving the Eastgate

Redevelopment Proposal, Council District
No. 9.

ee
SSS SS

Which was read.
The Chair:

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. COHEN PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1568:

Report of the Committee on Lands,
Buildings and Procurement for April 21,
1999, transmitting sundry of resolutions to
Council.

Which was read, received and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 1486:

Resolution amending Resolution
Number 25, effective February 11, 1999,
authorizing a Cooperation Agreement or
Agreements which provides for the
transfer of funds not to exceed Four
Hundred Eighty Three Thousand
($483,680.00) Dollars to the City of
Pittsburgh Equipment Leasing Authority
for the purchase of vehicles, radios and
equipment for use by City of Pittsburgh
Departments and Authorities, by
increasing the total allocation by Two
Hundred Twenty Five Thousand
($225,000.00) Dollars.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1487:

Resolution amending Resolution
Number 40, effective February 18, 1999,
providing for an agreement or agreements,
or use of existing Agreements and/or
Contract or Contracts, or use of existing
Contracts, and for the purchase of
materials, supplies and equipment and/or
services in connection with the
Renovations and Maintenance of Various
Public Buildings and elevators; and
providing for the payment of the costs
thereof by decreasing the total allocation
by Fifteen Thousand Two Hundred
($15,200.00) Dollars.

Which was read.

Also,
Bill No. 1488:

Resolution amending Resolution
Number 26, effective February 11, 1999,

authorizing a Cooperation Agreement or
Agreements which provides for the

transfer of funds not to exceed Three
Million, Seven Hundred Sixty Five
Thousand ($3,765,000.00) Dollars to the
City of Pittsburgh Equipment Leasing
Authority for the purchase of vehicles,
radios and equipment for use by City of
Pittsburgh Departments and Authorities,
by decreasing the total allocation by One
Million Seventy Five ($1,075,000.00)
Dollars.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when their names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally required
number of votes and have passed finally.

MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1569:

Report of the Committee on Public Safety
Services for April 21, 1999, transmitting
one resolution to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1491:

Resolution providing for the
advertisement for proposals and to award
and enter into an agreement(s),
professional service agreement(s), and/or
contract(s) or use existing agreement(s),
professional service agreement(s), and/or
contract(s) for Radio System Equipment,
to include upgrades to the City’s existing
radio infrastructure, for the purchase of
equipment, supplies, communication,
hardware, software, training, professional
services, and maintenance. The total cost
of the purchases will not exceed
$207,500.00.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills? The bills are now ready for final
action all in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.
The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were.

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald
Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

712

————————————
eee

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)
AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally required
number of votes and have passed finally.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1570:

Report of the Committee on Engineering
and Construction for April21, 1999,
transmitting two resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1492:

Resolution providing for a
Contract or Contracts, or use of existing
Contacts and/or an Agreement or
Agreements, or use of existing
Agreements and for the purchase of
equipment, materials and supplies in
connection with the Rehabilitation and
Repairs of Various Pools, including but
not limited to McBride Pool; at a cost not
to exceed $265,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1493:

Resolution providing for a
Contract or Contracts, or use of existing
Contracts and/or an Agreement or
Agreements, or use of existing
Agreements in connection with the Bridge
Inspection and Maintenance Program; at a
cost not to exceed $85,000.00.

713

Which was read.
The Chair:

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

The Chair:

Thank you now moves to motions
and resolutions.

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes, thank you very much,
Mr. President and colleagues. Colleagues,
as everyone knows the City of Pittsburgh
in general and South Oakland in particular
has witnessed an increase in graffiti
throughout South Oakland especially the

eee
eee

Bates Street corridor, graffiti, the
destruction of public and private property.
As you recall from information that was
gathered, supplied by the community, Mr.
O'Connor and Mr. Ferlo, I had an
opportunity to follow up on what occurred
down at the city court. Let me report to
you,

I think City Chief Magistrate
Simmons did a marvelous job. We had
two individuals from the University of
Pittsburgh, one age 18 and one by the age
of 19. And they were using magic markers
not even spray paint cans, but just magic
markers. He was very firm and he got his
point across.

I was there in court. They have to
paint the entire building, number one.
They had to plea to disorderly conducts,
number two. They had a fine of 300 plus
dollars each of them and number four,
community service. And this was just
individuals with magic markers. Now I
will say in the defense of these two
university students, they were really
caught up in something that they just didn't
tealize.

They were very remorseful, they
asked for forgiveness, they made their
apologies and they did fine work cleaning
up their mess. They were just coming
from a party and they happened to have a
magic marker and they thought they were
going to write their names. But now with
the support of Mayor Tom Murphy and
Deputy Mayor Sal Sirabella, the police
officers have been very diligent and
looking out for the real vandalism actors
and I think we found two of them over the
weekend on Sunday. And once again
Chief Magistrate did a wonderful great job
with individuals that used markers.

714

Here we have two individuals, two
juveniles one 17 years of age, one 16, one
from Bethel Park, one from West Mifflin.
On a Sunday moming at 8:50 a.m. a police
officer came about these individuals. One
was actually wearing a spray paint mask
on his face. Had a mask on his face. So
obviously the police officer followed up
on questioning. Noticed that he had paint
on his fingers. From there he was
searched. He had a spray can paint
canister in this pocket. They opened up
the duffel bag and there were twenty-three
cans of spray paint, twenty-three cans.

Now here we have two juveniles
on a Sunday morning. They should be
spending time with their families, maybe
attending a religious service, maybe doing
some reading, watching TV, even
sleeping, but instead they decided to come
to the City of Pittsburgh on the Eliza trail
and vandalize public property. I think its
PennDot property. I mean that's just
unbelievable.

First of all the waste of their time,
their effort if they have any talents in terms
of art and a waste of money. I just can't
phantom all of these variables. I just can't
picture getting up Sunday morning making
your way to the City of Pittsburgh either
by public transportation or by car and then
spending 300 plus dollars to vandalize
someone’s property.

Here is what I am saying. Now I
am going to follow these cases through,
Mr. O'Connor, and you helped me with the
last cases. Unfortunately, and I will have
to get some help probably from some of
our attorneys on staff here, but on our
legislative body, Mr. Cohen,
Mr. Hertzberg and Mr. Onorato because

—EESe6sanpaaaqhao ee

now I am in juvenile court. 1 am hoping
and I am going to make sure that the
Masters and I think they're considered
Masters there. I am not sure if they are
considered judges or CP's but make sure
the Masters give out firm discipline and
punishment.

I mean if someone with a magic
marker received that kind of punishment
from a Chief Magistrate I think the good
people in Oakland will want to make sure
that these people, these two individuals if
found guilty, obviously if found guilty,
should receive even more so. And I am
making a commitment to the South
Oakland community that I will be there in
juvenile court. That these individuals will
be properly punished and embarrassed,
they will receive community service, they
need to pay for the destruction they
performed to city and PennDot property
and they're going to make sure they pay the
cost, because these are the real graffiti
vandals in the City of Pittsburgh. Two
individuals, 23 cans of paint, a Sunday
morning wearing a paint spray mask I
guess in order to protect their lungs from
the odors and from what comes out of the
spray cans, but once again it is just a
shame,

I thank the media for following up
on the first job, because it sent a good
message but I think you would agree, Mr.
O'Connor, because you helped me in the
Oakland area, these two kids, if found
guilty these two children have to pay the
price.

One more caveat to this, I am
asking our Solicitor to see if the parents
can be held responsible also criminally and
here’s the reason. If the parents
transported these two juveniles to the City

715

of Pittsburgh, they should have asked what
is in the duffel bag? What is in the bag?
Where are you going Sunday momming? So
I am going to follow up on this. If the
parents transported these young juveniles
to the City of Pittsburgh I am going to
follow up criminally if they can be held
Tesponsible for this vandalism to our
property. Thank you.

The Chair:

It really amazes me, eight o'clock
in the morning on a Sunday moming but
Oakland is really being _ targeted
unfortunately. So we certainly thank you
and the police department for really
watching that. I mean kids carrying duffel
bags with spray masks. We have to get to
the bottom of this, because Oakland is a
treasure that we can't let this proceed. I
recall the Columbus Statue terrible, what
was done there, and took 20, $30,000 to
fix it so just a joking matter with these
kids are pranksters.

Mr. Onorato:

On the same issue. I want to just
chime in with Councilman Ricciardi and
thank the police for some great work. But,
Councilman Ricciardi, if I could have your
attention one second. I wish I could give
him better news. My experience with the
juvenile justice system has been a joke.

As you all recall there was a
playground that was burned a year and a
half ago and we actually caught the
individual, it was a juvenile. I could tell
you as far as ] am concemed and I am an
attorney, Councilman, but I could tell you
as far as I am concemed, the juvenile court
systems in America basically stand for do
whatever you want. Get away with it and

laugh at the system because this individual
we're not allowed to show the name, there
wasn't a severe punishment and the parents
were only limited to liability based on state
statute. It is a disgrace. I think that the
punishment should fit the crime. We no
longer live in the world of the 1950's.
This is 1999 and what you just
experienced last week in Colorado to these
types of acts, there is no punishment any
More to juveniles. There is no
Tesponsibility or result or effect of what
they do. I think that is a shame.

The best thing we can do for our
kids in this country, in this city is to send a
signal that there is a punishment if you are
caught and found guilty for doing stuff like
this. Now what do we send, you read in
the papers someone was arrested and that
is it. You won't know who did it. You
won't know what the punishment is and no
one knows that anyone paid the price for
it. So what are the young kids hearing,
they must have got away with it, this is
great. I can continue to do it. That's the
teal problem.

I feel sorry for the police. They go
out and do their job and they never see the
end result. They see these kids back on
the street in three weeks later laughing at
them spray painting the same thing or
burning the same playground or destroying
whatever else they want to destroy. I
would like to participate with Councilman
Ricciardi through the system on this one
because I have some experience through
the juvenile court system on vandalism in
my district. I would be more than happy to
speak up in front of the judge and to
explain why we think it is necessary to go
public? Why we think it is necessary to
have some public humiliation, some public
punishment, because there is a benefit to

716

society to sending a signal that you can't
get away with this. These kids are
laughing at us right now and they're not
kids, these are just young punks that are
out there destroying public property. I
mean the vast majority of the kids are
good but they are all being tamished now
that all kids are bad because of these bad
ones get away with it.

Mr. Udin:

Just another point. I would like to
have Mr. Ricciardi while he's checking on
this prosecution to check to see whether or
not these youth have vandalized West
Mifflin and Bethel Park where they live?
If they vandalized those communities and
just ran out of space, maybe they are just
addicted and they need help. But if they
have left those communities nice and
pristine and clean, and decided to come to
Pittsburgh to vandalize then it is a
different subject. I hope Mr. Ricciardi will
find out whether or not they have been
vandalizing in Bethel Park.

Ms. McDonald:

Ditto those remarks. Thank you
Councilman Udin. Different subject.

University of Pittsburgh. I want to
make a motion for Council as a body to
submit a letter to the University of
Pittsburgh’s Board of Trustees urging
them to at least have a meeting with the
students who are on the hunger strike. To
discuss the same sex health benefit issue
that has been in the paper just about every
day with the University of Pittsburgh. My
point is this, it is one thing to take a stand
on an issue, its another where there tends,
where there seems to be in the public
forum this arrogance that the very people,

the very entities that are part of the
foundation of the University of Pittsburgh
that you don't even see fit to need to meet
with or wouid even want to meet with.
Even though they have been on a hunger
strike for what, 12 days now, I think they
have made their point. All they're asking
for is a meeting, a meeting.

That would be like someone out
there we're public officials, we're elected
officials, what happens if our constituents
maybe five of them went on a hunger
strike because they couldn't meet with us?
I think the public would crucify us and
rightfully so. We would deserve to be
crucified for something like that.

So again I.am urging Council as a
body and I am making a formal motion
whether you want to vote or not because I
am going to send a letter myself asking
and urging the Board of Trustees to stop
the nonsense for right now. At least meet,
do these people a little bit of dignity and
meet with them to discuss this issue. If
this is what they want, I don't see a lot of
sweat and equity being generated to do
this.

I don't see what the problem is. I
meet with people every day, every day.
And the institution that I love, that I am an
alumnus of, that I am on the alumni board
of trustees engaging with many other
people who adamantly support the
University of Pittsburgh but are so
disappointed. So dismayed at the fiasco
that is going on that is going along in this
public media that they won't meet with
kids, students who are on a hunger strike
and that's all they want is a meeting.

I wish the Board of Trustees would
understand this, that is the foundation. If

117

the foundation starts to crumble, you may
think that they're little people, little peons,
whatever you want think of them as, but if
your foundation starts to show cracks, and
crumble eventually that foundation will
disintegrate. And the whole building is
toppled and it only takes a little bit of
seepage, just a little bit of seepage, in a
foundation to cause a problem. As a
University wants to build, wants to expand
it needs to engage the support of the
community. I think this is the wrong way
to go about it.

I really wish someone would get in
there and give the board you know lesson
number 101 in PR this is not the way to
build a coalition, this is not the way to
build community support. The least they
can do is meet with these students and
discuss very candidly the issues and if they
disagree that's another issue, but at least to
have a meeting with them. That's my
responsibility as a public official and the
university is a public body. It is a state
funded public body. I think that there is
some obligation there is some kind of way.

I formally make a motion to submit
a letter on behalf of Council urging the
Board of Trustees of the University of
Pittsburgh to meet with the students of the
University of Pittsburgh conceming the
issue that they are on strike about.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion for
discussion.

Mr. Cohen:

I want to thank Councilwoman
McDonald for bringing this up. I will
gladly second the motion. What is
happening over there at the University of
Pittsburgh is truly a shame.

First of all, it's a shame that the
Board of Trustees of the university has
taken a stand against an equal rights
amendment for all people. It's incredible
to me. It is beyond belief that a university
that is supposed to be an institution of
higher learning has taken such a low road
by opposing an equal rights amendment
that this Council passed. That I introduced
along with other members of this Council,
we passed it in 1990 as an equal rights
amendment for people of sexual
orientation and the university is saying that
there should not be equal rights.

That issue aside, for the trustees
not to meet with these students is in my
view irresponsible. They have a fortress
like mentality over there when in fact the
students are their constituents. They’re
probably the major group of constituents
for the university. Let's hope it is. The
university is intended to be for the
students. They are giving the impression,
Jay Ray Connelly let's take a person, the
Chairman of the Board, is giving the
impression that he's embarrassed by his
own position. That's the impression that
we're getting. That he's taken a position
he's so steadfast and he's not going to want
to talk about it, he doesn't want to talk
about it to anyone.

Well as Councilwoman McDonald
said she's absolutely right, it receives
public money. They have constituencies
like the students, like the faculty senate
that voted overwhelmingly against the
trustees position and over time I said this a
couple of weeks ago, I am absolutely
convinced that over time the steady
drumbeat of opposition is going to cause
the University to change its position. A
position, which is backward and it is

718

irresponsible, that I am absolutely
convinced of. But for the board to not
meet with students who are risking their
own lives really is irresponsible. At the
same time that we should be urging the
board to meet with the students and
people, some people may get angry with
me for saying this; 1 would at the same
time urge the students to stop this hunger
strike.

1 admire their courage, what
they’re doing is practicing civil
disobedience, which is a long tradition in
our country. I admire their courage. But
at the same time if someone were to get ill
or to die over this, it would be just a
terrible tragedy. I would hope that the
students would stop this hunger strike. I
am with them 100% on the issue but it has
gone on too long now. We're in the 15th
day and I am very, very concemed that
someone is going to get seriously hurt.
But the university needs to do the right
thing.

First of all they need to do the right
thing and stop opposing the equal rights
amendment. But secondly for goodness
sake, at least meet with your own
constituents, including constituents who
pay your bills. So I whole-heartedly
support Councilwoman McDonald's
resolution.

The Chair:
Discussion on the resolution?

You want to vote on the resolution.
All in favor?

Which motion prevailed.

Mr. Hertzberg:

ee
eee

Thank you Mr. President. A
couple of topics. First I got an unfortunate
situation in Council District Two. 1 am
going to ask that everyone, Council help
and for all the city to help.

An application was filed for an
occupancy permit at an address on West
Carson Street and the application stated
that it was an application for a banquet
facility. It sounded very legitimate and the
Bureau of Building Inspection signed off
on the application. They have not yet
issued an occupancy permit. But in the
next couple of months what came forward
was advertisement in some of these
pomographic publications that this is
going to be the new nude-dancing place in
the area and inviting people to come. In
fact some of the people are telling me May
first is going to be the grand opening day.

This is located on West Carson
Street. It's right next to a facility known as
the Onala Club which is a facility that's
been a historically an excellent facility for
those that are at dependent on alcohol.
That place has helped thousands of people
and right next door now there are some
people that are playing a big time cat and
mouse game with our Bureau of Building
Inspection and with me. And I am not
going to take kindly to it. And I am going
to use everything legally that can be used
to stop this.

So if they want to run a legitimate
banquet facility, that's fine. I think they
picked a very poor spot with 20 parking
spaces on West Carson Street, a four lane
undivided highway type of road to have a
banquet facility doesn't make much sense
to me. But they want to try to run a nude-
dancing place out of there, I am going to

719

do everything legally within my power and
I am asking everyone in Council District
Two and throughout the city they’re going
to try to play this cat and mouse game.
They're going to try to open it up as a
banquet facility and that's the predicament
we're in.

If they are going to insist that that
is what they're doing there, we may have
to issue the occupancy permit. If they are
going to be completely legal, have all the
fire code work done and everything else
that they have to do under the code, we are
going to have to give them an occupancy
permit. Then it is going to be up to us to
watch what is actually happening there.
And that's why I am calling on everyone to
keep their eyes open on that facility and
report what is really happening there. If it
is not what they're trying to fool us into
believing this is going to happen there.

Another topic is the Pittsburgh
Penguins and I just want to report on some
of the mail I have been receiving and I
have been receiving a lot of mail about the
Penguins. I have a basic save the Penns. 1
have a letter I am writing in the hopes that
someone will do something to help keep
the Penguins in Pittsburgh. I am begging
and pleading that the city starts to do
something to make sure that this team
stays put. There was much talk when the
Pirates were going to leave but there has
been little if any talk about the Penguins.
And another piece of mail talking about
the effort of that team over the weekend.
And telling us you're going to do
everything you can do to save the city's
hockey team.

I tell you what if you have been

watching that team, boy you have a
courageous group on the ice down one

a Ew OOO

game to none, to New Jersey Devils, the
leading team in the division. They are the
8th position in the division and they came
back strong on the next game in New
Jersey. Came back here to Pittsburgh we
are down by a goal going into the third
period, came back and one that game, they
are missing their best player Jaromir Jagr.
I mean they have done a lot to make us
proud this year, and they have done a lot to
make us proud in the past years.

So I have circulated something,
which I am hoping may be a way to end
the predicament that the Penguins find
themselves in. The team is in bankruptcy.
Mario Lemieux has submitted the only
plan that would take the team out of
bankruptcy and there is a major hindrance
though to making that plan go through and
that is the lease that is held by SMG
associates. It is a lease that is costing the
team at least five million dollars a year,
much higher than any professional hockey
team can afford to pay and make it work
financially.

I have asked if the power of
eminent domain can be used to condemn
the lease. The response that I am getting is
that it probably can. However, it is the
Auditorium Authority that would be the
(inaudible) in that kind of scenario. There
is also some question I think depending on
who you are on what the just
compensation would be. I guess the worse
case you just basically be buying out SMG
for what their future profits would be
brought to a present value. But there are
also some who would argue that it is not
that simple. Particularly with the
uncertainty that is out there today with
whether the Penguins may or may not be
here in the next years, that you can't just
look at the profit that SMG has been

720

making this year and last year and project
it into the future. That there is an
unknown to throw into that element in
determining what the fair market value is.

But at any rate, I understand that
there are finally going to be discussions
and I would agree those discussions should
be private between SMG and Mario
Lemieux's group. J am just hopeful that
they are successful but at the same time I
think we are going to have to be prepared
to take whatever action is necessary here
to try to break this up and try to keep this
team in Pittsburgh.

Mr. Cohen:

I want to thank Councilman
Hertzberg for bringing this up. I don't
agree that we need to move forward on
eminent domain at this time but I certainly
agree with Councilman Hertzberg. This is
an incredibly important issue, that our goal
has to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh but
also at the statement to make sure that they
are in the hands of financially strong and
operationally stable group of owners.

The Public Auditorium Authority
is on top of this. A lot of it is taking place
behind the scenes. We have been really
prodding both sides. The SMG on the one
side and Mario Lemieux group on the
other to meet and negotiate and try to
Teach an agreement first. At that point I
think it is the right point for the city and
the county through the auditorium
authority to step in and make this happen.
Unfortunately the lawyers keep
heightening the rhetoric. There is really an
escalation of words out there and I don't
think it’s very productive frankly. I think
both sides need to lower the rhetoric and
work there way through this.

=Se6=laq0—efe00 oe

With respect to eminent domain or
condemning the lease, it certainly is an
option that is out there. But with all do
respect, I don't think it's an option that we
should be exercising at this point. Number
one. we don't have the money. It would be
a very expensive proposition. But number
two, I just think it’s too extreme for the
moment. I think it's one option that we
should hold in abeyance unless and until
it’s necessary to keep it out there. But I
don't think that now is the time. Hopefully
SMG and the Mario group will come to
some terms.

I know, Councilman O'Connor,
you have been involved in this. And
hopefully that will happen soon in which
case I think the Auditorium Authority can
help to mediate and can help to get the job
done. But at the moment, I think it's
important to have those two sides sit down
and meet in private and negotiate and
come to terms. If they can't then I think
we need to step in with more extreme
measures.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Maybe today is not the day but I
will tell you its getting a little too close for
comfort here with this thing. There is a
hearing on Friday on the Lemieux plan. I
imagine what they will probably do is have
a hearing but not rule on it and maybe
have another hearing later. It has just been
going on for too long. The NHL is
concerned and they should be about where
this is all going to stand next year. I mean
they have to start planning for the next
year very soon so that you know maybe
not today. But I will tell you what we're
going to have to start thinking about it if
nothing happens.

721

Mr. Cohen:

I agree with you. We had an
Executive Session and a public meeting of
the Auditorium Authority yesterday. This
was certainly a major point of discussion
in the Executive Session as it has been
every week. We meet every week and so I
agree with you it's very timely. I think the
NHL action frankly is a tactic as they want
to see the Mario group come into
ownership. It's a tactic that they're allowed
to use of course. So it is certainly very
timely.

I would like to see SMG and the
Mario group sit down and see if they can
come to terms. That has not happened yet
and it will happen very shortly.

The Chair:

I think a lot has happened in the
last couple of days. I believe you are
correct. SMG and the Mario group have
to solve their problems. What concerns
me and I spoke with you yesterday and I
sent a letter off to the Mayor and the
Commissioners and I think the Mayor is
busy, the Commissioners are busy, the
Auditorium Authority certainly has a lot
going on with the convention center and
the two new stadiums. I believe that if this
doesn't work by the end of the week, the
Mayor and the Commissioners along with
your input should appoint a mediator that
is going to wake up tomorrow moming
and worry about the penguins on all of our
behalf, the City of Pittsburgh. That has to
happen.

We can't loose this team. There are
a lot of things I can sit here and defend
SMG too, because don't forget they lent

ee
a oS

Baldwin the money, it is not just a
$6 million rent. They lent the team the
money to buy it and be where they are al.
So all these things have to be considered.
There has to be fair consideration for
everyone but if the team leaves everyone
looses. So these are intelligent business
people | think getting in a room, they just
have to keep pounding it out. We did it
with the Pirates. We did it with the
Convention Center. We did it with Plan
B, to everyone's credit but I think time is
getting a little shorter than we may realize.
And it is time I think for the Mayor to step
in if he himself can't do it on an hour by
hour basis, and with all do respect he can't,
he has a very busy schedule. There are a
lot of things to do besides the Penguins.

I would recommend that he and
Mr. Dawida and with your Auditorium
Authority appoint a mediator to really
there is a lot of talented people in this city
that would be glad to jump in and solve
this problem or help solve it. I would urge
him. JI sent that letter yesterday and 1
spoke to a few council members. I think it
is not just on my behalf, but representing
all the people of the city and region. We're
all of a sudden getting a lot of mail and J
believe what you said, look what that team
just did over the weekend.

The game today I believe is sold
out and that’s without Jagr being able to
play. So if they would only go to the
Stanley Cup whether you are a hockey fan
or not, it certainly means a lot of money
and interest in this city. It’s a great event.
We went through Superbowls, we went
through World Series, we went through
Stanley Cups. To lose that benefit because
of a small lease that can't be worked out
would be a tragedy. So I urge everyone
involved to roll up their sleeves and bring

722

it back together and get it resolved
quickly.

Any other subjects? You guys
have delayed this meeting quite a while. |
want to mush this a little bit. I have a few
things to talk about. We want to let Mr.
Cohen probably leave early today because
he has an acceptance speech to write. He
is being honored as a person of the year in
Squirrel Hill tonight at Poli's. I believe it
is a sell out event and well deserved. You
share Squirrel Hill with me and I thank
him for his leadership and partnership.
But before you Councilmembers we are
going to write a resolution for Mr. Cohen
and we want to make sure it is very good
and very thorough, so if you want to help
me this aftemoon I would appreciate that.

Mr. Cohen:

May I -- do I get a point of personal
privilege to interrupt? Only to say that I
follow in the right footsteps and that is that
you won this award a couple of years ago.
If there is anything bad in that resolution, I
am going to get back at you.

The Chair:

Well there certainly wouldn't be
anything negative, no roasting type thing.
Council would never do anything like that
to Mr. Cohen I don't think.

We have to keep it clean, because
he has a couple little kids coming.

Mr. Cohen:
Kids aren't coming.

The Chair:
We can race it up a little bit then.

SSO

Also tonight at five thirty we have a ribbon
cutting at Sterrett Playground, three of us
share that district with Valerie McDonald.
1 want to congratulate actually Val and
Sala for their leadership on freedom
comer. Sunday was a spectacular event. |
know everyone on Council most of us
attended. It was a great afternoon.

Today is Literacy Day. Take time
out and read with your children, your
friends. I know Council, all of us, are
going to different schools to visit. I think
again we want to congratulate the School
Board on their initiative and for all of us to
support that.

One serious note, I might want to
mention though, I have been getting a lot
of requests about the paving. It looks like
it is top secret what streets are being paved
and what aren't. I would recommend we
send a letter from all of us requesting that
at least we get our Council Districts so that
we know at least we can second and
hopefully support all of the streets that are
being done and add to what may need to
be done. I don't know why it has to be top
secret. But certainly no one knows their
neighborhoods better than Council
members so I think it would be very
beneficial to have input especially since
Mr. Onorato put an extra $4 million with
Council's support to double the paving.

I think they owe us that to at least
give us the list. So, 1 would request a
letter sent over the Mayor's office attention
I guess --

Mr. Onorato:
The rumor on the street is paving

will start in three weeks after the sign
removal teams are put back from paving.

723

The Chair:

We do have two post agenda this
week, Wednesday, tomorrow at two
o'clock discussing the Y2K for the city and
Thursday Ms. McDonald has the
discussion on the MBE/WBE financial
opportunities. They will both be cablecast
but J want to make a motion to cable cast
the Y2K tomorrow. 1 don't believe that's
been done.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

I would like a motion to approve
the minutes.

MR. COHEN moved to approve the
minutes.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Motion to excuse the absent
member. Mr. Ferlo is out of town and will

be back tomorrow I believe.

MR. COHEN moved to excuse the absent
member.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. COHEN moved to adjoum the
meeting.

lO
MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.

And on the motion of Mr. Cohen, the
meeting adjourned.

MUNICIPAL RECORD
Du
Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
eens of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh

VOL. CXXXTT

May 4, 1999

No. 18

Municipal Record

SS
—o ===

ONE-HUNDRED

THIRTIETH COUNCIL
BOB O'CONNOR President
LINDA M. JOHN: .». City Clerk
JOHN R. MASCIO .......00 Deputy City Clerk
Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday, May 4, 1999
PRESENT:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato
Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin
Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor
Ms. McDonald (Pres't)

The Chair:

All please rise for the pledge of
allegiance and remain standing for a
moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the world.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.

The Chair:

Thank you. We have many special
guests in the audience.

PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Diven:

At this time I would like to call up
Ms.Kathy Rimlinger who is the
Coordinator of the Holiday Project for
CYS, Children Youth Services and her
group, all the officers that are involved.

This is one of those proclamations
where I think it's very important to take the
time to really thank and commend all the
people that were involved. It is a very,
very worthwhile project. I know Victoria
from our City Council was involved with
this organization as well. Let me take the
time to read this proclamation.

MR. DIVEN PRESENTS:

No. 1572 WHEREAS, in 1994, the
City of Pittsburgh Police Department,
Zone One, joined with the Children and
Youth Services of Allegheny County in
their efforts to help provide toys at
Christmas to children in the CYS system
and;

WHEREAS, with their combined
efforts, in just five years they have gone
from collecting toys for fifty children to
over twelve hundred children in 1998, who
otherwise may not have received anything
for Christmas and;

rr
8 80° 5°00 05—°5>5555

WHEREAS, the following persons
are to be commended for their efforts and
for making Holiday Project 98 a success;
Officer Lewis, Lt. Brackney, Sgt.
Alexander, Officer Watson, Officer Jones,
Officer Myers, Officer Jeffries, Officer
Herndon, Sgt. Gardner, Officer Pittek,
Detective Coleman, Officer Cloonan,
Officer Cain, Officer Kenny, Officer
Davis, Joyce Morris, Commander Scott,
Donna Venis, Lt. Pekar, Firefighter
Dorsey, Firefighter Gregorich, Medic
Petruzzi, Beth Butler and Jackie White
and;

WHEREAS, the following
agencies are to be commended for their
participation; the Pittsburgh Police
Department, Pittsburgh Fire Bureau,
Pittsburgh EMS Bureau, University of
Pittsburgh Police, City of Pittsburgh
School Police, Housing Authority, City of
Pittsburgh Finance Department and
Department of Engineering and
Construction, Mayor's Office and City
Council.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby thank all
involved parties for their participation in
the toy drive and encourages others to join
with them in continuing their good work.

MS. MCDONALD moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Diven:

I will ask Ms. Rimlinger to
introduce her guests and explain a little bit

726

about the work that they have been able to
accomplish.

Ms. Rimlinger:

Good afternoon. It is
commendable to the City of Pittsburgh to
join together so many wonderful people to
provide happiness and joy for kids that
would normally not receive any gifts.
Many of the kids because of different
agencies and different organizations
interface them throughout the year whether
it be through police work, firework, or
EMS, public housing or even through the
Pitt police.

I am proud to be here on behalf of
the county of Allegheny representing its
citizens to read to you the community
citation of merit presented to the City of
Pittsburgh and all active participants that
volunteered. In appreciation of your
heartfelt commitment to the 1998
Allegheny County Department of Human
Services Office of Children, Youth and
Families Holiday Project, bringing joy to
thousands of needy children and their
families in our community, your
generosity reflecting your quality of spirit
and good will especially during the holiday
season of faith and love.

The Allegheny County
Commissioners thank you and commend
you for your selfless efforts and on behalf
of Allegheny County and the children of
our agency, I thank you because without
you it would not have been a Meny
Christmas.

May I please present to the City of
Pittsburgh Police Chief Robert McNeilly,
Chief Moffatt, I believe is here to accept.
Thank you very much and without the

ee
=———eoeo=x— eee

Chief's help and support it wouldn't have
happened. Thank you, and City of
Pittsburgh Office of the Mayor, Deloris
Hanna receiving on behalf of the Mayor.
And again without the Mayor's support
this would not have happened. Thank you.

To the City of Pittsburgh Office of
the City Council, Michael, and to all the
other members of Council, it was a
collective effort and I thank you for your
generosity. To Lieutenant Joy Pekar, of
the Pittsburgh Housing Authority, thank
you. Pittsburgh Department of Engineering
to Fred Reginella. To the City of
Pittsburgh School Police, Sargent Greer.
University of Pittsburgh Police. The
school police, 1 apologize. No one is here.
City of Pittsburgh Fire Bureau, and to the
Pittsburgh EMS department, Chief Robert
Kennedy.

And to all those special people we
have individual citations and I really
appreciate all your support and look
forward to working with you again next
year.

If it wasn't for Victoria Mohney,
there are many kids in the city that would
not have had a smile on their face.

Mr. Diven:

Did you care to say anything,
Victoria?

Officer Mohney:

As a coordinator of the Toy Drive,
just want to thank Councilman Diven and
all the Council staff for taking this time to
recognize all the volunteers and for all of
those who buy the gifts for the children of
Pittsburgh. Without these people, there

727

would be many children without gifts at
Christmas time. So on behalf of the
children of CYS, I just want to say thank
you.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTS:

No. 1573 WHEREAS, on Saturday
May 1, 1999, Black Women and Health

Outreach for Longer Life and
Empowerment (BWHOLE), and the
Center for Minority Health at the

University of Pittsburgh, will sponsor its
First Annual Walk and Health Rally at Pitt
Stadium; and

WHEREAS, BWHOLE a network
of black women and programs,
organizations, agencies, Tesearch
investigators, clinicians and policy makers
committed to bringing awareness to issues
impacting the health of black women
through, sisterhood, networking and
collaboration; and

WHEREAS; BWHOLE is being
established to provide a mechanism and
forum for ensuring that black women are
connected to the support they need to
function in their lives, careers and in the
many roles they hold; and

WHEREAS, Black women are at
risk for numerous chronic health
conditions; such as hypertension and
diabetes, and often have higher mortality
rates for many treatable diseases and
illnesses such as heart disease and breast
cancer. Also, although mental health
conditions such as depression and anxiety
are as common among Black women as
white, black women are least likely to seek
treatment for these problems; and

ee
Soe

WHEREAS, Numerous agencies
have programs and resources targeting
Black women ito help address these
disparities, but often times women are not
aware of these programs or how to access
them.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
Black Women and Health Outreach for
Longer Life and Empowerment
(BWHOLE), for their continued efforts in
enhancing the health of black women
adults 18 and over in Allegheny County
and surrounding counties.

MS. MCDONALD moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you, Mr. President.
The Chair:

We have a surprise resolution here,
ladies and gentlemen.

Mr. Ferlo:

It is not about Cuba winning the
game yesterday.

Colleagues, as you know we have
all joined together with the leadership of
Council President Bob O'Connor to honor
our staff as part of the Office of Municipal
Clerk Week in the United States of
America. So I would like to read on

behalf of Council President Bob O'Connor
and all of our colleagues in appreciation of
our staff and the City Clerk.

Mr. O'Connor:
You two want to stand up?
Mr. Ferlo:

Okay, we will let them stand and
we have been joined by some of the staff.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
President for correcting my social graces
here.

MR. O'CONNOR AND ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:

No. 1574 WHEREAS, the Office
of Municipal Clerk, a time honored and
vital part of local government exists
throughout the world; and,

WHEREAS, the Office of
Municipal Clerk is the oldest among
public servants; and,

WHEREAS, the Office of
Municipal Clerk provides the professional
link between the citizens, the local
goveming bodies and agencies of
government at other levels; and,

WHEREAS, the Municipal Clerks
have pledged to be ever mindful of their
neutrality and impartiality, rendering equal
service to all; and,

WHEREAS, the Municipal Clerk
serves as the information center on
functions of local government and
community; and

SS _ _O_OOQ

WHEREAS, Municipal Clerks
continually strive to improve the
administration of the affairs of the Office
of City Clerk through participation in
education programs, seminars, workshops
and the annual meetings of their state,
province, county and __ international
professional organizations; and

WHEREAS, it is most appropriate
that we recognize the accomplishments of
the Office of Municipal Clerk;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby declare the week
of May 2 through May 8 1999 as
Municipal Clerk Week, and further
extends appreciation to our City Clerk,
Linda M. Johnson-Wasler, our Deputy
City Clerk, John R. Mascio, and to all
Municipal Clerks for the vital services

they perform and their exemplary
dedication to the communities they
represent.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt.
MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

Mr. Ferlo:

I think on behalf of all the Council
and, Mr, President, you might have some
comments we just want to thank our City
Clerk, our Chief City Clerk, Linda
Johnson-Wasler, and her great staff.

I think the public can attest to the
fact that they do a lot of great work and
provide services directly to people. I can
think back 25 years ago. I was a
community activist coming in here, and

729

Mike Perry used to let me use the
typewriter to type out a petition, even
though I wasn't allowed in because I didn't
have a typewriter then. But that is just
indicative and many years later we have a
great staff. They do a good job and 100
years from now people like to actually
look back at records. I don't know why. I
don't know why folks would be interested
in hearing what I said 100 years from now,
or anyone else, but apparently people do.
And we have a great office that is keeping
historic archives of the City of Pittsburgh
as well as just a legal and legislative
activities that all of us are involved in.

It can't happen without a great City
Clerk and great staff and on behalf of all of
us we would like to thank and applaud all
of you.

Mrs. Johnson-Wasler:

Needless to say I am_ very
surprised. I thought we were going to just
do this and read it into the record and not
make any big fuss, but I thank Council for
that.

It is encouraging to know that you
are recognized and not only myself and my
deputy, but my staff. They are very
important to this operation of Council and
supporting Council and being the support
staff to Council.

Once again I thank you all. I also
thank you for the opportunity that you
allow the City Clerks Office to have
relative to the technology and moving
forward that is one of the very important
things that happens in various offices. We
move forward, the technology moves
forward and you got to move with it.
Other municipal clerks as you compare

a 83 EOS

notes with them are doing that same thing
too, so I thank you for that opportunity to
give us the funds and the faith in us to
move forward. Thanks again.

Just one more word, and again, my
staff, you cannot do it alone. I have told
them timelessly that you cannot do it
alone. It takes a good staff. I have a very
tenured staff and that makes it even better.
So we work together and I thank you.
Yes, very seasoned staff. I thank them.

The Chair:

Again, on behalf of all of us, thank
you very much for all you do, your
support. I know it is hard to make us look
good, but you do. I would like all Council
members to come up and get a group
picture.

Next we will move to public
comments. Anyone in the audience
wishing to address Council for three
minutes, please do so now. Please give
your name and address first for the record.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr. Wright:

Sammy J. Wright, Junior. Address
7215 Race Street, office address. I am
from WW Demolition. Okay.

There is an issue brought up about
a project that I bid on and my price was
rejected on this project. And it was due to
if you notice there was a couple pieces of
paper passed out to you and it states the
reason for rejection on my bid. And one of
the reasons were that my price was not
comparable because my price was 229
thousand and the architect estimated the

730

job to cost 380 thousand. The other reason
was due to they call it a 6,000 pound
material and personnel hoist.

When | talked to the Housing
Authority and these pages if you would
take a look at the second page and look at
item number four. Item number four states
that summary of work, Item 1.4 dash C
and item 1.4 dash D and the existing
passenger elevators and stair towers in the
building may not be used for conveying
materials. Personnel traffic and passenger
elevators shall be kept to a minimum.
Stair towers may be used by all personnel
traffic.

Now if you take a look at item
number six, it states to erect and maintain
a 6,000 pound material hoist, which is also
a personnel hoist. But item 6 clearly states
that the personnel can use the stair tower.
So I gave the Housing Authority a
breakdown using a crane, a boom crane
rented from Anthony Crane Rental with a
hopper to raise and lower the material
from floor seven through 12.

And it also states that the hoist
location will be approved by the architect
and the owner prior to installation. Now
that is no reason for rejection on a price.
That would be a reason to present it to the
Housing Authority and the architect for
approval. I was rejected for presenting
this crane hoist, which was mobile due to
the closeness area in which I had to use
and also the maintenance department had
to use, which was an area maybe 50 by 50.
And if you place this material fixed hoist
to this building, it limits that much more
space.

So therefore I came up with the
idea interpreting the item number four

TTT ETE CT OOOO

stating that the personnel can use the stair
tower and in fact this personnel and
material hoist was really not necessary.

The Chair:
Summarize.
Mr. Wright:

Basically, I got a price based on
this material and personnel hoist from a
company out of Virginia. The architect
estimated the cost to be roughly $50,000 a
month. I have a written cost of $5800 a
month. Which is if you rent this material
hoist according to the architect would cost
$80,000. I mean a $100,000 but with the
material hoist erected, my estimated cost
was $20,000. So there is a difference of
$80 thousand right there. I have all of this
in writing. I am pretty sure that all
Council members have a copy of it.

Also, my price was rejected due to
the price being $229,000, which is
approximately 40 percent lower than the
architect. The person they want to give it
to is $379 thousand six hundred, $400 less
than the architect. Based on the material
hoist is a reasoning for them to reject my
bid. I presented my method of doing it to
them for approval, not for rejection of my
price.

They rejected my price and I also
brought this up to Sala Udin previously to
receiving this letter for rejection. He told
me it wasn't in his district that I should talk
to Valerie McDonald. The day after I
received the rejection letter, I gave Valerie
McDonald's Office a call with no
response. I had to talk to Gil Martinez
from the Controller's Office to call her.
She called me back and stated that she

731

couldn't do anything for me for just the
fact that her catching it on a tail end. And
also she used to be on the School Board
and if anyone placed a price that was not
in the range of the architect, that their price
would be rejected. So she couldn't do
anything for me.

This job is in her district. 1 grew
up in this district and I played football next
to this Kelly Street high rise. I am a
responsible contractor this is why I am
bonded because if I cannot complete that
project the next bidder will complete the
project and will be paid by my bonding
company. And that is what nine months
ago I received a proclamation from City
Council for the work that I have done in
this city for the last nine years. So
therefore this is unjust to me.

The Chair:

I will let Mr. Udin respond; he's on
the Authority Board.

Mr. Udin:

Mr. Wright is correct, I did meet
with him. What I did tell him that the
project was in Councilwoman McDonald's
District and that he should also meet with
her. It is not true however that J only said
to him go see Councilwoman McDonald.
I said that I am a member of the Housing
Authority Board and that I would look into
the issue and give him whatever additional
information that I can. Mr. Wright
however failed to mention that today. And
Tin fact did look into the issue.

I should caution Council that
Mr. Wright is represented by legal counsel
of Verdel, Dean and Associates, this issue
has been taken up with the Housing

Authority and does currently constitute a
legal matter which Council members
should be cautious about commenting on.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you very much. Colleagues,
1 was unaware that Mr. Sam Wright would
be with us today, but I am very pleased he
is with us, no different than any other
colleague. Last week we received some
information in our mailbox that showed
that a contract would be given out for the
demolition of Kelly Street Apartments and
it was not going to the lowest bidder. At
that particular time probably no different
than any of my colleagues on City Council
I drafted correspondence to Mr. Lowe.
However, I did not receive a response to
date.

Let me first say that W and W
Demolition to the best of my knowledge is
a minority owned firm in the City of
Pittsburgh in the East End. Let me also
say that W and W Demolition presently
has a contract in the City of Pittsburgh for
the demolition of homes. And as
Mr. Wright has stated I believe several
weeks ago I am not sure which colleague
but a citation, a resolution was given out
for good work and W and W Demolition
was there.

So the facts on the table is that
Mr. Sam Wright does a good job here in
the City of Pittsburgh. The other facts are
that it appears there is going to be a
demolition of Kelly Street Apartments
here in the City of Pittsburgh and Mr. Sam
Wright has business in the city. But
instead the authority is going to let the
contract out to a high bidder for my
information, a high bidder that is outside
the area. Not outside the city, not outside

732

the county, but outside the state, Detroit.
Now something is wrong with that picture
big time something is wrong with that
picture.

Number one, remember I am on the
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority
Board and other people are on boards we
know how this works. If this man is
bonded that means there is a bonding
company out there that will stand behind
his work. And if the work is not properly
done, the money is put up. At the
Pittsburgh and Water Sewer Authority
sometime ago under the previous
administration when they tried to blackball
a company and say this company cannot
perform the work, it didn't -- it was not
held up in court because a contractor from
Collier Township just previously won that
battle. If a company bonds you that means
you can do the work.

Now we're going to have a
demolition of apartments in Homewood by
an outside contractor from Detroit. And
we got a gentleman who is doing work in
Homewood, who has his business in
Homewood, who is paying city taxes, who
is giving back to the community, who
hires city employees and he can't get the
work. Now I am starting to see the
frustrations of the black community.

It is okay for a minority firm to be
a sub-contractor to get the ten, to get their
25 and maybe just to go along with the
package. But here we have a contractor, a
minority firm who is not asking to get the
job because he's black, but is asking to get
the job because he is the lowest bidder.
Now don't talk to me about specifications,
specifications are very, very, very open for
discussion. The difference is that this man
thinks that he should use a crane instead of

ae60N6—e—a0aS ooo

a hoist.
debate.

Well that should be open for

1 will take that a step further. That
if the Housing Board and I am glad my
comments are being stenoed and | thank
you for your work and I hope this
gentleman uses it for his defense. And
that is that you have every right to throw
out any bid you want when you’re an
authority. And I hope no one tries to
debate that. You don't need a reason to
throw out a bid. And that's been proven in
court. All these bids should be thrown out
and rebid because: am not pleased that
we're going to ~spend an additional
$100,000 from a company from Detroit.
Instead, I never thought I would use this
type of word, but instead screw this poor
guy. That's wrong. It is wrong. And it
shouldn't be acceptable.

It’s not a question that he's a
minority eamed firm. He's not using that
for a crutch. He is the lowest bidder. He
does fine work. I know him. I see him
here every year receiving a resolution. So
T am going to tell you what it is about.
That firm that is getting the job to the best
of my information is also a firm that's
working on Plan B. Is that correct,
Mr. Wright? Am I right about that?

Mr. Wright:

Yes.
Plan B.

Yes, they are working on

Mr. Ricciardi:

So, once again that information
needs to be confirmed. I will use that as a
caveat. But what does it look like on the
face value? That Plan B contractors are
coming from out of state and they must

have some support, they must have some
connection because not only are we getting
the work so far, Mr. Robinson from the
Hill is right. He's giving them an F. F, F,
F. No city workers, no city contractors
and now it looks like we are going even a
step further. When we win, when the city
guy wins, city woman wins, a minority
firm wins, they don't even have a shot. He
is the lowest bidder, Mr. O'Connor.

So I will just end in saying this.
Mr. Lowe is a good man. I am sure this
memorandum and I gave a courtesy to
Ms. McDonald and said that if she was not
going to raise this 1 would. Then all of a
sudden this memorandum appeared. So
this will have to be reviewed by my legal
counsel because I am going to forward it
to him. Because on the face of it, it’s
baloney, it's damn baloney.

I am on the PWSA Board. If this
guy came out with a better way to
demolish those units at a savings to the
cost payers, let's do it. If not, if we have to
Start over remember it's been proven in
court you can throw out any bid for no
reason at all. And this is what's frustrating
to city workers. And now I am beginning
to see what's frustrating in the black
community. What else does this guy have

to do? What else does this gentleman
have to do?
Ms. McDonald:

Yes. Thank you. Thank you

Councilman Udin. JI was not aware that
Mr. Wright would be here either because,
again J received a letter and I was the one
that gave all of my colleagues’ copies of
whatever I received.

The copy from the attomey came

what was mailed April27 received
April 28. The other items I received in a
moring meeting with representatives of
Director Lowe's Office. It was Director
Lowe, when Mr. Wright had called; I had
called him back. And we had talked at
length and discussing certain things as to
why wasn't the bid made according to
specifications instead of making changes,
etc, etc, and why there wasn't any calls
made to anybody until at least to me until
after the final rejection letter? In other
words after the dust had settled in terms of
them issuing this letter and it was quite
legal before they sent this letter out.

1 had called Director Lowe and
asked hey what is going on here? For the
same reasons that Councilman Ricciardi
has expressed. He had put me on a
conference call with Mr.Jim Sheely
(phonetic) and I forget the women's name
who is also part of the construction
manager she is a construction manger
position. But her name is Gillian and they
had relayed to me just some specifics as to
what went wrong.

I had asked about the second and
third lowest bidders to see if they were in
the city, to see if they were minorities,
female owned firms, what was the profile
of them. How much higher were they than
the lowest bid, etc. just trying to get a
profile of what in the heck is going on
here. They said that they were reviewing
the second lowest bid and that they would
even consider the third bid, which is the
379,000 that he had communicated to us in
his testimony. But the second highest bid
as of this moming was still being
reviewed. I don't know what is going on
with that.

Director Lowe had called me. I

had called him back again after receiving
the attorney’s letter. He called me up
yesterday and said can we meet tomorrow
moming. I did meet this moming. This
moming | received the rejection letter as
well as talking about the hoist versus the
crane, as well as the HUD guidelines. We
teviewed the HUD regulations. I am sorry
to talk legal I am not an attomey, you end
up talking legal after a while as to were
there any provisions made for
modifications substitutions, etc, etc?
Basically you're dealing with HUD, this is
a Federal government, this is not a local
municipality. This is HUD regulation.
They are very strict, they're very clear, it
was a sealed bid. They reviewed things,
there obviously was communication that I
was not aware of because I am not on the
Housing Authority Board, Councilman
Udin is and we refer to him when it comes
to Housing Authority issues. That's why
we put a representative on all of our
boards.

But again, I can't because it has
gotten quite legal. I really don't know
what else to say except that there was not a
bid made according to the specs. So that
you all are clear, the crane I was told
would only accommodate the demolition
of floors seven through 12. There was no
explanation given as to would a crane
accommodate floors one through six.
There was nothing. I don't know. I am
just deliverer of the message.

Number two, the hoist was
specified to be able to transport people and
materials, individuals that is because they
didn't want the construction workers using
the elevators. They're already going to be
making quite a bit of noise and it is going
to be very upsetting to the senior citizens
living in the building.

a ENOOOCCOOTETOOEEEES

There are people living there, it is
not a vacant property. So they want as
little inconvenience to the residents as
possible. They explained that's why they
specified a hoist. So it could transport the
construction workers as weil as materials
and therefore they would not use the
residents’ elevators.

Now in lieu of that, I cannot argue
any more as to, you know, the crane versus
the hoist. It seems like there is more
justification for using a hoist. But it has
gotten to the point where I don't know how
Council can intervene. I do feel though
that it is somewhat stepping on
Councilman Udin's toes because he's on
the Housing Authority Board. And |
would leave that up to him to discuss this
amongst other board members as well as
Executive Director where they go from
there, Do they throw out all the bids? Do
they pursue the second lowest, the third
lowest, what do they do? Do they just end
up in litigation? It really is up to them.

I just don't want this body to be so
micro managing that it becomes a mute
point as to why one of us would even be
on a board if we are all going to debate the
issue at the table. So I appreciate all the
concems. I agree that we should, we
should try our best to use local firms. We
should do our best to use minority firms.
And I say that particularly in demolition
because there is a lot of minority firms in
the demolition business. There are not a
lot out there. But we do demolition and
why is it that this didn't work out, I don't
know. But I cannot second-guess nor am I
going to put on a Housing Authority Board
hat when I don't have one. That's
Councilman Udin's hat.

I would just say I would rather the
Council body defer to him and possibly
come back with the outcome of this
situation.

The Chair:

I would say with all do respect to
Mr. Udin, we all represent people who
whether they are in Housing Authority or
not, I think we have an obligation to our
constituents who live in whatever. It may
be your district, my district, and anyone’s
district. So it goes beyond just not just
your board or any board that they are
treated fairly and any business going on in
that Council District we all have an
interest in it. Especially the Housing
Authority and this is probably the start of a
lot more.

I am glad you came down here.
Mr. Ferlo:

I think it’s obvious Mr. Wright is
here to City Council as City Council is
best described as the form of last resort.
Obviously I have known Mr. Wright for a
good number of years and had the
privilege of working with him on a
number of projects as Councilman
Ricciardi pointed out. This is a gentleman
who not only is professionally and
academically has credentials, but
successfully has been a contractor on a lot
of different projects including city
contracts for the last decade and longer.
So he's a gentleman who both in terms of
his professional expertise and as a
contractor and as a local businessperson I
think has a strong track record.

1 am not going to argue the law
because I don't know what the law is. I
spoke with Director Lowe. I was away for

a week when I heard about this and the
Controller's Office called me and I called
over to the Housing Authority actually,
Mr. Lowe answered his own phone. | was
impressed with that and he did give me a
lengthy description and explanation of
what transpired with the bids. Probably in
terms of the law, the Housing Authority
has the upper hand unlike competitive
bidding and state statutes that we are
governed by. And there is a myriad of
complicated legal and statutory language
put out by the Urban Development HUD
agency so I am sure legally the Housing
Authority has the upper hand when it
comes to rejecting the bid.

I don't really know whether this is
so much a legal issue as just a practical
issue. This gentleman has a strong track
record. He has a clear ability to complete
and deal with the job. And what I was
frustrated about is I don't understand why
given 1 would have thought that the
Housing Authority would have been happy
to get a lower bid by a competent
contractor with a strong track record. Now
clearly when a bid comes in so low and
you know that the contractor doesn’t have
the equipment or they don't have the track
record or they don't have the expertise,
definitely it raises a red flag. Now I saw a
document from Mr. Lubis who I think was
the architect doing the cost estimating on
this job prior to the bid process. And
Director Lowe uses the upper phrase
$280,000 for the commentary that I saw
from the architect. Mr. Lubis had a lower
figure to the higher figure of 380 thousand.
And it was within that range that I believe
WW Demo did appropriately bid. Albeit
significantly lower than the other bids.

I was not aware of Mr. Ricciardi's
commentary about this company already

736

being working for Plan B. | don't think we
need to do condemn or further condemn
the hope of the Plan B process but it does
at least smack maybe some favoritism here
or someone providing information. I find
it curious to know and if it is true that this
company just happens to be doing the
demolition and all of a sudden they also
get all this other work with the Housing
Authority. And possibly they are doing
other work for other authorities, I don't
know. I am going to look into it after this
meeting.

But I think rather than the law, we
should try to find a way for the Housing
Authority to engage this individual
contractor in the work of the authority.
And I am very disappointed. 1 think I
sense that people are hiding behind the law
and the regulations because they were told
that they had to give the work to this
company that is doing the work for other
activities around the city. That's extremely
disappointing. And I encourage
Mr. Wright to contact legal Counsel and
sue.

The Chair:

Mr. Wright, how many employees
do you have when you are busy?

Mr. Wright:
Thave ten.
The Chair:

Mostly city employees? Most of
them live in the city?

Mr. Wright:

Only one is not from the city. All

of my employees are basically from the
Homewood area. Because that's the area I
grew up in and that's where most of my
employees are from.

The Chair:

The jobs in Homewood, you live in
the Homewood, your business is in
Homewood, and you’re one hundred
thousand dollars cheaper.

Mr. Wright:
Right.
The Chair:

Something is wrong with this
picture,

Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. President, let me finish. This
situation is pretty much the spirit in which
I submitted the resolution changing the
MBE/WBE guidelines. Here is a glaring
example where not only is a qualified
contractor, happens to be a minority
contractor, not going to get the work but
you're going to have majority company in
a workforce that is not even around. If the
MBE thing were changed that the
workforce could at least be minority or
local residents then they would be a lot
better situation that what we have here
with Mr. Wright.

Mr. Udin:

Mr. President, I think we are in the
wrong forum for this. I am not sure where
we think we're going with this. But there
are some factual inaccuracies. I believe, if
I am not mistaken, the company is not a

737

Pittsburgh Company. The gentleman does
not live in the City of Pittsburgh. I don't
believe that it is appropriate before all of
the issues have been debated and some
resolution is completed by the Housing
Authority, I don't believe it's appropriate
for this Council or you, Mr. President, to
entertain action or intervention by this
Council before the process is complete. It
is under review. The person is represented
by Counsel and I would suggest to you that
you at least let the process be completed
itself before Council sticks its nose
inappropriately.

Mr. Onorato:

First I just want to, I am glad that it
is being reviewed and what you heard is
that it is not a done deal yet. I want to
point out and J want to thank Controller
Flaherty because his office called my
office. I talked with Mr. Lowe and I have
a letter here from Mr. Lowe explaining
what happened so far and Mr. Lowe
responded promptly. But I think the
Controller should also be applauded here
because it is one of the functions of the
office down there is that he's paying
attention to activity even before the fact as
opposed to auditing after the fact and they
did their duty. They put us on notice.

I think this gentleman behind us
has an opportunity to be heard. I am glad
he came in today and expressed his
concems. We have had him in here for a
proclamation several months ago with
Searguard (phonetic) I know that. It
appears that he's going to be heard out at
the Housing Authority and I am glad to see
that's happening here. But I think that he’s
only doing what every other contractor
would do and that is he's looking at every
avenue available to him to get his point of

view across. I think that was good.

I just want to note though I think
the Controller's Office should be
applauded just for the fact that they saw
something and they thought a red flag was
there and they put the appropriate people
on notice. And a lot has happened in the
meantime and regardless of where this
ends up, we at least know it is being
addressed now. And hopefully we get a
report from the Housing Authority in the
next week or so when they make their
decision. And why they made those
decisions? And what is going on over
there on with this particular individual?

The Chair:

So the Controller is following up
too?

Mr. Onorato:

Even before it was a done deal they
were very active and proactive in making
sure that you have an individual here, a
minority contractor, who is saying I am the
lowest bidder. Something is going on here
and they were very proactive in putting us
on notice, putting Stanley Lowe on notice
and at least got the conversation going. I
think that's healthy because this isn't done
yet. I think the end result is still out there.

Mr. Ferlo:

I think Councilman Udin's point is
well taken. I mean we should not convey
to this gentleman or to the public in
general that we have any direct ability to
intervene on this matter. It is a legal
matter between the gentleman and a
separate governmental body. We have no
direct control or legal involvement with

738

the Housing Authority City of Pittsburgh.
We do have a colleague that sits on the
board and has worked very hard within
that agency. I would just hope that given
the fact that so many colleagues, in
addition to Councilwoman McDonald and
Mr. Udin are directly involved, I think the
Housing Authority is appreciative of the
concern that we have. I would assume that
we are going to get some follow up memos
further clarifying the bid specification
situation.

The Chair:

Again, there is no Council action
and I didn't propose any. I would like to
have a follow up from you as the
chairperson and it is Ms. McDonald's
District. And I guess we will get legal
forms and opinions from our Controller
and whatever happens with you and you
are always welcome to come back every
week. Thank you.

Ms. Brown:

My name is Yvonne F. Brown. I
live at 2633 Brackenridge Street,
Pittsburgh 15219. I think I have said it
before but I would like to reiterate that I
am an advocate for the children, youth and
families of Pittsburgh.

Mr. O'Connor, I wanted to ask you
last week J had asked about if we could
look into seeing about the policy of getting
some type of funding for the JUICE
Program which is just using innovative
and community empowerment. We're you
able to get any information at all?

The Chair:

I didn't look into it. If you were
looking for money I suggest you talk to

a OOOOOTTOOTTOONS

Council members because there is funding
that you can apply for.

Ms. Brown:

So you are saying each Council
member?

The Chair:

Any Council member. If you are
eligible or your group would certainly be
able to assist you. So if you set up a
meeting with any one of us.

Ms. Brown:

I will start off now. Many times I
come before you to speak and I know I am
not a lot of times politically correct, but
from coming here and watching the way
that this system is run I am learning. I am
a little concerned because a lot of time I
am the messenger from my community
where the people tell me to come down
and tell City Council how they feel about
certain things. What is bothering me and I
am getting a little bit down trotted is that I
believe me being the messenger, the
message may be being destroyed or killed.

You know you heard the saying of
sometimes the messenger that they tell you
not to kill the messenger because they're
bringing a message. Well after I left you, I
called -- I left City Council I called Stanley
Lowe and before I even spoke to the
Mayor, I received a response from him. I
was very depressed and very outraged in
the way that he answered me. What I
asked about if he could possibly fund this
program. And the program that I am
talking about is that we would have senior
citizens going into the homes of these
young parents, most of them are young

739

single parents. And we would have
someone that possibly that could maybe
work once a week, cook a meal, watch her
and let her watch us while we cook. We
could teach them about going to the food
market, how to budget. We also could
teach them how to clean and how to take
care of children.

When I spoke to Mr. Lowe when I
was asking him about being funded he
says to me that well first thing Mrs. Brown
you call-- you went to City Council --
May I continue?

The Chair:
Please summarize.
Ms. Brown:

Well some of this you know I used
asking you a question. I wish I could go a
little longer. But any way I am-- what
happens is this, when I spoke to Stanley
Lowe, Stanley Lowe said to me Mrs.
Brown you're calling me to try to ask me
for funding. The first thing he said is that
you went to City Council, second you went
to the Mayor and third you are coming to
me. Now I was very upset with that
because I didn't know that there was such a
protocol. And because I didn't know the
protocol it seems to be that me asking for
funds because I didn't go to him first that
this funding or my proposal would not
even be considered.

There is one thing I respect the
position that he does not hold all the
responsibility but what happened with that
child. He has a difficult job and we know
it. But if he can respond to someone who
has a possible solution to a problem even
though it is not a cure all and I am not part

ee
eaNleaeEeEe=e=SssqwrhlouuleeEeEeoeoeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

of the community then I can see why the
Housing Authority Police treat the people
in such abusive and (inaudible) ways
where they actually treat them like their
dogs.

Stanley Lowe I believe he needs to
understand if he's not part of the solution
he's part of the problem. And just like the
man was here and left so you can imagine
that this man was treated just like me. I
don't have any money, I don't have a
business. J came with suggestions. This
man has money to try to help this city and
he is a minority. And Stanley Lowe
another minority can treat him like that,
we need to look -- Mr. Sala Udin you said
you’re on the board, I wish you would
please explain to him when you come into
the community.

The Chair:

Please summarize.
Ms. Brown:

Iam almost finished. I am if you
just wait one minute, you come into the
community.

The Chair:

Please summarize.
Mr. Onorato:

Mr. President, if I could point out
the Housing Authority has a public
meeting too she should really —

Ms. Brown:

Oh, Mr. Onorato, you think you
have it all.

740

Mr. Onorato:
Introduce the resolutions now.
The Chair:

Next speaker. Any other speakers
to address Council?

Thank you. We will now move to
presentation of papers.

PRESENTATION OF PAPERS
MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:

No. 1575 Resolution National
Guard Component of the U.S. Armed
Forces or Coast Guard) due to Operation
Allied Force to support NATO operations
in Kosovo, amounting to the difference
between their military pay and City salary,
and to maintain all health care benefits for
said employees, their spouses and
dependents during their term of absence in
Kosovo. --(SPONSORED BY MR.
DIVEN)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. FERLO moved to suspend Rule 8 by
providing for consideration of the bills
only until or after the 8th calendar day
following the meeting in which the bills
were introduced so the bill will be on the
agenda this Wednesday.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.

Also,

No. 1576 Resolution authorizing
Raymond V. DeMichiei, Operations
Supervisor, Bureau of Communications,
Department of Public Safety to execute for
and in behalf of the City of Pittsburgh all
required forms and reports for Loan
Agreements and Grants under the Federal
Nunn-Lugar-Domenici legislation.

No. 1577 Resolution providing for
a Contract or Contracts; or Agreement or
Agreements, or the use of existing
Coniracts or Agreements for the purchase
of a document imaging system for the
City-County Integrated —_ Identification
Program, Department of Public Safety, at a
cost not to exceed $85,000.00.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Public Safety.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

No. 1578 Resolution providing for
an Agreement or Agreements with various
community organizations, for operational/
administrative expenses, maintenance,
purchase of equipment, and/or minor
rehabilitation of neighborhood facilities
for the benefit of residents of the City of
Piusburgh and further, authorizing various
City departments to enter into contract(s)
or use existing contract(s) for the purchase
and installation of equipment and/or
furniture, at a cost not to exceed
$122,500.00, chargeable to and payable
from Code Account (110304) 566100-
1000-110000-300-1999.

No. 1579 Resolution Approving
Execution of a Contract for Disposition by
Sale of Land by and between the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
and Gildas A. Kaib, Jr., for the Sale of the

following Properties in the 18" Ward of
the City of Pittsburgh (Council District
No. 3 - Residential Construction). ---
(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD &
MR. HERTZBERG)

1 gn
4-C-94
6 McArdle Roadway

1g”
4-G-249
35 Vinecliff Street

1 gh
4-G-254
8 McArdle Roadway

1s"
4-G-256
43 Vinecliff Street

1 git
4-G-264
41 E. Sycamore Street

1s”

N/A

Portion of Vinecliff Street
(To be Vacated)

MS. MCDONALD moved to suspend
Rule 8 providing for consideration of the
bills only until or after the 8th calendar day
following the meeting in which the bills
were introduced so the bills will be on the
agenda this Wednesday.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.

Also,

88 —————eeeeeeeeeeeeeeOoeemneg

No. 1580 Resolution Providing for
the execution of a Cooperation Agreement
or Agreements with the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh for
the performance of certain work in
connection with the 1999-2000
Community Development Block Grant
Program, and providing for the payment of
the cost thereof. (Council Districts: All). -
-(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD
& MR. HERTZBERG)

No. 1581 Resolution Authorizing a
Cooperation Agreement or Agreements
with the Urban Redevelopment Authority
of Pittsburgh providing for the transfer to
URA of $450,000 for North Shore
Riverfront Development (Council District
6). --(PRESENTED BY MS.
MCDONALD & MR. HERTZBERG)

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Housing, Economic
Development & Promotion.

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

No. 1582 Resolution Providing for
a contract or contracts for professional
services with Grant Street Advisors, Inc. to
provide financial advisory services for the
years 1999, 2000 and 2001, at an annual
cost not to exceed $250,000, an aggregate
amount not to exceed $750,000,
chargeable to and payable from Account
583000, Fund 5100, Organization 106000,
sub-class PGHPR, BY 1999, Project #
2209990.

No. 1583 Resolution providing for
the conveyance by the City of Pittsburgh
of certain property, under Act No. 171 of
1984, entitled, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984, having been

742

placed for sale to adjoining property
owners in conjunction with the City of
Pittsburgh/City Source Associates
Sideyard Program.

(A) 118N. Pacific Ave.
Quang Vo

10" 50.293

Dist.7

(B) 706N. St. Clair St.
Charles Fedel

MN" = $3 F271

Dist. 7

13" 174N 145

Dist. 9

(D) 966 Manton Way
Laurette DeBold

1s" 14 382

Dist. 3

(E) 1702 Hunnell St.
P Phillip Bollenbacher &
Margaret S. Bollenbacher
24" 47 P 243

Dist. 1

(F) — 1830-1/2 Viruth St.
Jeffrey R. Knauss &
Suzanne P. Knauss, his wife
27" 114 288

Dist. 1

No. 1584 Resolution providing for
the filing of a petition or petitions for the
sale of certain property or properties,
known as Lien Excluded Properties
acquired at tax sales, in accordance with
Act No. 17] of 1984, “Second Class City
Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.

ee aaaaaaaaaooeoeoaoaoaoeeeeS“SD eee

(A) 1718 Columbia Place
PHASE

25" 238344

Dist. 6

(B) 502 Jacksonia St.
PHASE

25" 23567

Dist. 6

25" 46 P 162

Dist. 6

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:

No. 1585 Communication from
Tom Flaherty, City Controller, submitting
the Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report (CAFR) for the City of Pittsburgh
for 1998.

No. 1586 Communication from
Ralph R. Horgan, Executive Director,
Pittsburgh Parking Authority, submitting
salary budget for the fiscal year beginning
October 1, 1998 for the Public Parking
Authority.
Which were read, received and filed.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to receive
and file.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Any unfinished business to come

in front of Council.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mr. Hertzberg:

Mr. President, last week I spoke
about the Pittsburgh Penguins and the
predicament they're in with the bankruptcy
and my hope that something would
happen. And the potential for the use of
eminent domain to remove what is
probably the biggest obstacle to the
Penguins' reorganizing, that being the
lease with SMG.

As far as I know over the last week
there has been a lot of posturing but there
has been no movement whatsoever. And it
looks like the National Hockey League is
becoming more and more involved and
getting closer and closer to the point where
they may dissolve the franchise and just
completely eliminate the Pittsburgh
Penguins.

My concem is growing greater and
greater. I think the concerns of the fans
are greater and greater. If the e-mail that I
get is any indication the fans are very
nervous. I couldn't help but again watch a
great game on Sunday where you have a
team that's just showing us everything they
have on the ice. They're fighting as far as
they can and we have this bankruptcy
thing that seems to be just the opposite.
Where everything is being dragged out,
nothing seems to be getting accomplished.

T have drafted up a resolution and I
will ask the Clerk to circulate that. And
this is a resolution that would request the
Public Auditorium Authority, and I realize
that I don't sit on that board and that Mr.
Cohen does, and I would ask him to

_——
S=_=——eeeeeeeeeeee

comment on this when am done. But it
requests that they utilize their powers of
eminent domain with respect to this lease.
That's all it is, it’s a request.

I realize that Council I don't think
has any authority to actually take an action
but I think our hopefully unified support
for them doing something may make a
difference in this, Mr. President.

Mr. Ferlo:

First of all, I want to thank
Councilman Hertzberg for raising this
resolution. I am not prepared to vote in
favor of this at this point. But I just want
to say one thing, it's extremely important
that we keep the Pittsburgh Penguins in
the City of Pittsburgh, no doubt about it.
It is not only a part of the fabric of the
community financially it is a help to the
city’s operating budget. I don't think we
can dispute that in terms of the amusement
tax alone.

I have a problem at this tactical
level right now intervening in terms of this
issue of eminent domain. I think it is a
creative avenue that we could use and
maybe at some point it is an appropriate
use of a Council resolution. But I would
rather see a resolution that calls on the
Mayor to intervene politically, personally,
administratively into the affairs of the
Penguins and SMG and the lease, and the
bankruptcy court judge. I think what is
needed here is someone to help broker a
way out and a process, help to find a
process so that it is a win, win for
everyone.

Obviously the Penguins want to
stay financially viable. I don't understand,
I am not privilege to know all the different

financial details of the lease and the SMG
situation. I don't know that any of us has
been approached necessarily about what
the Penguins had in mind in terms of
either renegotiating the lease or some other
new facility that apparently they are
desirous of. | just think right now it would
be more appropriate for Council to ask the
Mayor to intervene and to report back to
Council on how we keep the Penguins
here? How we resolve any leasing
dispute? How we make sure the Lemieux
interest group or whatever appropriate
interest group gains successful control
financially of the team?

I am hesitant to just intervene now
on this issue of one part of the process in
terms of eminent domain for the buy out of
the tease. I would rather know or want to
know what is the Mayor doing as the chief
officer for the city in terms of his role and
function in this proceeding right now. 1
think it is more important that we ask the
Mayor to intervene and report back to us
ASAP on a plan for this Council to be
supportive of keeping the Penguins here.

The Chair;

I sent a letter last week to the
Mayor requesting a mediator. There is a
lot of top people who I believe would be
glad to be mediators on his behalf and all
of our behalves. I haven't received a
Tesponse yet, but I certainly would be glad
to send a response in front of all of
Council an update of who is waking up.

I think the major problem is who is
waking up tomorrow worried about the
Penguins. I mean, with all do respect
when the Pirates were involved, the Mayor
himself, Mr. Leeper, again the Mayor I
will defend him has a lot of things going

aeaaoaoaaaaoooaoooeaeeeaeaeeeeeeeeeeee eee

on. Mr. Leeper is building two ballparks
and a new arena. So I don't know and I
will ask Mr. Cohen you have your hand up
next who wakes up tomorrow moming and
worries about the Penguins getting --
between the county too. The three
commissioners are running for office. I
am sure maybe politically it isn't the to
their benefit to be involved right now. So
I would ask you if you know now or what
is our plans to get someone involved real
quick?

Mr. Cohen:

Mr. President, as I talked about this
last week a lot is going on. I do appreciate
Councilman Hertzberg's motion behind
this very much. I think it’s premature
frankly to move to condemn the lease
because negotiations have just begun. As I
discussed last week there clearly is a need
for pressure to be put on both sides and by
that I mean both SMG and the Mario
Lemieux group to get together and see if
they can reach resolution. If that cannot
happen, then I think more drastic measures
need to be taken but negotiations have
really just begun.

Last Wednesday representatives
from SMG including the President of
SMG, Wes Leslie, and Mario Lemieux and
his representatives met. Apparently it was
a cordial meeting and they're going to meet
again this week. So things are moving. 1
recognize, of course, that time is of the
essence particularly because of the NHL
threatening action if not taking action. But
I think that what we need to do is continue
to prod both sides to reach a resolution and
then for the public entity both the city and
the county to seal the deal. There is also a
meeting of the Mayor and Commissioners
today solely on this question.

I think things are moving. Both of
your suggestions are good suggestions but
let’s see whether resolution can be reached
because frankly moving to condemn the
lease is not going to be in the best interest
of the City of Pittsburgh partly because we
don't have the money. When you
condemn the lease, you have to eventually
pay the fair market value of that lease
which is in the multi million dollars.

I don't think that's necessary at this
point; it may well become necessary. I
said that to Councilman Hertzberg. He was
kind enough to bring this to my attention
before he brought it up. My suggestion is
a lot of things are happening behind the
scenes, let's see if those reach fruition. If
they don't then let's take more extreme
steps. And I would be happy to report to
Council and obviously talk to everyone of
you about this issue as it continues.

The Chair:

When is the deadline for the NHL?
Didn't they give a six-week deadline?

Mr. Cohen:

I don't think they have given an
actual date, a drop-dead date, but it
certainly is relatively soon.

Mr. Udin:

Yes, I want to first of all associate
myself with the comments, opening
comments of Mr. Ferlo. The Penguins are
very important to Pittsburgh, its cultural
and its economy. However, I think that any
suggestion that the Public Auditorium
Authority is not on top of the case and
waking up in the moming thinking about

ser
eee

the Penguins, I think is not justified. From
what I have been able to follow
Mr. Leeper, the members of the Public
Auditorium Authority, Mr. Cohen are very
much on top of it and very much involved
and facilitating the process where it needs
to be facilitated and intervening where it
needs to be intervened. It is not at all clear
to me at least, I am not a lawyer, certainly
Mr. Hertzberg and other lawyers on
Council would know a lot more about this
than I do. But from what I have been
Teading it is not yet clear to me that a lease
can be subject to eminent domain. J think
that is a question that the jury is still out
on it, They're looking into it and at any
event even if it is it will not come without
substantial cost to the city.

And I hope that when we consider
eminent domain taking of the lease we're
also looking at the cost that the taxpayers
will bare with such a taking. I think that
the process is working. They, I think that
the Lemieux group, has made substantial
progress and that the SMG negotiations is
the next big hurdle that they have to
concur before the entire financial
reorganization will be resolved. I think we
ought to give general support to the
process and to the Penguins, but I think
that I agree that a resolution authorizing
eminent domain condemnation of the lease
is just a bit premature.

The Chair:
Didn't we ask for a legal opinion
and have we received that yet?

Mr. Hertzberg:

No.
The Chair;

Do you think it is appropriate that

746,

we do?
Mr. Hertzberg:

Either way I am not going to ask
for a vote. It's obvious no one is ready to
vote on this today. But I think the issue of
eminent domain I think, you can condemn
interests and real estate, a lease is an
interest in real estate. I think it can be
condemned. I think there is a big question
about whether it will or will not be that
expensive and no one really explored it
that much.

But there is a process where a
debtor in bankruptcy can reject a lease and
if the Penguins would do that, I think the
value of this lease would plummet
significantly. So there is something’s that
are out there. But I will give the process
some time. But I was talking last week I
am talking this week I think that the time
is just getting way too tight on this whole
thing. It has been going on and on for a
long time. After the Penguins filed
bankruptcy, nothing really happened. We
had our first hearing on a reorganization
plan a week last week. The thing is just
moving very slowly and the team needs to
be moving into the next season and they're
not. They don't even know who the owner
will be or if there will be one.

Mr. Cohen:

Is agree with Councilman
Hertzberg, it is frustrating. This process
has been very frustrating. I would ask
Councilman Hertzberg not to withdraw the
motion, but for us to hold it because it may
in fact become necessary, an extreme step
like this. Look, the bottom line is to save
the Penguins, to keep them in Pittsburgh.
My goodness that's game seven of the

=——oeaquoquqyToOeel eee eee

playoffs is tonight let's hope the Penguins
win that and continue on towards the
Stanley Cup.

I would ask Councilman Hertzberg
if he could hold this, not to withdraw it
and for us to stay completely on top of
negotiations and use that tool if it is
necessary. 1 don't think it’s necessary now
but it may well be in the future.

Mr. Hertzberg:

All right. 1 will accept that and
make a-‘motion to hold for one week.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Again, 1 am glad to see what I was
looking for is the Mayor and the
Commissioners to at least meet. That's
what I call someone worried about it.

Mr. Udin:

A new matter. As you know,
Mr. President, the Controller has issued
the Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report for 1998. And my inclination is to
since the report has been the subject of
some discussion before it was released and
after it was released, it might be good to
have a Post Agenda if Council are inclined
to attend with the Controller and the
administration. We are, that is myself and
the Budget Office, are preparing a
summary analysis of the CAFR. But it
seems that it would be more beneficial if
that kind of summary were presented to
the whole of Council and Council could
have a discussion with the Controller.

TAT

And that might be a good way of starting
the discussions with the administration
toward the development of the 2000
budget. if that would be the will of
Council.

The Chair:

I believe we would be in agreement
and would you like that in the form of a
Post Agenda and we can set a date later?

Mr. Udin:

So moved, televised Post Agenda.
MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Ms. McDonald:

Another matter. We passed a
resolution last week to convey a letter to
the University of Pittsburgh. This is why
it is under unfinished business, Mr.
President. As a follow up to that
resolution and issuance of a letter, I
received communication from Mr. Jay
Rolling, a representative of the University
of Pittsburgh, to update me as to what is
going on with this whole hunger strike
thing. And to reiterate what we had
discussed last week the letter only urged
Pitt trustees to meet, to meet the students.
We did not take a position whatsoever on
same sex health benefits the concems of
the students. We had no issue accept that
there be a meeting. As a follow up I am
just going to read some of the letter.

Essentially this is the University of
Pittsburgh from Chancelior Martin
Nordenburg who has done a spectacular
job in trying to keep all the contention

Nooo

down. Essentially our own benefits
policy, publicly articulated by Chairperson
Connelly nearly four years ago has been to
preserve the status quo. That is although
there were those who expressed
unhappiness with an earlier decision to
provide certain benefits to same sex
domestic partners, we have made no
efforts to eliminate those benefits.

So one thing that the media has
failed to communicate is the other side.
There are same sex benefits. They want
health benefits but there are other benefits
for same sex partners that the University of
Pittsburgh has and plans to maintain.

To go further, similarly however it
has been our institutional position that
additional benefits including specifically
health insurance benefits would not be
offered more expansively until there is a
change in state law.

My understanding is that there is
no university or College in the nation that
has same sex health care benefits. That's
what I was told, not a, zero. Also their
health insurance is not available to
domestic partners whether they are of the
same sex or of the opposite sex. So it
doesn't exist with the University of
Pittsburgh.

Another thing 1 wanted to bring to
Council's attention just as information that
I just failed to see in the media is the
students demand, which include providing
an apology on behalf of the board of
trustees to the plaintiff, Ms. Hanson, for
all wrong doing and establishing a queer
theory curriculum. And | take exception
to the word queer. To establish a queer
theory curmiculum for —_ university
undergraduates to further educate them on

748

issues of discrimination. There are lists of
six demands and based upon what I am
reading as far as both sides. I would just
urge the university, the trustees and it has
been, it is not my suggestion it's some
suggestion that has been communicated to
me that there be some type of sub
committee. Maybe a small committee,
maybe some of the trustees that are willing
to meet with the students to discuss,
maybe not the full board, but a small
subgroup to be able to meet. To be able to
cover themselves in terms have we availed
ourselves to at least meeting with the
constituents.

Basically, that's it. But as far as
taking a stand one way or the other, that's
up to the University of Pittsburgh. But I
just wanted to update Council on these are
some of the things I have not read until the
University of Pittsburgh communicated
that to me.

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. I would
like to correct some of the misinformation
campaign coming out of the University of
Pittsburgh on this issue. I appreciate it
very much Councilwoman McDonald's
resolution last week, which I think was a
very appropriate resolution to send a letter
to the University of Pittsburgh and ask
them to take action to end this hunger
strike.

Thank goodness the hunger strike
has ended and the students of the
University of Pittsburgh are not in danger
of falling into ill health or god forbid
dying. That a side, the misinformation
campaign the University of Pittsburgh is
really gone too far as far as I am
concemed. For them to say that no

———oooNoaoaoeeeeeeaeSS

university or college in the United States
has same sex health benefits is completely
and utterly false. There are 88 colleges
and universities in the United States that
have same sex benefits. There are over
500 corporations in the United States as
well as hundreds of state and local
governments that have same sex health
benefits. I would be happy to provide any
member of Council and certainly
Chancellor Nordenberg and = any
representative of the University of
Pittsburgh the list of colleges and
universities.that provide these healthcare
benefits.

More over, I believe that the
university, I was not prepared to bring this
up today but since it is brought up I think
it needs to be -- the other side needs to be
heard. That there is no state laws even in
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which
is pretty much as conservative as you can
get socially. There is no state law in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that says
a university cannot provide same sex
health benefits.

So the university continues to hide
behind state law when in fact there is no
state law that says that. For them to make
that point I think is truly disingenuous.

Secondly, the core of the problem
here is that the university not only are they
not providing same sex health benefits,
that's a separate issue but what they are
doing is they are taking a public position
against a law that this Council passed.
That is the equal protection ordinance, the
equal rights ordinance for people of
different sexual orientation. This Council
passed that law back in 1990. It's been
used by hundreds of people to redress their
grievances who have been discriminated

against in housing and employment and
public accommodation and the University
of Pittsburgh says that that law is illegal.

That's really the heart of the matter
right now and despite the growing political
pressure they have not stepped back from
that position. It's position that frankly is
one that an institution of higher learning
should not be taking and it is one that I am
absolutely sure that the university
eventually is going to have to drop because
of the pressure continues to mount, a

‘pressure from people who support equal

tights.

I wasn't going to talk about this
today but to hear things like that no
college or university in the United States
has it is unbelievable. There are 88 that
have it and it's a list that everyone would
be quite, they would certainly know those
colleges and universities very well, they're
large colleges and universities all over the
country, not just large but certainly a high
caliber. So I wanted to respond to that
thank you.

Mr. Ferlo:

I was not here last week but the
only thing that we seem to be getting out
of the university any more is lies and now
bigger lies. And Councilman Cohen
clarified that point. The misinformation
that is coming apparently now from the
Chancellor, I expected it from the
Neanderthal Chairman of the Board there
has made some homophobic comments in
the media as well as several trustee
members. But I will go back to my
original point many months ago. The
issue is within the university on what its
benefits are. I am not raising that as an
issue. 1 only raised originally the issue and

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why I am so offended by the actions of the
University of Pittsburgh and their
corporate law firm is that they have
fundamentally gone after the city’s civil
rights ordinance of 1990. Now if they
would withdraw and file a legal addendum
to the documents that they submitted to the
commission withdrawing that part of the
complaint then I will no longer speak ill of
the University of Pittsburgh.

Internally if they want to debate
either within the unions or the non-union
Tepresented employees at Pitt what their
fringe benefits are, what their benefits will
be, or might be in the future that to me is
an internal matter. | might have a personal
view about it, but we can get on to like
some normal relations with the University
of Pittsburgh. But for them to continue to
fundamentally attack and go after the city’s
ordinance that's my main will and
contention that I have a problem with. It is
just very disappointing that the university
continues in the big lie campaign that
they're engaged in and it has definitely
soured relationships at least with this one
vote on Council.

And I will continue to withhold
and object whenever my vote comes up. I
just received a beautiful invitation to
attend a dinner at the University of
Pittsburgh for Phil Howland, he is a
wonderful gentleman, he has done so
much in the City of Pittsburgh. I would
like to be at that dinner. I will not respond
to any requests from the University of
Pittsburgh to attend anything while this
dispute is going on. I am going to
withdraw my vote, it is unfortunate
because I care a lot about the Oakland
community and the University but 1 am not
going to vote on their conditional use
expansion or anything else involving the

University of Pittsburgh until they resolve
this matter.

I hope we get four other people so
we can start blocking something that Pitt
wants and then maybe we will stop hearing
some of these Neanderthal comments by
the trustees.

The Chair:

Thank you. Anything else under
unfinished business? Now move to
Committee Chair Reports.

CHAIR REPORTS
Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you, Mr. President, I have a
two-part report. One will, part one will be
the report that has been provided to me by
our Acting Director Lamar Bames and the
second part will be my own report and
there will be some different tones between
the two reports.

Mr. Ferlo:

I didn't know we had an acting
director. Did something happen in my
week being away? Do we not have a
Public Works Director any more?

Mr. Hertzberg:

To the best of my knowledge Mr.
Kraszewski's wife is very ill and he's taken
a leave.

The Chair:

I believe he has been off three or
four weeks.

Mr. Ferlo:

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I was not aware of that.
Mr. Hertzberg:

Street resurfacing program, Public
Works began the nine million-dollar
program on April 19. The goal is 83
miles, 71 of which will be with the hot
mix, the good stuff. The weather at the
end of April delayed the start but there are
now three crews in the communities in the
Sth maintenance division.

Playgrounds, Public Works does
what is called the retrofits. That is the
ones that have really already been
Teconstructed but maybe in the last ten
years they're putting the finishing touches
on. They retrofitted © Whiteman
Playground, moving onto the five retrofits
scheduled for 1999, Swisshelm Parklet,
Olympia Park, Alton Playground, McGee
Playground and East Carnegie.

Trails, the construction division
currently is working on three trails. The
Eliza Fumace Trail extension comes off
the Eliza Furnace Trail, wraps around onto
Saline Street and will connect with the
Junction Hollow Trail. This is 90 percent
complete at a cost of 50,000. The Junction
Hollow Trail also known as Boundary
Street Trail is 45 percent complete at a
cost of 10,000. When a trail —- when the
Boundary Street or Junction Hollow Trail
is done, the Eliza Furnace Trail will
connect between the central business
district and Oakland. Pinal Trail,
Southside Riverfront Park trail is 50
percent complete at a cost of 20,000.

Wail steps and fences, though both
are in house crews and contracting out we
have completed repairs on concrete steps

at Doke Way, 56" Street, Ottawa Street,
Graibe Way, Tread Way. Martha Street,
Albion Street, Bolder way and wood steps
at Holt Street, Hartford Street and Husac
Street. Walls at Marvista Street, Domestic
Street, Luella Street, and Brookline
Boulevard at Brookline Park. And
scheduled for repair are Baldauf Street and
Dubois Street.

In the area of park maintenance,
the following facilities are scheduled for
repairs and renovation in '99 Ammon,
color coat two basketball courts;
Armstrong, concrete sidewalk repairs;
Baxter Playground, concrete sidewalk
tepairs; Beechview Monument, concrete
sidewalk repairs; Brookline Park, concrete
sidewalk repairs and shelter installation;
Bud Hammer, concrete sidewalk repair;
Burgwin concrete sidewalk repairs and
court repairs and renovations; Catalano
concrete sidewalk repairs; Chadwick,
court renovation; Cowley Playground,
concrete sidewalk repairs; Cross and
Strauss, concrete sidewalk __repairs;
Ferrywood Playground court renovations
and safety surface installation; Fort Pitt,
color coat two courts; Frick Park, infield
renovations; Granville; concrete sidewalk
repairs, Heth, new field installed. I think
that was something I visited with Mr.
Ferlo. Lawn and Ophelia, concrete
sidewalk repairs; Lewis, concrete sidewalk
tepairs; Marshall California, color coat one
court; Mellon Square Park, concrete
sidewalk repairs; Moore Park, concrete
sidewalk repairs, Oakwood, color coat one
court; Paulson, concrete sidewalk repairs
and court renovations; South Side Market
House, concrete sidewalk repairs; Tropical
parklet, color coat two and a half courts
and finally Warrington Playground,
concrete sidewalk repairs.

em
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That is the report from Acting
Director Lamar Barnes and it indicates that
there is a lot happening. Yet the other area
that I wanted to report on and it is
something that we on Council really don't
have the ability to take a lot of action on
and that's personnel. And there have just
been some strange goings on in the
Department of Public Works this year.

And this is the third department
that I have had the opportunity to Chair
since I have been on City Council and I
have never quite seen this kind of goings
on. Beginning with the termination of a
supervisor earlier in the winter. A
supervisor who one of the reasons he was
terminated was he defended himself in the
news media when he was attacked in the
news media allegedly because his division
did not respond appropriately enough to
the weather conditions of that time he was
terminated.

Then I think it was in March and a
television reporter filmed another
supervisor doing all kinds of things
inappropriate things on a time when the
supervisor was supposed to be doing work
for the city. Those kinds of things
included driving a city vehicle over to the
Community College of Allegheny County,
attending regular classes at Community
College of Allegheny County, having a
couple hour lunch with a political
candidate. And I sent a memo to that
supervisor and I also copied the Mayor, the
Director of Public Works, the Deputy
Mayor and I think ail of Council also
should have received it. And if you are
wondering what the response was, there
has been no response whatsoever to that
memorandum. That was sent out on
March 31 so that would be over a month
ago.

752

After that, the same reporter
discovered there was a political action
committee that was being operated by our
Director of Public Works and the
contributors were primarily contractors
doing business with the Department of
Public Works. I think the Mayor did
intervene after that and asked that political
action committee be disbanded. I don't
know whether that happened or not. I
suspect it probably has.

And then finally the most recent
goings on and amongst the personnel of
our Public Works was shown by another
television report from a different reporter
and a different station, which had
apparently been following a particular
crew in the month of April. It showed
those individuals were rarely putting in the
work during the hours they were supposed
to work. Several of them were in
restaurants when they were supposed to be
working or just doing basically nothing
when they were supposed to be working.

I am hearing rumors and I am not
getting much feedback from these
incidents at all from the department about
what is happening and what isn't
happening. But they're rumors that these
individuals now are being threatened with
disciplinary action. I think it is much more
of a question of those that are supervising
these individuals rather than what these
individuals are or aren't doing. There
should be people and no matter who you
are, if someone is not telling you what
your supposed to be doing during your
shift, it is kind of hard to find something to
do if you are not being directed to do that.
Whether you are working for the
government or whether you are working
for the private sector, it's the same. People

TEESE wONOTNOOOOOEEE

have to supervise.

But now I understand some of
those individuals, or one of those
individuals now is being threatened and of
course their response is what about the
guy, the supervisor, that was on film with
conduct that was at least bad or worse,
what is going on with him? I have no
answer to that. I don't know.

But I can tell you this, and it began
early this winter when I asked the director.
I said, you know you have a big morale
problem in this department. When you
start firing one of your best supervisors,
one of your hardest working people over
what I did not feel was a very serious
infraction, and the problem is just growing
worse and worse day by day. Now with
these latest revelations I just have great
concerns for the good workers and they're
in the majority in the Department of Public
Works.

There is no doubt in my mind that
a lot of them are looking over their
shoulder wondering who is next? Why
they're going to be next? The morale is at
an all time low and I tell you what it
impacts on some of the other departments.
Thad people in other departments with no,
they're totally unrelated to this particular
story that came out last week, but that are
being shown to be the loafing types or city
workers are not doing anything and that's
not fair to them either.

So I am just calling on the Mayor
to try to give us some new direction here
in the Department of Public Works. We
seriously need it and he's the one that can
provide it.

Finally, last item I want to report

753

on in Public Works, we did take some
action last year for American Public
Works Association Accreditation Program.
Something is starting to happen on that.
Mr. Bames will be attending a self-
assessment workshop on May 20, 1999.
The initial cost is $3400 and we passed a
resolution authorizing and directing this to
happen last year. This is just the initial
stage of it. You assess yourself and then
the association will come in and review
that

assessment and make some
recommendations.
The Chair;

Thank you for your report.
Mr. Ferlo:

First I want to thank Councilman
Hertzberg for his hard work on the
committee and also for his reports. A
number of colleagues said that they did not
have the benefit of watching the Channel
four report of last week. I would like to
make a motion regarding this matter of the
last week and a half involving Public
Works, but before 1 make my motion, I
would like to play this tape real quickly.

(Video was shown from
WTAE-Channel 4.)
Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you, Mr. President. Sorry to
have taken the extra time but not
everybody had the benefit of seeing that
Teport.

Obviously the report dramatizes
some of the situations because you have a
city worker what appears to be laughter or
dancing around or spending sometime

eating lunch. That in itself is not
condemnation. I have had the pleasure
and I am sure other colleagues of having
worked with hundreds of
Public Works employees over at least
12 years of public service and I have had
the pleasure of working with a lot of folks.
I know a lot of Public Works folks work
very hard day in and day out, all night
long. It is unfortunate that a few bad
apples have spoiled the morale, the image
and projected a very poor image on the
part of the whole Public Works
department.

Now unfortunately as has been the
case with the other issues that Councilman
Hertzberg has raised for the last many
months, we have our Deputy Mayor, our
official flack catcher of the Murphy
administration, at the end saying he's going
to deal with it. We know better. Nothing
is going to come out of it. It's one of the
reasons why I was so vociferously opposed
to Mayor Murphy's garbage tax because
we don't need the garbage tax. J am not
never going to vote for a garbage tax. So
we better get the Public Works house in
order because it is not in order.

I am extremely upset and I spoke
two weeks ago that someone took enough
time to take a yellow spray can and put
yellow spray can around all the potholes
along the marathon parade route, so that
Public Works would know to fill them
prior to the start of the run along the
26.2 miles. Now whoever has that spray
can, I would ask them to please keep going
down the other streets. So Public Works
knows where the potholes are because at
least in my Council District and
throughout the city you have significant
potholes that are causing automobiles to
go get a front end alignment and then have

754

to have a repair bill.

So I would ask that Public Works
please get out in between their lunchtime
at Aiello's Pizza and please try to fill the
Test of the potholes. But what I would like
to ask, Mr. President, I think we have to do
a couple of things because it is clear to me
that the Mayor, and I know the Mayor and
he works very hard. | think we can taught
successes of his administration in many
different ways, but the one way he cannot
taught any success in his administration is
the mismanagement and incompetence in
the Public Works Department in
particular.

We have millions of dollars being
spent and we are not getting the bang for
the buck. And it has got to change. It’s
got to start by Mayor Murphy himself
taking the leadership. It took me four
years to get rid of a Parks Director that
was a complete zero. Now we have the
same situation as far as I am concerned in
Public Works. And | find it outrageous
that Mr. Paolino was fired and I still to this
day don't even know why he was fired. I
hope he sues the administration. I would
like to be a witness in the court of law on
behalf of Mr. Paolino because I think he
got the royal works done on him, let's put
it that way. And it’s clear from this report
that it is not the laborers to set the bottom
of the employment ladder.

I would like to know what is
happening in terms of the foreman, the
supervisors, the deputy’s and the director.
It's a poorly run department. You can see
it all over the city, in parks and you see it
in streets. Now I know why the street
sweepers are down here in the middle of
traffic in the moming trying to clean the
streets because they're not doing it in the

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SS

middle of the night because I guess they're
eating pizza all night.

But I would like to ask two things.
First of all, I think we should ask the office
of the City Controller to do an audit, a
payroll audit. I mean they should be doing
some of the stuff that this gentleman from
Channel 4 did. I would like to ask Mr.
Flaherty to review this Channel 4 report
and conduct some type of performance
audit as it relates to how much we are
spending to get certain things done in
Public Works and what the efficiency is of
the Public Works Department.

I think it is an appropriate activity
for the office and the City Controller and I
would like to ask him to review this
document from Channel four and review
payroll records and do some site visitation.
Whatever they need to do to try to better
understand the performance or lack
therefore of the work force of Public
Works.

But secondly I don't think we
should wait to speak to the Mayor again
until the end of the year when he comes
for 20 minutes during the budget
proceeding. I think given the situation that
Councilman Hertzberg articulated earlier,
a series of things involving Public Works
given this Channel four report, I would
like to ask that we have a special meeting
and ask the Mayor to take one hour out of
his busy schedule. I know he is very busy,
but I think it is appropriate that we ask the
Mayor to come to chambers and we talk
about the Public Works Department. And
if we have to show the tape again, we will
start with that.

I think we should have an open and
frank discussion about the lack of

management and lack of objectives and
goals in that department. And I would like
to respectfully request and ask both. I will
do it in the form of a motion. I would like
to suggest that we formally have a follow
up meeting involving a number of issues
of Public Works in the department. 1
would ask if Councilman Hertzberg could
kindly chair that meeting but I would like
to specifically ask pursuant to our
authority under the Home Rule Charter
that we request a formal meeting with the
Mayor here in chambers.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Mr. Hertzberg will schedule a
televised meeting.

Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you. IJ am going to start
spray painting the potholes in my district.
So please don't arrest me for graffiti. Iam
only trying to protect life and limb.

The Chair:

Any other comments. Certainly, I
don't think it's a prionty of this
administration it starts with the Mayor and
he has to show a priority there, leadership
direction. There is no direction, no goals
and probably most important his follow
up. I have been screaming, if you come to
my neighborhood and look at the streets
and the cleaning of the streets, I think it's
what I used to do. I took some Public
Work Directors and I put a pop can in
front of my house and they told me the

street was done. I brought them out and
had to show them the pop can. They
would admit that it wasn't done. The
bosses have to go out and check. It is what
you inspect not what you expect. I ran a
restaurant chain for 20 years. Everything
is rosy until you get there. Unless the
bosses are going to work night shift and go
out and see what is going on and follow up
you can tell the streets being cleaned or
not.

So, it is not brain surgery and I am
really getting fed up myself. My wife can't
even come home from the Giant Eagle and
they are complaining to her about the
potholes. She goes to the other Giant
Eagle. She will probably be leaving the
city to go to Edgewood Town Center
because she doesn't want to hear all the
complaints about our streets, It is not fair
to all of us who work very hard but there is
no follow up and no leadership. So I hope
they are hearing us next door and follow
up and give some direction and leadership
and get the right bosses to make sure
everyone does their job. I am sure these
people will give you eight hours work for
eight hours pay if they're watched.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Obviously, Mr. President I
welcome the suggestion by Councilman
Ferlo to meet with Mayor Tom Murphy
about a department that is very important
to the delivery of services throughout the
city. And I was very pleased that Mr.
Ferlo did mention as his remarks that this
is a very poor reflection on the entire
department. One, I don't think that is
systematically through it.

For example, last week and I could
just commend the Forestry Division. I am

working very closely with the Forestry
Division on a few matters. But a month or
two ago I recall there was crew working
very diligently on 18th Street on the
Southside. I called the director at the time
and I said I am very proud that these
individuals are out there even in the rain
itself. Just last week Mr. Diven and I had
reason to go see Lamar Bames. Mr.
Bames took care of the matter
immediately. Today I just received a
phone call from Mr.John Radcliffe
regarding two curbs that I called
Mr. Booker today at 9 a.m. and John is
already taken care of it and it is 2:30, three
o'clock. So there is so much good going
on and it is just a bad reflection. I am not
backing away from this meeting. We need
the meeting.

But there are just so many goods
individuals in that department both the
management and the work staff itself. The
rank and file that this issue needs to be
addressed, but I just can't take away from
what occurred last week with the Forestry
Department, with Mr. Booker, with
Mr. Lamar, with Mr. Radcliffe. Also I
needed some garbage cans taken care of
and moved to different locations and
Mr. Bardy (phonetic) took care of it within
one morning. So there is a lot good going
on.

T hope that would be part of the
discussion but what happened today does
reflect very poorly on all city employees
including their esteem body, including
legislative body, including Mayor Tom
Murphy. Also it just sends out a message,
poor message to taxpayers on how are
their taxes being spent. Are they being
spent wisely or not? And now it is going
to be more difficult for myself, Gene
Ricciardi, to go out there and say well

SS SO OTTOOEEOET_CSSS

we're doing the best we can because I
think people are going to say well I think
you guys could do a little better after
seeing that report. So I don't want to take
away from all the good that has occurred
including today with a few of the
individuals I worked with.

Mr. Onorato:

Ijust want to add, I look forward to
the meeting also. And I don’t want to take
away from that meeting. I want to stress I
really feel bad for the men and women of
Public Works that.are putting in an eight-
hour day because this has just tainted the
entire division. They are all going to be
accused of not working because of what
you saw on there.

What else has to happen besides
this meeting is you need some strong
action that's got to be swift. That report is
a week old. We need to know publicly
what is happening. Not just for the
taxpayers even though they deserve it. But
also for the men and women who are
working eight hours a day. They have to
have morale booster here to know that this
won't be tolerated. I mean do you know
what happens out there when you have
these divisions and the workers are the
first to know who doesn't do anything,
who is slacking off. And if they see there
is no reprimand for that, the morale just
sinks. Something has to be done and it has
to be done quickly.

I think in addition to the meeting
we should first have from Sal Sirabella
and the Mayor's Office what exactly is the
response to this report and to what is
happening out there. I don't know what it
is, and if someone here knows. I just find
it ironic ] have in my hand here a letter,

757

date stamped today from a constituent on
the North Side complaining about the
response from the animal control. I guess
I know the answer now. | could call and
tell them what is that road where they were
parking?

Mr. Ricciardi:
By Neville ice-skating.
Mr. Onorato:

By Neville ice-skating and we have
them sitting there and they were
wondering where is the animal control
personnel. Now how can I legitimately
write back to this woman on the North
Side and tell them why she is not getting
response from animal control? That's a
disgrace. We have a -- something has to
be done here and it has to be publicly
known what is the ramification for what
happened here.

I can't stress that more than the
action has to be swift it has got to be
severe and it has to be public. Because if
not, the taxpayers are frustrated, the
workers are frustrated and we are stuck in
this vicious cycle where if we don't get out
of it soon the city is going to collapse, the
maintenance of the city is going to
collapse.

Mr. Diven:

Yes. I would also like to follow up
on something that Councilman Ricciardi
had mentioned. I think one of the things
that the administration and Council needs
to do in addition to going back and doing
the performance study of the department
and looking at the organization, and
management, is we need to make sure that

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the good people and good managers that
have a proven track record in motivating
people and making sure that they are going
above and beyond what they are expected
to do are made to feel comfortable and are
reassured that they are doing a good job.

I know that I was critical in my
division during the snowstorms but I can
tell you with the arrival of Mr. John
Radcliffe over there, we have had a great
working relationship there. The people in
that division are probably the same people
in that division are so much more
Tesponsive and so much more attuned to
solving problems and in a timely and
efficient manner. It is been a great
reflection on the Public Works and my
office because we are now able to
accomplish things instead of give people
excuses on why we can't get something
done.

But I think one of the things we
need to be aware of is we are losing the
leadership of people that are good
management people and good leaders in
that department because we're not
providing them with the support and
making sure that they have the tools and
the resources to accomplish that. I know
Mr. John Tortorete from the asphalt plant
recently I believe as early as this week has
left the city and taken a job in the private
sector. I can tell you in my dealings with
him he was the guy that went above and
beyond what he was supposed to do to
keep that plant operational and keep it
efficient. And he made sure that the
people that worked in that plant and
worked on the paving cruise did the job
and did it at a level of quality and a level
of standard excellence that rarely you find
in the public sector. I think that they're the
kind of people that we need to provide the

support to. 1 know that the department has
a number of great managers, but the
problem is the Mayor's Office and Council
and the director of the department don't
put those people in a position to continue
to succeed and allow other people that will
settle for having crews hanging out at
CoGo's or eating pizza for half their shift.
Then those people that work and take their
jobs serious and perform beyond the
standards that they should be performing
on then, they get the attitude well why
should I even try if no one else is.

I think that's the message that we
teally need to have that conversation with
the Mayor when we sit down and have this
meeting. We need to start to find out who
are the people in that department, who are
the great managers and the great
motivators for people in Public Works?
How can we provide them with the
resources they need to make their job more
successful? I don't think that's happening
just in some of the cases that I saw. But in
some of them that I have seen like with
Mr. Radcliffe the tum around in that
division I think that's fantastic.

I think that is what we need to
recognize as well as that when someone is
doing a good job and when someone is
working with other departments and
members of Council to make sure that they
answer complaints and requests for service
in a timely fashion, we have to be more
supportive of those people. That's one
thing I would like to be able to stress when
we have this meeting. That we do have
some great people, it’s just empowering
them to do their job to a level that they’re
not able to reach right now because the
direction isn't there from Council and the
administration and the department
director.

SS SEES

Mr. Ferlo:

As a follow up. I asked a little bit
last week but the bill that we're voting on
today, Bill 1543 premium pay for Public
Works, I am voting no or abstaining on
this. I don't even know what it is for. [am
being told apparently it is for Public
Works working overtime supposedly
during the snowstorm but I don’t know
that.

Iam not going to feel comfortable
voting on this today. I don't know if we
are voting on this because the Mayor
raised the trails and all Public Works folks
are down there because they are trying to
finish it before the June conference instead
of doing all the stuff that we need done
around the city. I don't know what I am
voting for today and this is a significant
amount of money. So I am going to have
to abstain later on because I don't know
what I am voting on in Public Works, I
am not paying any premium pay when
people should be doing the work during an
eight-hour shift.

The Chair:

Well I certainly want to end with
there are a lot of good employees, and
there are a lot of good supervisors. I think
it has to be a priority. The emphasis has to
change. If you look at what happened to
downtown when the All Star Game came,
it got done. Whoever the personnel.
That's not my decision or our decision, but
it is certainly that the leadership starts at
the top. Whether it is good or bad and we
hope that it shouldn't have to take a news
reporter to shake it up because we are all
hearing and we have been saying for over
a year what is going on here.

Unfortunately it is taking news
reporters to get some action and I certainly
want to commend and thank them for their
reports. But it shouldn't have to come to
that. So I hope the leadership takes the
bull by the hom and gets this thing back on
track.

Moving on to Reports of
Committees.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MR. UDIN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1588:

Report of the Committee on Finance and
budget for April 28, 1999, transmitting
sundry of resolutions.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1522:

Resolution providing for the
transfer of the amount of One Hundred
Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($115,000.00) to
the Special Parks Program Trust Fund,
Account 491120, Fund 7314, Organization
523000, Budget Year 1999 from the
Special Summer Food Service Program
Trust Fund, Account 581130, Fund 2855,
Organization 521220, Subclass 600,
Budget Year 1999 all in the Department of
Parks and Recreation. (PRESENTED BY
MR. RICCIARD).

Which was read.

Also,

Bill No. 1524:

Resolution providing for the
issuance of a $16,330.49 warrant in favor
of Housing Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh, 200 Ross Street, Pittsburgh,
PA 15219 in settlement of a claim in
which a City Police vehicle hit and
damaged claimant’s vehicle.

Bill No. 1525:

Resolution providing for the filing
of a petition or petitions for the sale of
certain property or properties, known as
Lien Excluded Properties acquired at tax
sales, in accordance with Act No. 171 of
1984, “Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act”, effective December
11, 1984,

(a) 830 Steuben Street, 20" Ward,
Block 19B, Lot 14, being sold to West End
Elliot Joint Project 406 S. Main Street,
being sold to West End Elliot Joint
Project. Vacant lot containing an area of
5,012 sq. ft., $100.00. Intended Use:
Future Development. Council District 2.

(b) 518 North Avenue, 23 Ward,
Block 23M, Lot 109, being sold to East
Allegheny Community Council. 2.5 sty.
brk. hse. Situated on a lot containing an
area of 1,600 sq. ft., $1,000.00. Intended
Use: Future Development/Marketing
Council District 1.

(c) 1911 Meadville Street, 25”
Ward, Block 46R, Lot 112, being sold to
Fineview Citizens Council, Inc. Vacant
lot containing an area of 1,134 sq. ft,
$100.00. Intended Use: Future
Development Council District 1.

(d) 1913 Meadville Street, 25"
Ward, Block 46R, Lot 111, being sold to

760

Fineview Citizens Council, Inc. Vacant
lot containing an area of 1,146 sq. ft,
$100.00. Intended Use: Future
Development. Council District 1.

(e) 930 Mellon Street. 11th Ward,
Block 82R, Lot 58, being sold to Highland
Park Community Development
Corporation. Vacant lot containing an
area of 2,586 sq. ft, $100.00. Intended
Use: Future Development. Council
District 7.

(f) 807 Mellon Street, 11"" Ward,
Block 83B, Lot 379, being sold to
Highland Park Community Development
Corporation. 2.5 sty. brk. hse. Situated on
a lot containing 5,255 sq. ft., $1,000.00.
Intended Use: Rehab for resale. Council
District 7.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1526:

Resolution providing for the filing
of a petition or petitions for the sale of
certain property or properties, known as
Lien Excluded Properties acquired at tax
sales, in accordance with Act No. 171 of
1984, “Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act”, effective December
11, 1984,

(a) 427 Walde Street, 16" Ward,
Block 32E, Lot 69, being sold to South
Pittsburgh Economic Revitalization Team,
Inc. 2 sty. alum. Hse situated on a lot
containing an area of 2,500 sq. ft,
$1,000.00. Intended Use: Future
development. Council District 3.

({b) 829-830 Warrington Avenue,
18" Ward, Block 14B, Lot 315, being sold
to South Pittsburgh Economic
Revitalization Team, Inc., $1,000.00. 2
Sty. brk. tavern bldg. Situated on a lot
containing an area of 2,350 sq. ft.
Intended use: Future Development.
Council District 2.

(c) 210 Parkfield Street, 29" Ward,
Block 95C, Lot 16, being sold to South
Pittsburgh Economic Revitalization Team,
Inc., $1,000.00. 2 sty. brk. & shg. Hse
situated on a lot.containing an area of
3,486 sq. fi. Intended Use: Rehab for
resale. Council District 4.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1527:

(a) 5805 Bryant Street, 11th Ward,
Block 82-M, Lot 113, being sold to
Edward J. & Gail Lesoon. Vacant lot
containing an area of 3,100 sq. ft.,
$1,500.00. Intended use: Future
development. Council District 7.

(b) 7029 Lemington Avenue, 12"
Ward, Block 173-A-159, being sold to
Robert M. Nash. 2 sty. brk. alum. & fra.
house, 2 car c.b. gar. Situated on a lot

containing 7,167 sq. ft., $2,500.00
Intended Use: Rental Unit. Council
District 9.

761

(c) 616 & 618 Brushton Avenue,
13" Ward, Block 174R, Lots 211 & 213,
being sold to Charles H. Johnson. Two
vacant lots containing a combined area of
4,134 sq. ft. (2,067 sq. ft. ea.), $2,500.00.
Intended Use: Parking lot for business.
Council District 9.

(d) 7229 Hermitage Street, 13%
Ward, Block 174B, Lot 334, being sold to
Tamara Thompson & Ramont Smith,
$500.00. 2 sty. brk. hse. & gar. Situated
on a lot containing an area of 2,342 sq. ft.
Intended Use: Personal Residence.
Council District 9.

{e) 1300 & 1302 Columbus
Avenue, 21" Ward, Block 22F, Lots 222 &
223. Being sold to Greater Allen Full
Gospel AME Church, $3,500.00. Steel
Gar. Shop & 1 sty. fra. shg. Sto. Situated
ona lot containing 843 sq. ft. together with
adjoining vacant lot containing 1,440 sq.
ft. Intended Use: Develop for Church
Ministry Work. Council District 6.

(f) 833-835 Canal Street, 23°
Ward, Block 9-B-21 & 22, being sold to
Donna M. Nortis, $1,000.00. Intended.
Use: Two vacant lots containing a
combined area of 5,060 sq. ft. Additional
yard space. Council District 6.

(g) 1703 McCullough Street, 25"
Ward, Block 22H, Lot 158, being sold to
Frank Gaines, $500.00. Vacant lot
containing an area of 1,100 sq. ft. Intended
use: Additional yard space. Council
District 6.

(h) 1446 Columbus Avenue, 21%
Ward, Block 22J, Lot 301, being sold to
Greater Allen Full Gospel AME Church.
2.5 sty. brk. hse. Situated on a lot

SSS ey
a 8 §8§ gBg_nRnxqaom:

containing 1,380 sq. ft.
Intended Use:
Council District 6.

$5,000.00.
Church ministry work.
Which was read.

Also,

Bill No. 1543:

Resolution transferring the amount
of Two Hundred Thousand ($200,000.00)
Dollars from Salaries to Premium Pay,
both within the Department of Public
Works. (PRESENTED BY MR.
HERTZBERG).

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Hertzberg:

Bill 1543 that was just referred to
by Mr. Ferlo, I make a motion to
recommit.

MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ricciardi:

On Bill 1522 I would like to amend
from 115,000 to $90 thousand. Matter of
fact it's less money.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Mr. Ferlo:

Discussion.

762

The Chair:
You want to explain?
Mr. Ricciardi:

According to our Budget Director
il appears that the wrong numbers were
used in the original resolution that was put
forward by the Department of Parks and
Recreation. It was a mistake for a lack of
a better word, and Mr. Scott Kunka
realized that the number really should be
90,000. Again, it is less money. So that’s
the reason I am not questioning them.

Mr. Onorato:

Before I vote on this Mr. President,
I also want to be assured that the
Executive Secretary won't send a letter to
all the food programs that we defunded
their food because of street paving. We
moved money around to do it so for those
letters are going out of here. I want to
make it clear that City Council did not take
food out of children's mouths because we
want to pave roads. If there is a memo out
there circulating the city it's a lie and I just
want to make sure that's clarified.

The Chair:

You want to cc Mr. Cox on that?
Mr. Onorato:

I will make sure I do.
Mr. Ricciardi:

Just on that note, I think maybe at

the end of the meeting Mr. Onorato could
better explain. I know exactly what he's

SSS 8 OOOOH

talking about. But for the viewing public
hopefully he will be able to explain exactly
the essence of his remarks hopefully after
the meeting.

Mr. Onorato:

I will explain it now. I am still
upset. I haven't heard anything. There is a
letter that was sent out to one particular
group, I don't know if it is the only group,
there might be other groups. That any
time there is a reduction or there is a
denial of a request, I should say, there
appears to be a blame on this Council
because we decided to move four million
dollars of bond money for asphalting the
streets. Yet these accounts are coming
from Federal block grant dollars. Have
nothing to do with the money we move.
There is no relationship between the two.

The block grant dollars have not
been cut. These groups are funded or if
they haven't been funded it is because
administration decided not to fund them.
Council is not moving or reducing any
account that has been approved in the
budget when it comes to CDBG. We
moved bond money around and it came
out of big time downtown development
projects no where else.

So if any misinformation is out
there I just want to make sure it is clear
that Council did not reduce this. This
reduction is coming from the
administration and it is the
administration's doing. It had nothing to
do with the asphalt.

The Chair:

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote

aye when your names are called: all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1589:

Report of the Committee on Housing,
Economic Development and Promotion
for April28, 1999, transmitting one
resolution to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1515:

Resolution Approving
Modification No. 7 to the East Liberty
Redevelopment Area Plan (Council
District No. 9).

Which was read.

ee eee

The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Diven Mr. Ferlo

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Ms. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1590:

Report of the Committee on Parks,
Recreation and Youth Policy for April 28,
1999 transmitting two resolutions to
Council.

Which was read, received, and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 1521:

Resolution Amending Resolution
No. 349, approved June 15, 1998, effective
June 23, 1998 entitled " Authorizing the
Department of Parks and Recreation to
enter into a contract or contracts,
agreement or agreements, or the use of
existing contracts or agreements for the
purchase of furniture and equipment in an
amount not to exceed One Hundred
Thousand ($100,000.00) Dollars for the
Parks and Recreation Senior Interests
Program," by reducing the amount of the
resolution by $25,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1523:

Resolution authorizing the City of
Pittsburgh to accept ownership of the
following vacant lots located within the
City of Pittsburgh to be dedicated for
public use as parklets.

Which was read.
The Chair:
You have heard the reading and

title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bilis?

Bills are now ready for final action.
All those in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

ee
—e=—neeooeeSeee

Mr. Diven Mr. Ferlo

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1591:

Report of the Committee on Public, Safety
Services for April 28, 1999, transmitting
two resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No, 1529:

Resolution Authorizing and
directing the Director of Public Safety, in
conjunction with the appropriate Chiefs of
Bureaus within the Department of Public
Safety and, and the Directors of General
Services and Personnel, to take the
appropriate actions to develop a pilot
program wherein medical emergencies can
be responded to by utilizing a motorcycle
mounted Emergency Medical Technician
in order to augment the City's existing
First Responder Program.
(SPONSORED BY MR. O’CONNOR &
MR. DIVEN)

Which was read.

Also,

765

Bill No. 1539:

Resolution authorizing Members of
the Fire and EMS Unions to travel to San
Francisco from May 5" through May 9" to
attend the EMS Delivery System Seminar,
at a total cost not to exceed $6,000.00 of
which $3,000.00 shall be paid from the
Fire Department, Education and Training
Account, and $3,000 shall be paid from
the EMS Education and Training Account.
(SPONSORED BY MR. DIVEN).

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills.

Mr. Diven:

I would like to make a motion to
recommit Bill 1539 so we can table it in
Standing Committee.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Mr. Udin:

Point of order.
The Chair:

You can table it now.
Mr. Diven:

Table it now, okay motion to table.
MR. FERLO seconded the motion.

Mr. Onorato:

ee
8 TEES

Roll call, please.
Mr. Ferlo:

Maybe we could just --
Mr. Udin:

Motion is to keep --
Mr. Cohen:

Motion to waive the rules and let
there be no discussion on the table. I can't
vote on this,

Mr. Udin:

You can't waive the rules.
Mr. Cohen:

Yes you can,

Mr. Udin:

It's not a City Council rules, Mr.

President, is it Robert's Rules of
parliamentary procedure.
Mr. Cohen:

You can waive a mle of
parliamentary procedure.
The Chair:

Call the question.
Mr. Cohen:

l abstain. We have no information
on this bill.

The Chair:

766

Does the chair want to recommit
for tomorrow?

Mr. Udin:
Motion is to table.
The Chair:

If you want discussion you will
have to recommit that is all.

The Chair:
Motion to table is on the floor.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)
(Mr. Hertzberg voted no, Ms.
McDonald abstained.)
The Chair:

Bills are now ready for final action.

Mr. Udin:

Mr. President, on Bill 1529 please
have my comments brought forward from
the Standing Committee Meeting, please.

(See addendum for comments)
Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you, Mr. President, on the
bill that you put forward I think it is a very

rr
S=—_——eEoee

good idea, one that needs to be explored.
Any time we have an opportunity actually
not to help a life but to save a life, we have
to look at different ways and innovative
ways to deliver that service. And
obviously it is just common sense if traffic
is backed up, if you have some very
difficult streets to navigate, I think putting
an individual on a motor bike that could
deliver that life support system fast and as
quickly as possible is a good idea, Mr.
O'Connor.

As you know, you and I attended a
function in the Southside of Pittsburgh and
there was a table there of senior citizens
and the elderly. They commended and
complimented you. I am very proud to
support your bill. Obviously there were
more details during the committee session
but that is just some of the highlights I
would like to touch upon.
Congratulations.

The Chair:

Thank you for your support. I
would like to clarify it is in the hands of
the Public Safety Director and
Mr. Kennedy is in charge of the
paramedics and they’re testing their pilot
program from the paramedics. We're
suggesting four to five motorcycles be
tested and where it goes from there we will
know in July. We have had calls from
different paramedics versus fire and has
nothing to do with that, it’s a test, a pilot
program and hopefully we can expand all
over the city.

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

767

Will the Clerk piease call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven.
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1592:

Report of the Committee on Engineering
and Construction for April28, 1999,
transmitting two resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with a negative recommendation.
Bill No. 1512:

Resolution Further amending
Resolution No. 781, effective January 1,
1999, entitled “Adopting and approving
the 1999 Capital Budget and the 1999
Community Development Block Grant
Program; and approving the 1999 through
2004 Capital Improvement Program,” by
creating a new line item entitled “Traffic
Signals at Seventh Street and Penn
Avenue.”

SSS OOOO

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1513:

Resolution Providing for a
Contract or Contracts, or use of existing
Contracts for the purchase and installation
of new traffic and streetlight poles and
fixtures at Seventh Street and Penn
Avenue; at a cost no to exceed $40,000.00.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Ferlo:

Discussion. I believe the one bill
regarding traffic signalization had a
negative only because the majority of
colleagues were concerned about not
having a response from -- they were both
voted on negatively. Lack of response
from the administration and clarification
on Deputy Mayor Cox's letter regarding
some misinformation that he put into
writing to a community group. I am not
sure it got any more resolved.

Ido know that the administration is
sending a bill over and making some
changes to the overall community
development block grant in order to fulfill
the Mayor's desire to assist a community
organization with some community
development block grant funds. I was very
pleased that the Mayor intervened and
helped to resolve that issue.

I hope that straightens out the other
misinformation letter that went out as
Councilman Onorato rightfully pointed
out, all the asphalt money is capital bond
money and nothing to do with the
community development block grant to the

best of my knowledge.
Mr. Udin:
Yes, I believe its clear to

colleagues that as Councilman Ferlo
suggested this was kind of a way of getting
the administration's attention. But if we
are going to vote this down I would rather
recommit them so that we can have
another opportunity for discussion rather
than to have a negative vote today.

Mr. Ferlo:

I think we made a lot of progress
this last week and I would ask my
colleagues to please vote in favor of these
line items. We need to repair all traffic
signals throughout the city but especially
given the new construction of this area.
It's very important that we proceed and any
time we get a chance in Engineering and
Construction to do work, we have to try to
get the work done.

Mr. Onorato:

I am willing to vote for this. From
what J have heard from Councilman Ferlo
even though you got that stealth response
from the administration, I want to go on
good faith. That it was maybe a one time
mental lapse that this letter went out. If
there is a second letter found out to a
different group with the same kind of
wording that was inaccurate, we would
have more than enough opportunity to shut
down the movement of other capital

SSE ETT

dollars until this is clarified.

So I am willing to move forward
and chalk this up just as a mental mistake
that won't happen again.

The Chair:

Very generous.

Bills are now ready for final action.
All those in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None
Bills have received the legally

required number of votes and have passed

finally.

The Chair:

Under motions and resolutions.

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
Mr. Hertzberg:

First there is a motion that Linda
has.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

No. 1593 WHEREAS, _ the
Bavarian Beneficial Association is a
501(c) (3) non-profit corporation.

WHEREAS, the Bavarian
Beneficial Association desires to operate
certain small games of chance and/or
conduct raffles to generate funds for
programming to further its mission in
service to the people of Pittsburgh.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED that the Mayor and the
Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby
recognizes and declares the Bavarian
Beneficial Association, to be a civic and/or
service organization within the context of
the Pennsylvania Small Games of Chance
Act, as amended

Now therefor be it resolved that the
Mayor and the Council of the City of
Pittsburgh hereby recognize and declares
that the Bavarian Beneficial Association to
be a civic and service organization within
the context of the Pennsylvania smail
games of chance act.

MR. FERLO moved to adopt.

MR. HERTZBERG | seconded the
motion.

Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ferlo:

Yes, Mr. President. First I want to
thank, since Channel Four isn't here, I
want to thank the Public Works who
worked very hard over the weekend
especially with the marathon. I observed
nothing but hard working folks lifting

ee
es

barricades and doing a lot of great work.

But I was a little bit upset and I
was curious to know if my other
colleagues along the parade route,
Bloomfield is one of the busiest corridors
for the Pittsburgh Marathon. 1 probably
personally have one of the largest events
that I have had every year for the last ten
years. But I was a little bit concemed
because I don't know if there was less
money for the marathon or if they spent
money on bands or whatever they spent
the money on. But this year there were
very few if any portable toilets along the
parade route throughout the Bloomfield
corridor.

I don't understand why either
someone forgot to order them, but we have
thousands of people throughout
Bloomfield Liberty Avenue corridor and it
is really rough on the restaurants and
everyone else. J don't understand why they
didn't have port a johns this year.

Also I was very concemed because
they usually have those disposable garbage
receptacles. They are kind of like
throwaway boxes with the plastic bags in
them. But there were no receptacles and
Bloomfield was a completed mess. You
can't have thousands of people along the
parade route with vendors and not have a
lot of garbage. I don't know, a lot of work
has been done to clean up since the
marathon day. But I would just ask that
the Marathon organizers or that Public
Works if we had a Public Works Director
would let the Marathon Committee know
in the future they should submit a plan for
port a johns and receptacles for trash along
the parade route.

I mean if we let them take over the

770

streets and close it they should cooperate
with us. Also, if they are working with us
to get il to be a great Pittsburgh event, that
means lots of people are out on the streets.
A lot of food venders, especially when it is
a hot day and there has got to be places for
people to use the bathrooms and for trash.
That was not prepared this time. I don't
know if there was a short on funds or I
don’t know what happened. But at least
through the Bloomfield corridor those
things were not present, it was very bad.
Thank you.

The Chair:

I believe I would ask you to look
into or possibly someone in the
Bloomfield Business District as your
representative to check the meetings when
it was started, the planning for this event
versus last year. I believe there was a
shortcoming there and also, maybe for
next year that you ask someone in your
neighborhood to be on that committee.

Mr. Ferlo:

There are people that don't even
like the marathon and a lot of residents
complain to me that they wish the
marathon didn't even happen. So if you're
going to keep the marathon, let's not step
on people's toes any more than we have to.
So if it is starts getting to be an event that
the neighborhoods find to be oppressive or
not something they want to deal with every
year, that is not going to work either.

It's like the film crews. I get calls
sometimes because the Pittsburgh film
office doesn't always follow up with
residents when they're closing streets down
and it’s not fair. | don't want to interfere.
I don't want to get involved with writing

SS SS OOS

an ordinance or resolution because I think
it’s working well. The film office works
hard. J want to keep making films here but
they have to do a little better effort and
communicate to the residents for these
kinds of events. Other wise people are
going to ium sour on these events and that
is not going to help the city.

The Chair:

My point is, I got a call I think
Thursday from someone in Public Works
who had been involved and was afraid of
this because they said the planning wasn't
what it usually was. I just heard it at the
last minute so I certainly couldn't do
anything about it, but possibly for next
year you can look into the planning of it.

Mr. Ferlo:
I wasn't aware of that. Thank you.
Mr. Onorato:

I just want to point out, I know it
sounds like a small point but I just want to
echo what Councilman Ferlo said. I spent
two hours over in Bloomfield and I was
walking Liberty Avenue. It amazes me
that after how many years has this
marathon been going on, there were no
trash receptacles, just the standard ones
that we have there. Every single one was
over flowing. There was stuff every
where.

What would it take to know that
we have to line the streets with these
cardboard boxes? There was nothing.
People were stopping me as a Councilman
saying, what can I say they were right. It's
not like this is the first time we had the
marathon. We do this every year. So once

771

again that has nothing to do with the
employees. That was a managerial mix up
that someone didn't put the trash
receptacles out. Bloomfield, there was
trash every where.

Mr. Ferlo:

It was Councilman Ricciardi in the
past had all the problems with the
Southside Festival. Under his leadership a
lot of those problems got straightened out
but we don't want to lose the marathon.
And we don't want people in the
neighborhoods to turn sour on it. So they
have to be conscience of it. You know if
is typical of the University of Pittsburgh's
mentality.

The Chair:

I would presume that there is -- the
committee.

Mr. Ferlo:

Tell them to quit paying for big
corporate law firms attacking the city,
maybe they would have some money for
receptacles,

The Chair:

I would request that the race
committee at least let us know if there is
follow up meeting to point these out so it
doesn't happen next year. I certainly can
agree with you and Mr. Onorato is that
going to be our next expression. I walk up
Murray Avenue every day saying what do
you want me to do.

They are probably calling for
potholes right now it is probably my wife
saying fix that pothole.

ooo eee

Mr. Ferlo:

That's another thing. And
Mr. President, | still don't get a sense of
Public Works changing their asphalt
pothole patching policy. Because why
send a truck to one pothole based on a
citizen complaint. Go up and down the
darn street and fill the potholes. They
have these trucks going miles apart to fill
one pothole because Mrs. Calabust calls
into the Mayor's Complaint Center. It's
completely stupid, inane system. 1 mean
fill the potholes, go up and down the grid
system of the streets and fill the dam
potholes. Don't go to one pothole
complainant’s house and fill one pothole
and then send a truck five blocks away to
fill the second complainant’s house
pothole.

Is anyone running this city?
The Chair:

Can I make one last suggestion on
this issue? We have five divisions; the
graffiti should be taken care by that
division, the potholes by that division, the
forestry by that division. I mean it is not
brain surgery here. We have good people,
let them be responsible so that when they
ride by a tree in front of a stop sign they
don't have to call forestry from North Side
to go to Southside. They just stop and
they fix it. I mean making someone
responsible for a district, which is maybe
they are 75percent responsible but
somehow they are not all.

So again, why have five persons or
people on one truck? Why not have you
know four trucks with eight people on
them or two each. We will save that for
our meeting but I would send a strong

772

suggestion that they just look at the way
they're doing it J think they could do it a
lot better and again | will give you another
management, let's work smarter.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Another subject. Different subject.
There is a business that is headquartered I
guess in my district. It is called Just
Ducky Tours and if you looked around you
probably seen the unusual tourism service
that they offer. And I think it is a great
business that they brought into the area.
They have an amphibious duck boat that
takes people on tours first on land and then
in the water.

Well I am very concerned that they
may be a casualty of our construction of
the PNC Park stadium. There is a
situation that they are faced with now and I
think we are faced with the city
government with them that really threatens
their existence and operation. This is a
business that was started by two young
men who had a great idea. They're not
from Pittsburgh but they moved here,
spent their entire life savings, borrowed
money, put this thing together with these
tours and it's been a great business. They
get along well with all the other boating
and tourism activities in the area.

What has happened is we agreed,
the city agreed about two years ago, and I
have the permit here, that they were to be
able to get out of the water near the
stadium, near Gate C and then get on to
the roadway by going near where the River
Rescue facility was, out that driveway
there onto the public road. Well as you
know that River Rescue, at least the
Portion that was used by the paramedics
and the Fire Bureau has been demolished.

ee
a

The entire place is mow a construction
zone. With that, the Just Ducky Tours
operation has no means for getting out of
the water and onto the road over there.

What they have been doing since
the demolition has really gotten serious
this spring is they have had to change their
route completely. They have had to get in
and out of the water in Mr. Ricciardi's
District over in the Southside public
landing area and it's been a tremendous
inconvenience. It has actually cost them
money now where because they want to
get their tours rolling and off on their big
lines, they have had to actually hire police
to get them in and out there on the
Southside. And apparently no one is
offering to reimburse them either, or the
city is not even offering to pay those
expenses for the police. But even that
route is not what we, number one, agreed
to do for them; or number two, what is
appropriate for the kind of tour.

It doesn't make any sense to show
someone our rivers down there in this
amphibious craft which can only go five
miles an hour in the water. I mean they
really can't get to the greatest views when
they're starting there. They just don't have
time to do it. So theyre not. They're
really not showing the good tour and also I
guess the composition of that river being
the muddy river that it is, is taking the toll
on the maintenance of their vehicle.

They’re having a heck of a time.
There was a proposal to put a temporary
road just past the Sixth Street Bridge.
We're going to put a temporary road and I
guess we needed property from North
Shore Commons One. A small piece of
their property temporarily and the city had
agreed that they would not only put it back

773

the way it was but actually improve some
of their land when this was all over. And
this was just to be during the period of
construction of PNC Park.

When they constructed the stadium
access is going to be built into it and that
access and it is not only access for Just
Ducky Tours, it is also emergency vehicle
access. At some point in time our
emergency vehicles are going to be
completely blocked off from river access
as well if we can't get this route. It's a
terrible dilemma.

If anyone knows North Shore
Commons One and can get through to
them because some of their rationale for
this move doesn't make any sense at all.
They're saying Just Ducky Tours is going
to cause our tenants to move out of the
building. Meanwhile the tours go by the
front of the building already, closer than
they would be under the proposed road. It
started out with this particular landowner
saying everything is okay then it went to
Just Ducky Tours is not okay, then it went
to nobody is okay. Now our emergency
vehicles are saying not even that they can
go in and out from this facility.

When we're looking into
constructing a whole new ramp over near
the, I guess it's called the Manchester
Bridge Pier which is going to be a
tremendous project, going to take
Engineering, it's a hillside, it's going to be
a big challenge to construct a new ramp
over there. I mean it's a dilemma I have
been trying to deal with.

I have made a number of phone
calls to people in the Mayor's Office, to
Mr. Leeper. I know everyone is working
on it. But in the mean time this business is

ee
8 8 gz}RD CO OQOO_O

really, the duck business is floundering. I
hate to try to make a joke, it's not a joke,
and it is just a great business. It is a
tremendous boost. It is what everyone is
talking about and we need to increase
tourism. These people are doing it.
They're doing it. They have come in with
a great idea and it just doesn't seem like
anything is happening to solve this
problem. I call on everyone, if you know
these owners of this place, and what I hear
is that they are -- well we have also talked
eminent domain for that too. But
considering the temporary nature, it
doesn't make any sense and the potential
for objections by the time we get through
might not work but that might be one
possibility.

But my understanding is there
might be an ownership connection with
Duquesne Light and they're just giving us
a hard time because of some of the past
history with the Mayor and Duquesne
Light. But I hope-- that's why I am
putting this out to everybody. If you can
talk to these people, talk to them. Because
there doesn't appear to be any logic to their
refusal to allow this temporary road. It
just seems to be someone that's taking a
position based on some kind of revenge
motif rather than what is best for the
region, what is best for everyone.

Mr. Ricciardi:

On a_ very serious _ note,
Councilman Hertzberg definitely has our
support or my support. And J am sure the
first of all we should look into if there has
been any public subsidies or URA funding
to the particular complex in question.

Let me just say my daughter loves
them and I thought it was going to be a

774

permanent fixture in the Southside. And
we were very excited, because it adds to
the excitement and to the flavor of urban
living. I mean when it passes my house
my four-year-old jumps up and down, she
waives and the people waive back and the
music is playing. I think it's great.

Matter of fact, 1 thought it was going to be
permanently into the Southside, hopefully
that will not change.

But it just goes back to the serious
level to this and that is basically we need
to help young entrepreneurs. We need to
help small businesses because they're
paying taxes. | am sure when the Penguins
were not paying their millions of dollars of
amusement tax, I bet this touring entity,
this organization, this business is paying
their taxes. And Mr. Hertzberg is saying
yes they're paying their taxes, they're
offering good service, it’s bringing a lot of
people onto the tours. They stop, they're
patronizing Southside businesses and my
daughter is having a blast.

So anything we can do to save
Ducky Tours I am definitely in big
support. It might sound amusing at first,
but there is a serious issue here that Mr.
Hertzberg is raising.

The Chair:
Maybe they should ask for a TIF.
Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President this is
the first I heard of this problem, but I want
to offer my assistance as a member of the
Auditorium Authority. I do know the
company quite well. A lot of friends of
mine kids have birthday parties through
Just Ducky Tours. They do a terrific job.

a ey

I know at least one of the owners. And not
only are they young entrepreneurs in the
City of Pittsburgh, but every trip they take
and 1 think they take my guess is a dozen
or so a day, but every trip they provide is
for usually out of towners to see Pittsburgh
ofien for the first time. So they are doing a
service for the city and they really have
become an asset for the city. I have taken
the tour myself several times.

So I offer my assistance at least
through the Auditorium Authority to see if
there is something that can be done in the
construction site. area if at all possible. I
don't know who the owner is of North
Shore Commons One, but would certainly
be happy to intervene to help this out. I
thank Councilman Hertzberg for raising
this issue.

Mr. Ferlo:

Just as a brief follow up.
Obviously all of us are excited about Just
Ducky Tours. Every time I have ever
taken a tour on it, they love it, they love
the city, they love the water. They love the
history lesson that the folks take them on
as they take the tour down Grant Street.
But could we please ask that Mr. Leeper
receive a communication formally from
the president and report back to us ASAP.
1 think Mr. Leeper needs to resolve this
and come to some quick accommodation
appropriately for Just Ducky Tours, a great
part of the city. We don't want to lose
them, they can't just close up shop for a
year during construction.

I don't understand why they can't
make a temporary road at or near the
construction site. We have that landing
area on the other side of the Sixth Street
Bridge further down from ALCOA. There

775

is a little marina there. I can't believe we
can't find a way to get them at or near the
Sixth Street Bridge landing where they
used to leave from. So, it should be
resolved. If it is not resolved, then you
know we shouldn't be voting on other
things until it is resolved.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Just final comments. These two
people that own this are the nicest people
in the world, because they have an
agreement here. We agreed to provide
them this access specifically and we're not
providing it. We're providing them with
something else which is inferior.

Mr. Cohen:

Could you provide a copy of that to
Council members, please?

Mr. Hertzberg:

Sure, it is attached to my letter to
Steve Leeper dated April 21.

The Chair:

There was an accident using this
equipment yesterday. I don't know if you
saw the news yet. A couple of kids
drowned. I don't want to -- so we want to
make sure I believe they have already said
they're safe and all that. You want to
make sure that they all have the proper
docking and exit and entering that is
needed. I was curious once you get on;
you don't put a vest on.

Mr. Cohen:
I hate to speak out of tum. If I

recall, you don't put a vest on but they
point out there is a vest right overhead

ey
e== eee

there. These are souped up World War II
amphibious vehicles. I am sure they have
to pass inspection.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Let me just -- to clarify. 1 don't
think it came clearly what you're talking
about. That is there was a, I believe, it was
one of these boats down south in Arkansas
or Alabama that sunk. And it sunk very
quickly, same type of boat. But I have
spoken with the owners earlier today and
they were inspected within the last two
weeks and in fact as a result of that, they
were being inspected again today by |
believe the Coast Guard, I believe who
inspects them. They have assured me they
inspect every day these boats that takes
them over an hour everyday before they
run them to conduct the inspection.

The Chair:

I am trying -- I believe they said
that on TV so we will try to support them.
Again, make sure they're safe and I am
sure they are. But again, make sure they
have the right docking so we don’t cause a
problem, or unnecessary concem.

Mr. Diven:
Just two housekeeping
announcements. One, I would like to

mention that today I introduced a piece of
legislation for any city employees that are
members of the reserves or National
Guard. We will be discussing it
tomorrow, which will help to ease their
fears regarding the health care benefits and
the loss in pay if they're called up to active
duty in regards to the Kosovo situation.
We will be discussing that tomorrow. |
did want to get that out there if anyone

776

from the city was watching that we will be
taking that matter up in tomorrow's
standing committee.

The Chair:

1 want to commend you. I have
had a few phone calls and I told them you
were doing this because 1 think you
mentioned it last week. So I think it sends
a clear message to our employees that we
certainly are supporting them and because
they're doing their country's duty, they are
certainly not going to be hurt by it.

Mr. Diven:

I think with all the things they have
to think about when being called up to
active duty, whether or not their health
care benefits or whether or not they're
going to actually default on their mortgage
because they are not going to make the
level of pay that they make with the city.

The Chair:

I was surprised I saw on the news
that some of them are being called up for
nine months.

Mr. Diven:

Second issue. This Saturday they
will be having the Second Annual Police
and Community Together picnic. It is
going to be held in lots four and five of
Three Rivers Stadium and it is going to go
from 11 am. to 5 pm. It is a free
afternoon. There is going to be a lot of
activities.

IT want to remind Council we were

supportive with $15,000 for this picnic. If
you get the opportunity to stop over, I am

sure there are a lot of people in the law
enforcement community that would like to
thank Council for their assistance and
hopefully making this a continuing success
in the City of Pittsburgh.

The Chair:

Can I follow up, is that just going
to be in the parking lot, it is not going to
be in Point State Park at all?

Mr. Diven:

There was some concems with the
getting the permits and this year they
have -- last year they had a number of
bands. This year they moved more
towards a children emphasized picnic.
They have got petting zoos and rides and a
lot of the things that -- they couldn't get the
permits in order for Point State Park. But
they adapted and were able to secure two
lots at Three Rivers Stadium. They're
going to have that set up and there is going
to be definitely a full day worth of
activities for kids.

So if anyone is watching it would
be a good aftemoon to come down and see
not only about law enforcement but have
an aftemoon that's going to be enjoyable.
And get the opportunity to see some of the
things that the law enforcement
community have been working on and
Tecognize the police officers who
volunteer their time working with kids in
the community.

The Chair:
It is open to the general public?

Mr. Diven:

Yes.
The Chair:

Any other discussion?

Hearing none, motion to adjourn.
MR. HERTZBERG moved to adjoum
the meeting.
MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.

And on the motion made by Mr.
Hertzberg, the meeting adjoumed.

ADDENDUM

Mr. Udin’s comments on Bill 1529 can be
found in the Standing Committee Meeting
minutes of April 28, 1999.

MUNICIPAL RECORD

ooo
Proceedings of the Council of the Citv of Pittsburgh
ERS OL TO OUCH OF te City of Pittsburgh

VOL. CXXXHI

May 11, 1999

No. 19

Municipal Record

ONE-HUNDRED
THIRTIETH COUNCIL

BOB O'CONNOR ooessssssssssnsessensen President
LINDA M. JOHNSON-WASLER ....City Clerk
JOHN R. MASCIO wcseessoseere Deputy City Clerk

Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday, May 11, 1999

PRESENT:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato
Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin

Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor
Ms. McDonald (Pres't)
The Chair:

All please rise for the pledge of
allegiance and remain standing for a
moment silent prayer for peace and hope
throughout the world.

In your prayers we would like to
remember Mr. Ralph Kraszewski's, widow
who passed away, Saturday. She is the
wife of Ralph Kraszewski our Public
Works Director.

With us we

have Mallory

778

Praskovich. She's nine years old in the
fourth grade from Elizabeth Seton School.
She is here with her father, Doug, and she
lives in Alan Hertzberg's District.

Mallory Praskovich:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.

The Chair:

Thank you. Her father Doug is a
firefighter at Station 17. Thanks for all
your hard work.

We have many special guests in the
audience. J would like to bring one of
mine up first sponsored by all Council
members. We have Craig Patrick the
General Manager of the Penguins.

PRESENTATIONS

We are very honored to have you,
Craig, and I know in the papers maybe
there is a lot of things outside of hockey
but we're here today to talk about hockey.

I know Councilman Hertzberg's
alluded at almost every meeting this is one
of the hardest working teams and we never
expected to get this far. And we expect to
go a lot further right now and we are half
way through the playoffs. We want to
congratulate you and the whole team on
bringing the spirit of the Penguins back

SS STOO

and on an outstanding season. And on
behalf of all Council members and I think
the whole audience, we have a big crowd
today, we want to wish the Penguins the
best. I will read the proclamation and I am
sure Council members will have a few
things to say besides asking for tickets.

Mr. Ferlo:

We no there are free tickets, they're
very expensive,

MR. O'CONNOR AND = ALL
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT:

No. 1594 WHEREAS, the
Pittsburgh Penguins are legends in the
game of hockey; and,

WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh
Penguins have made history, proving
themselves a leader within the Atlantic
Division, Eastem Conference and the
National Hockey League; and,

WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh
Penguins are led by the National Hockey
League's best management team of
General Manager Craig Patrick and Head
Coach Kevin Constantine; and,

WHEREAS, the Penguins have the
world’s #1 player in Jaromir Jagr and an
impressive supporting cast which includes
the following teammates:

Greg Andrusak
J-Sebastien Aubin
Mathew Barnaby
Tom Barrasso
Rob Brown

Sven Butenschon
Bobby Doilas
Maxim Galanov

Kevin Hatcher
Jan Hrdina

Victor Ignatjev
Darius Kasparaitis
Dan Kesa

Alexei Kovalev
Robert Lang

Kip Miller

Jan Moran
Aleskey Morozov
Peter Skudra

Jiri Slegr

Martin Sonnenberg
Martin Straka
German Titov
Brad Werenka
Tyler Wright; and,

WHEREAS, the 1999 season is the
ninth straight year that the Pittsburgh
Penguins have entered the Stanley Cup
playoffs; and,

WHEREAS, the __—~Pittsburgh
Penguins are adding to Pittsburgh's rich
sports tradition by competing for the
Stanley Cup, having already defeated
favored New Jersey in the first round of
the playoffs; and,

WHEREAS, as a result of their
success, the Pittsburgh Penguins have sold
more than 14,000 tickets in the past five
days; and,

WHEREAS, the Penguins take on
Toronto in Game 3 of their Eastem
Conference semifinal series tonight at the
Civic Arena; and,

WHEREAS...We've Got To Keep
The Penguins In Pittsburgh!

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby congratulate the
Pittsburgh Penguins on their great success
this season; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that
the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does
hereby declare May 11, 1999, "Let's Go
Pens Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. COHEN moved to adopt the
resolution.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

I know you have a busy schedule,
you have practice that's why the players
aren't here, but we are glad to have you.

Mr. Patrick:

I would just like to say thank you
to the city and to all our fans for this
proclamation. And more importantly I
have been here for ten years now and I
love the city. I love the people and we
have had great support.

It's been tremendous to see the
support we have had from the city
especially in our trying times right now
and the fans we have in the city. We are
hoping we can show our appreciation by
having a very successful play off mun this
spring and thank you again very, very
much. It is great to be in this city, and part
of the city. Thank you.

Mr. Cohen:

780

Good moming everyone. I have
two proclamations this moming and both
of them really celebrate diversity and
celebrate something that we hold true and
hold fast in this city and in this country
and that is helping people with needs and
celebrating that diversity.

Let's begin if we would with the
Disability Awareness Month if we could
have the students from Conroy Education
Center come up please. I would like to ask
that Councilman Sala Udin and
Councilman Alan Hertzberg to join me for
this proclamation.

Members of Council and members
of the audience it's my privilege to
introduce to you students from the Conroy
Education Center who are here to help us
celebrate Disability Awareness Month and
Barrier Awareness Week. And we have
the students Jason Johnson, Duane Frazer,
Melissa Hutton, Samantha Garns, Gailand
Brown, and Leonard Butler. Thank you all
for being here.

We also have three members of the
staff from the Conroy Education Center,
Gloria Polick who is an art teacher there.
You can raise your hand if you want,
Gloria. Kathy Rahuba, did J say that right,
and Donna Valasich who is from the
Office of Equity Compliance and
Community Relations. We also have a
board member from the Three River
Center for independent living, Barbara
Starr. Barbara, thank you very much for
being here.

Three River Center is so important
to our community. And our own

American's With Disabilities Act
Coordinator, Theresa Limperski. Thank
you very much for being here. That

ee
a

having been said, let's get to the
proclamation.
MR. COHEN PRESENTS:

No. 1596 WHEREAS, often we
fail to recognize the extraordinary efforts
made in the daily lives of our fellow
Pittsburghers who are disabled; and

WHEREAS, from time to time, we
need to be reminded of the extra effort it
takes for a disabled person to carry on with
his or her routine activities; and

WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Board
of Education has declared May as
“Disability Awareness Month” in the
Pittsburgh Public Schools; and

WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Public
Schools and the Three Rivers Center for
Independent Living have formally
collaborated and declared May 17 — 21,
1999 “National Barrier Awareness Week”;
and

WHEREAS, students from one
Pittsburgh Public School, Conroy
Education Center, have created a poster
with a disability theme entitled “Choices
in the Patchwork of Life,’ which
celebrates ability, diversity, inclusion and
equal opportunity in the schools; and

WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh
would like to join the collaborative effort
of the Pittsburgh Public Schools and the
Three Rivers Center for Independent
Living in publicizing equal access for the
disabled.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh declares the month of May

781

“Disability Awareness Month” and the
week of May 17 — 21, 1999 “National
Barrier Awareness Month” in the City of
Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved
resolution.

to adopt the

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Cohen:

I would like to present this
proclamation to Donna Valasitch

(phonetic) who as I said is with the staff of
the Conroy Education Center. Then I
would like to ask Councilman Sala Udin
who represents the district where Conroy
resides and also Councilman Alan
Hertzberg who has been a real leader on
this Council for disability issues to both
speak as well. Donna, congratulations.

Ms. Valasitch:

Good morning, everyone. On
behalf of the Pittsburgh Public Schools I
would like to thank you for this
proclamation and also thank our students.
We have six of our students who
participated in creating the poster that we
are extremely proud of and also thank
Theresa and Barbara and Kathy for their
help and their assistance. And with your
permission Councilman, what we have is
we would like to present each of the
Council members today with your very
own poster so you can hang with pride
hopefully in your offices. Thank you
again very much.

Mr. Udin:

Thank you. Welcome to Council,
Conroy. Also I want to make colleagues
and the city aware that I have the honor of
serving on a Disability 2000 Committee
and have been working with a number of
groups. Councilman Alan Hertzberg has
been providing a great deal of leadership
in this area. And I have had the honor to
be asked to head up the group that will
focus on community and neighborhood
issues that remove barriers in community
activity and neighborhood activity for
people with disabilities. There is a lot of
work that we do in communities and
neighborhoods that we kind of take for
granted, But there are a lot of people with
disabilities who are prevented from fully
participating in those community and
neighborhood activities just because of the
lack of awareness that this kind of month
helps bring to our attention.

So thank you very much to the
Board of Education and all of those
involved in Disability Awareness Month
as well as Barrier Removal Week. They're
all very important in helping all
Pittsburghers to fully take part in the full
lack that Pittsburgh has to offer. And
thank you very much for coming down to
City Council.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Congratulations. That's a beautiful
poster and thank you for letting each of us
have one.

I have been involved in Barrier
Awareness Week over the past five or six
years. It is good that the public is made
aware of the different barriers that there
are people with disabilities. Barriers like
the large door in Council Chamber,
barriers like stairs we're there is no

782

elevator, barriers like curbs where there
aren't curb cuts. But I think probably even
more important barriers is the attitudes of
people that they’re just unaware of what
people with disabilities go through and
how they're sometimes treated by others.
And that’s why I think it is so important
that Pittsburgh Public Schools gets
involved when people are at the age where
they are of being educated. They can learn
about all these things and be much more
involved and understanding of the
problems that people with disabilities have
and then we won't have that attitudinal
barrier in the future.

So I appreciate Pittsburgh Public
Schools involvement in this and I thank
Conroy for the beautiful poster. And
hopefully this will be another successful
Barrier Awareness Week and the
involvement of the schools will make
things that much better. So good luck,
thank you.

Mr. Cohen:

This poster is really a beautiful
poster. I want to thank the kids for doing
it. If you get the chance, please come up
and look at the bigger version which has
all the pictures of the students around
there. I want to thank the students very
much for coming in and for doing this. It's
really a good way to kick off a very
important month and a very important
week here in the City of Pittsburgh, and
one as I said that really promotes diversity
and make sure that we're all sensitive to
each others abilities and each others needs.
Let's get a picture.

Mr. Ferlo:

I wanted to first of all thank the

=—_—e—e—oOoOooo SESE

Pittsburgh Public Schools for the
leadership and thank all the young people.
This is truly a piece of artwork this
beautiful poster. But we all take mobility
for granted as Councilman Hertzberg
spoke about it.

1 had an experience just this past
month I held a conference here at Council
Chambers with 12 or 13 cities around the
country. And unfortunately the conference
ended at about five o'clock, which I left the
building. But some of the delegates from
other cities remained including one
individual who was in a wheel chair. Only
to leam unfortunately after the fact and
after I had already left the building that the
guards double lock the back door with
chains so in effect somebody who is in a
wheelchair cannot exit the building. We
took that for granted.

I didn't think about it, I am just
using that as an example, that all too often
we take mobility for granted. I would like
to be supportive in any way to Councilman
Udin and Councilman Hertzberg on the
issue of making the communities at large
understand some of these issues and how
we can better allow everyone in this
society to participate in all aspects of the
community. So I think we all need to
collectively be involved in trying to
highlight things that we can do from an
advocacy point of view to change both
physical barriers as well as Councilman
Hertzberg spoke about eloquently mental
barriers to the issue. So thank you very
much.

Mr. Cohen:
Thank you very much.

We have the folks from the

783

Pennsylvania Naturalization Assistance
Program next please. In the same vein of
promoting the diversity, that includes
promoting international diversity. 1 got a
call at my home a couple of months ago
from Phyllis Popper who told me about a
program that she's involved in. A project
that she is involved in called the
Pennsylvania Naturalization Assistance
Project and it is being run by the Jewish
Family and Children Service that does so
many great deeds for our community for
the general community. And I was so
excited about the project, I said come on
down and let's give a proclamation for it,

The Pennsylvania Naturalization
Assistance Program is really a citizenship
preparation program. There are so many
things that they do and when you think
about it, when you first come to the United
States and to Pittsburgh there are a lot of
things that are very confusing of course
and a lot of assistance that is needed. So
they do ongoing citizenship classes,
citizenship taining workshops, all the
preparation that is necessary to actually
become an American Citizen. But well
beyond that, I think there maybe two
programs involved here. But beyond that
they help with the medical system, with
the legal system, with housing, even to
encounter the great American institution of
the grocery store and all the choices that
we have here in the United States that
don't exist in other countries. So that kind
of assistance is so necessary and this
program is doing just that.

And Council President Bob
O'Connor and I are sponsoring this
resolution that goes as follows.

MR. COHEN AND MR. O'CONNOR
PRESENT:

No. 1595 WHEREAS, Jewish
Family & Children’s Service is a non-
profit social service agency committed to
strengthening families and supporting
individuals in need within our community;
and

WHEREAS, providing help with
the resettling of refugees is but one of the
many services provided by the Jewish
Family & Children’s Service; and

WHEREAS, Jewish Family &
Children’s Services is under contract with
the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare
to run PANAP, the Pennsylvania
Naturalization Assistance Program; and

WHEREAS, PANAP provides a
citizenship preparation program which
provides ongoing citizenship classes
conducted by trained volunteers, one-day
citizenship training workshops, assistance
with citizenship applications, practice for
the INS interview, study materials, and
when necessary, legal assistance; and

WHEREAS, to qualify for U.S.
citizenship, an emigré must be at least 18
years old, be a Legal Permanent Resident
(have a green card) for five or more years,
have good moral character, and possess a
basic command of the English language
and U.S. history and government; and

WHEREAS, PANAP originally
targeted only those emigres who were both
eligible to apply for citizenship and were
at risk if they did not become citizens; and

WHEREAS, PANAP has entered
its second phase and is expanded to
include all refugees or immigrants who

have had green cards for four or more
years, regardless of risk; and

WHEREAS, all Legal Permanent
Residents, and those who wish to
volunteer in the PANAP program, are
urged to call the Jewish Family &
Children’s Service at 422-5627 to learn
more about the program.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh declares the month of May
“Become A United States Citizen” month

in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. HERTZBERG seconded the

motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Cohen:

Thank you very much, And let me
tell you who we have here today. Linda
Ehrenrich who is Director of the Career
Development Center, which by the way
has been certainly assisted by this Council
over the years and does a terific job.
Charlotte Zabusky who is the Supervisor
at the Refugee and Immigration Service
Center. And actually Charlotte and I were
together on a trip that we made to the
Soviet Union back in 1989 to meet with
Tefugees who were not being allowed out
of the country. Nice to see Charlotte back
here. Phyllis Popper who I have already
mentioned who is the Coordinator of
Citizen Out Reach for the program. Kathy
Hurwitz who is the Vocational
Resettlement Counselor at JF and CS, hi
Kathy. Yuri Kobets, I hope I pronounce

ee eee

this right who is the Translator and Case
Aid Worker, Alice Wemon, Executive
Secretary and Office Manager, Lorretta
Reed who is a volunteer teacher, Tatyana
Reznik who is a PANAP participant and
recently passed the INS interview.
Congratulations. We just added to the list
Evsey Manuskin. Thank you very much
for being here. And also Laurie Gottlieb
who does a great job as the Marketing
Director of JF and CS and all of that. I
hope we didn't miss any one.

Let me present this proclamation to
the boss:who is the director over at JF and
CS, Linda Ehrenrich. Congratulations.

Ms. Erinike:

Thank you, Dan, and thank you,
Bob, and thank you, City Council. We
really appreciate this proclamation and the
attention that you are giving to this really
important issue here at City Council.

We know that people are in the
City of Pittsburgh and in Allegheny
County, there are people and immigrants
and refugees that could benefit from this
teally wonderful program.

By the way the INS interview is
Not an easy one to pass for those who have
ever seen the questions many of us who
were bom and raised here probably
couldn't pass it without some studying. So
it is not so easy to get passed through this
program.

We're really proud to play a part in
Pittsburgh's long tradition as a city of rich
cultural and ethnic diversity. And right
now what I would like to do is introduce
our speaker who is a recent graduate of or
PANAP program and a recent citizen as

well as her teacher. The speaker is Prima
Reytynbarg and the teacher is Donna Reed.
Thank you. Sorry, Lorretta Reed who is
our volunteer teacher.

Ms. Reytynbarg:

Councilman Cohen, Councilman
O'Connor and members of the City
Council. Recently 1 went through the
naturalization interview and passed. I was
able to answer all the questions on United
States history and government. To
become prepared I enrolled in the PANAP,
the Pennsylvania Naturalization
Assistance Program. I was included in the
advanced class of the naturalization
students taught by volunteer Mrs. Lorretta
Reed.

Pennsylvania Naturalization
Assistance Program really helped me to do
my best. It’s concise contents is targeted
exactly on the interview questions and the
method of the interview. Our instructor,
Mrs. Reed, showed a lot of care and
attention.

All the students, Asian, South
American, and European studied diligently
and successfully. When my husband and I
first heard about the program, PANAP
sounded as if it were the growing musical
chord of our more than five years of
cultural education in which we were
assisted by the government and Jewish
organizations. We have been supported
and assisted all the time. We are thankful.

IT understand that you, Councilman
Cohen and Councilman O'Connor and the
members of the City Council, have agreed
to support this program by declaring the
month of May the Common American
Citizen Month. I would like to express my

See

gratitude to all of you. Thank you.

The Chair:

I just want to congratulate Linda
and thank you. It is amazing all the things
that the Jewish Family Children Service
does for our whole community and again
the teachers did a pretty good job too.
Thank you.

Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. President, I have the pleasure
of having three delegations here today.
Since some of the delegation involves
some younger kids who may have to get
back to school, I am going to ask that they
go first. I would ask if Myma
Antonio-Hall is here and others from the
Tree Commission involved with the Arbor
Day Contest if you could come forward.

The Arbor Day Poster Contest we
have Myma Antonio-Hall here, from
Partners in the Parks, also she is a member
of the Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission.
And we have a group of wonderful
students from the public schools and the
parochial schools and I think the catholic
schools who were involved in a poster
contest for Arbor Day. So we need to get
them up here. We have some additional
beautiful posters here today. We are going
to lineup right here.

This activity has been going on for
sometime in the Pittsburgh Public School
system and the other schools that have
been participating. I would hope that it is
the beginning of a long process of
activities that the Shade Tree Commission
will hopefully be involved in the future
and will also help to promote and to
support.

786

But before I read the names and
introduce some of the young people that
are here, and maybe Myrna would like to
say a few words.

MR. FERLO AND ALL MEMBERS
OF COUNCIL PRESENT:

No. 1597 WHEREAS, Arbor Day
commemorates the environmental and
aesthetic importance of trees and
encourages people to plant and care for
trees; and

WHEREAS, Partners in Parks, the
joint venture between the City of
Pittsburgh’s Department of Parks and
Recreation and the United Way of
Allegheny County, was the sponsor of the
1999 Arbor Day Poster Contest, a part of
the city-wide Arbor Day celebration on
Friday, April 30th; and

WHEREAS, the Poster Contest
was open to all students in the City of
Pittsburgh and required the entrants to
submit a poster promoting and visually
explaining the meaning of Arbor Day and
how it is celebrated both in Pittsburgh and
state-wide; and

WHEREAS, the winning poster in
the 1999 Arbor Day Poster Contest was
designed by Jennifer Cobb of Arsenal
Middle School, with Crystal Maier, also of
Arsenal Middle School, coming in Second
Place, Stefan Wiedenhofer of Elizabeth
Seton School Third Place, and Fourth
Place went to David Buczynski &
Dominic Ceraso of St. Mary of the Mount,
Fifth Place to Ricky Lowe & Jason Walter
who submitted their poster through the
West Penn Recreation Center, Sixth Place
to Holly Ware of St. Mary of the Mount,
Seventh Place to Branden Astori of

Arsenal Middle School, Eighth Place to
Alex Wiedenhofer of Elizabeth Seton
School and Ninth Place to Vickery Lauro
also of Elizabeth Seton School; and

WHEREAS, the winning posters
were displayed in the City-County
Building Lobby and the First Place
winning poster has been designated as the
official 1999 Arbor Day Poster used to
promote the city’s Arbor Day Celebration;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE iT
RESOLVED, that the City Council of
Pittsburgh does wish to commend and
congratulate all of the poster designers for
their winning posters, hard work, artistic
abilities and dedication to the City of
Pittsburgh’s tree population; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the City Council of Pittsburgh also
wishes to recognize the efforts of Partners
in Parks, and Myrna Antonio-Hall in
particular, for organizing the 1999 Arbor
Day Poster Contest and for their never-
ending commitment to improving the City
of Pittsburgh through celebrating and
promoting the natural and magisterial
splendor of one of our greatest resources,
our trees.

MR. FERLO moved to adopt the
tesolution.
MR. HERTZBERG | seconded the

motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ferlo:
Magisterial splendor, excuse me.

Yarone through in a fancy word in there
for me. We have some great young people

787

as you can see to my left here and we have
a proclamation for each one of them.
Before we introduce some of the students,
maybe Myra can come up and say a few
words about Partners in the Parks and this
great contest? And we would like to
introduce some of the young people that
are here. Let them show you their poster.
I don't know if there are any parents here,
you are welcome to come up afterwards
for a picture if we have any proud parents
out there. We also have a first prize
winner gets a special Just Ducky Tours
ticket if they're just working still, I don't
know.

Ms. Antonio-Hall:

Thanks, Councilman Ferlo and
thank you to City Council. Partners in
Parks is very excited about participating in
Arbor Day this year. We look forward to
making it grow in years to come, but we
can't do it without the support of City
Council and of course the administration
within the Parks Department and the
administration in the Mayor's Office. 1
want to thank everyone for your help; we
can't do it alone. Thank you.

Mr. Ferlo:

As I indicated earlier I read all the
names. As you can see we have some very
creative and beautiful posters. The public
is only made recently aware the City of
Pittsburgh with the support of Mayor
Murphy and his administration has
reconvened the Shade Tree Commission
formerly adopting it as an important part
of city government. We are very
concemed that we have a more organized
approach in this city reaching out to the
philanthropic community, to the
community at large and that we begin to

replenish the tree population in the City of
Pittsburgh.

This poster contest is not only
about Arbor Day, it is about involving
young people in the life of our community
and an important issue our environment
and the quality of life in the City of
Pittsburgh. So we want to thank all of our
colleagues. I want to thank all of these
young students for their great time and
talent expressed visually here today. We
actually have a first prize, Myma has
recruited Just Ducky Tours a family of
four ticket, but so we don't want to slight
anybody, we're going to make sure that all
the winners today get a ticket for four. We
will make arrangements for that. I am sure
Just Ducky will help us out. And we're
going to present the First Place Winner
Jennifer Cobb, Jennifer are you here.
Thank you Jennifer. Good morning.

Jennifer Cobb:

My poster is stressing the
importance of Arbor Day in Pittsburgh.
Trees give a lot to everyone in the world.
And it is just showing how trees help us
and its telling us that even though you see
them every where, basically they are one
of the most important things that you can
give thanks for other than water and other
natural things on earth.

Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you. Thank you, Jennifer is
13 and she is in the eighth grade. Any of
the other students want to say anything
today? We want to thank you again for
your great work and we want to make sure
all of you get a pass for four for the Just
Ducky Tours. We want to thank Just
Ducky Tours for their donation today.

Hopefully with Councilman Hertzberg and
the Mayor helping out, we will find the
right place for them to get in and out of the
water because they have been having some
problems because of the construction at
Three Rivers.

I don't know if any of the parents,
if any of you kids have any parents here
today, you're welcome to come up. We are
going to get a group shot. If you have
cameras one of my colleagues will gladly
take your camera and take a picture so you
can be in it with your child if you would
like to. Yarone will take a picture and I
am sure Councilman Hertzberg will help
out.

The Chair:
Thank you. Good job.
Mr. Ferlo:

Councilman Ricciardi
unfortunately had another appointment, he
will be back here shortly. But he has a
wonderful delegation here from our senior
centers and other organizations throughout
the City's neighborhoods. Mary Esther
VanShura is here, one of our Deputy
Directors in Parks who works day in and
day out with our senior centers and we
would like the delegation to come forward.
And this has to do with the international
year of older persons. There also maybe
some other folks here that I don't know
their names and we can _ introduce
everyone. But as you can see from the
delegation coming forward, we have a
great group of older individuals in the City
of Pittsburgh. Some of them are very
active at our senior centers. I guess we
should change that to our older person
centers around the city. They were nice

i
=—_—oeooooooooo eee

enough to come down here to Council
chambers today and we welcome them.
Good moming, Mr. Leeper.

We have quite a distinguished
group here and a rather large group. You
can encircle Councilman O'Connor,
President O'Connor, that is no problem.
Some how we will fit everyone in. This
proclamation is initiated by Councilman
Ricciardi at the request of Mary Esther
VanShura, All colleagues have joined in
co-sponsoring this resolution and maybe
we can get them all up here for a group
photo.

MR. RICCIARDI AND ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:

No. 1598 WHEREAS, the United
Nations has designated the year 1999 as
the “International Year of Older Persons”
with the theme “Toward a society for all
ages”; and

WHEREAS, the month of May
1999 has been declared Older Americans
Month with the week of May 9-15, 1999
being designated as National Senior
Center Week; and

WHEREAS, Citiparks has served
the interests of senior consumers since
1957 and over 20,000 seniors have
received services. Census data indicates
that there are now 86,000 seniors in the
city who can reap the many benefits of the
Seniorlnterests Program; and

WHEREAS, the multi-purpose
mission of SeniorInterests is to address the
intellectual, physical, social and financial
interests of seniors; and

789

WHEREAS, over 200,000 meals
are served in our centers keeping older

Pittsburghers healthy and __ socially
involved; and
WHEREAS, SeniorInterests is

committed to “reaching out” in a door-
knocking campaign to the homes of
seniors currently not receiving services.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh hereby honors the
Seniorlnterests Program, its participants,
and all seniors in the City of Pittsburgh
and encourages all residents to become
involved with the SeniorInterests Program.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
hereby declares May 11, 1999 as
SeniorInterests Day in the City of
Pittsburgh.

MR. ONORATO moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ferlo:

Obviously the proclamation speaks
for itself. I think it's great the United
Nations has declared this year the
intemational year of older persons.
Obviously if we look at the health and well
being of older individuals throughout the
world, it is not equal and similar to the
quality of life that we have here in the
United States. I hope we continue to
appreciate that and focus in on progressive
changes that need to be made worldwide.

But at this country and in this

ee
lee

country and at this level I think all of us
have an obligation to be involved. The
city can't do everything. Individual
families need to take more responsibility
for their own family members. It can't
always be presumed that some institution
down the street is going to be responsible.
So let this also be a rekindling of social
commitment on the part of individuals
with family members either within their
own nuclear family or those across the
street or living upstairs in an apartment.
Let's everybody reach out and involve all
quality of life and reach out to everyone to
be involved in all that America has to
offer.

I hope also that this can be a year
also for the Senior Interest Program. I am
very pleased and I think it is a great honor
to have the park staff initiating this
program of door knocking. Going out
because often time our centers service the
most mobile seniors or those who are most
socially active or even physically active.
Often times it is the others back in the
community that don't get out.

I want to thank the staff of the
Parks and Recreation Department for this
very unique initiative of canvassing and
getting out and going door to door. I
believe some of the older folks themselves
are helping with that process. We need to
be involved. We hear too often tragedies
about individuals who die unfortunately
tragically at home alone where the
neighbor next door maybe hasn't seen the
individual for three or four days, there is
not a family member. We read about it in
the moming paper. We get upset, we cry a
little but we don't change our habits.

So let this also be a call to action to
be more involved. I just want to thank

790

Mary Esther and the great staff in Parks
and Recreation for their leadership
initiative. Also I would ask that all of you
have some very powerful influences being
older individuals. I have commented in
the past that the reason we put more
Tesources into older individuals and have
more senior centers as opposed to youth
centers is because you vote. Let's be
honest, you politically can be influential.
And I would ask that all of you be
involved not only locally whether it be
Council or the Mayor or Local District
Justice, but there are things that are
happening at the congressional presidential
level that affect your quality of life.

I think its just reprehensible when
we start talking about any changes of
social security system that are going to
mean deflating or reducing your living
income. I hope you will be active, you
will be vocal and you will be militant
about that so I would ask that you rekindle
the advocacy Council. If you need our
financial support from Council please let
us know but don't be quiet, you haven't
been quiet all your years don't be quiet
now because it can have an adverse affect
on your life. So be vocal, be active, and be
involved. Mary Esther now that I am done
with my speech making, we are going to
get you up here.

Ms. VanShura:

Thank you Councilman, and
members of Council. They say when you
honor the hands that mold America, you
honor what American means. And today
is exactly what we're doing. But more
importantly too often we hear the words of
Hubert Humphrey talking about people in
the twilight of their life.

382 280°0°00 000 0° 8—=°80509

I would submit to you today the
folks that stand with us today are indeed
not in the twilight, they are in the dawn of
their life. And it is your energies that
allow us to come here today. We also
have a busload leaving tomorrow morning
at 5:30 to go once again to Harrisburg to
be strong advocates for the needs of the
seniors. So any of you that are up at 5:30,
we would be happy to have you come
down and send us off, bring doughnuts.
But also, we would like to point out today
this is so unique because of your support
and support of the leadership of Mayor
Murphy for the very first time this year we
have a senior interest van that is handicap
accessible. I am delighted that Peg Fageoli
(phonetic) from Mount Washington could
join us today. She told me today, she said
Mary Esther I have not been in this
building for 40 years.

Also, | would like to tum this over
now to Bea Howard, our leader from
Homewood would like to talk a little bit
about the senior interest program.

Ms. Howard:

Good moming. It seems like
everyone took my speech but I still would
like to say I am Bertha Howard from the
Homewood Senior Citizens Center. And
we're just excited about our new
renovations and expansion of our building.
And because of that I was one of the
people that went out for out reach because
everyone in Homewood should know
about that center and everyone that could
come should be right there. There should
not be anybody at home and we try to see
to that.

Also I am proud of our center
because we're trying to close the
generation gap. We work with the Rogers

791

School. We also work with the Region
Square School and every word that they
leam we leam. We send them a letter
relating to that word. So we're really close
and we're trying to close the generation
gap. Because I think the seniors have a lot
to offer the young people and the young
people have a lot to offer the seniors.
Thank you.

Ms. Provilin:

Good moming my name is
Catherine Provilin and I am with the
Hazelwood Senior Centers. And to me it's
an education and a pleasure to belong to
the center. The people that you make and
the languages that you can learn you won't
believe it. And you get invited to be in
programs with Roger Schoo! of Art. It is
wonderful. You wouldn't believe the
talent that is in that class of children, well I
guess teenagers. And it is wonderful to be
included with them and to me it is a
pleasure to be in the center in Hazelwood.
You meet so many people and you leam so
many languages that pretty soon you can
start a school of your own. Thank you.

Ms. Haddock:

Hi when you say seniors don't say
old, because we are far from being old.
We do so much. We have our tennis
lessons at Schenley Park, we have our
walkings, we have our Bocci’s and we also
have our hockey. So we keep the hockey
here in Pittsburgh just come to the senior
group because I got a gold in hockey last
year. I will volunteer as I usually do.

We do have a lot of things at our
senior centers. We do not sit. And we
also are conscience of the people with
disabilities. We just got new vans which

eee

we came in with today, which is really
nice. So Peggy could be here today.

We have the walking, we have the
bicycles, and we just do everything that
everybody else has done. And thank you
and I am glad to belong. My name is
Phyllis Haddock.

Ms. VanShura:

On behalf of all the seniors and the
staff of the Department of Parks, Director
Ashley, I would like to thank you for this
recognition today. Thank you so much.

We also will be distributing our
new brochures that we have developed for
each of the seniors that come to us, it
should be very helpful to all the members
of Council as well.

Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you. We would like to ask
our colleagues to all join up here, it is
going to be a difficult photo but we can get
everyone up here. We have older
individuals here from all of our
neighborhoods throughout the city and you
are all invited to my party Friday night,
8:00. I know Lawrenceville is coming.
Our friends from Hazelwood also want to
say you can take computer lessons also.
They have computers.

Thank you for your patience to the
bike helmet coalition. Thank you for your
patience this morning. When you have
little kids we try to get them back to the
school system and the seniors have another
date at 11:30 so my apologies.

I would like to ask the
representatives from the Pittsburgh Bike

792

Helmet Promotion Coalition to come
forward. Terry Rae Anthony and the
others and we will introduce everyone
from the different agencies who are
supportive of the coalition. Many in the
public have heard me preach often times
about the need for bike safety helmets
specifically the need for parents and young
people and others who ride bikes to wear a
bike helmet, an approved ANSI or Snell
approved bike helmet. It is very important
obviously in terms of the safety of the
child and the young person or even adult
riding a bike or skates. But has also been
the law for the last several years in
Pennsylvania and we have been involved
with the leadership and help of this
Council in promoting this campaign in the
past.

We have given out a significant
number of bike helmets over the last three
or four years. But more importantly now
there is a much broader coalition that has a
lot more talent and resources to bring an
education advocacy campaign throughout
the greater Pittsburgh area. So I am
pleased to have Council] and our own COP
officers and our Fire Bureau and others be
a part of it. I would like to read the
following proclamation, which I will
present to Terry Rae.

MR. FERLO AND ALL COUNCIL
MEMBERS PRESENT:

No. 1599 WHEREAS, each year in
the United States an estimated 900
bicyclists are killed and approximately
181,000 seek treatment in emergency
rooms for bicycle related injuries; and

WHEREAS, head injury is the

Most common cause of death and serious
disability in bicycle crashes; and

—e—=—€v_"n"vaOleee

WHEREAS, bicycle helmets
reduce the risk of head injuries by 88%;
and

WHEREAS, universal use of
helmets by all cyclists in the United States
between 1984 and 1988 could have
prevented one death daily and one head
injury every four minutes; and

WHEREAS, less than 20% of
youth bicyclists wear helmets in the City
of Pittsburgh; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is one
of many states throughout the US that have
adopted a mandatory bicycle helmet law
because of the effectiveness of helmets in
reducing injuries; and

WHEREAS, injury prevention
advocates are helping to raise public
awareness of head injury and the need for
all bicycle riders to wear helmets; and

WHEREAS, part of the advocacy
effort has been to develop and promote
bicycle rodeos within the city to instruct
the young about bicycle safety and actively

involve children in bicycle _ safety
competitions; and
WHEREAS, in 1999 bicycle

rodeos have been organized by the
Pittsburgh Bicycle Helmet Promotion
Coalition in conjunction with Pittsburgh’s
Citiparks at Allegheny Middle School on
May 15, at Magee Recreation Center on
June 26, at Arlington Recreation Center on
July 17, West Penn Rec Center on
September 18 and with the cooperation of
the Carrick Block Watch on June 5 and
with the Stanton Heights Community

793

Organization on August 21 at Sunnyside
Elementary School;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City Council of
Pittsburgh does hereby proclaim the
Summer of 1999 to be “Safe Bike
Summer” in the City of Pittsburgh and
encourages all bicycle riders to wear
helmets each and every time they ride a
bicycle,

MR. UDIN moved to adopt the resolution.
MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

Mr. Ferlo:

We have some of the delegates
here from the Coalition. Terry Rae
Anthony is the Coordinator and
Administrator of the coalition and we have
others here today. We have Laura
Wysocki from Gateway Health Plan, this
organization has been very supportive
financially and in more ways than one with
this initiative as well the Allegheny
County Health Department Rosemary
Prostko, Patti Jo Evans from the Center for
Violence and Injury Control, Deborah
Friedman from the Center for Violence
and Injury Control, Twyla Simmons is also
from the center. This organization has
been in the leadership on even broader
issues involving injury prevention. So we
want to thank these folks for being down
here today. I apologize if I left anyone out
Tam not sure if I did.

The coalition has been very active
and there is a whole bunch of different
programs and initiatives that will be
planned in addition to the bike rodeo. I

SSS OOOO

wanted to ask Terry Rae Anthony just to
say a few words, please at this time.

Ms. Anthony:

I would like to thank Councilman
Ferlo and City Council for this
proclamation and for your continued
support to help keep the children of
Pittsburgh safe while biking. Our main
mission is to educate parents and children
on the importance of wearing a properly
fitted helmet every time they ride their
bike. Thank you.

Mr. Ferlo:

Our injury control folks here
brought some helmets. You see one
helmet here and here are two other
beautiful helmets. I mean helmets can also
look cool too and maybe you can convince
the kids about that.

We don't have any trauma surgeons
here today or folks from the emergency
room, we have had them here in the past.
But we would just like to try to alarm and
educate and do whatever we have to do to
parents in particular or grandparents when
you buy a bicycle and you spend 110
bucks buying a Huffy at Kmart or where
ever you get it, please spend an extra ten
or $15 and buy a bike helmet. Do not
presume that the child has the helmet. If
you are going to be nice enough to buy a
bike, take the extra time and effort and buy
a bike helmet. It’s not only the law, but
you would be working in helping to
educate the child and the family about the
need for bike safety helmet.

As we go throughout the city
unfortunately we still see many young
people not wearing their helmets despite

794

the fact that it is a law. So we will be
working not only through the rodeos but
other programs that we have planned. I
want to thank the coalition for their
fundraising and coordinating this
campaign. They will be reissuing a poster
that was designed a few years ago with
several sports players from the Pirates and
the Steelers and other sports organizations
with their respective helmets on. These
will be distributed throughout the
community especially some restaurants
hoping for some financial support from a
major restaurant locally. I am sure Terry
Rae will be back in the future to announce
that campaign. But it is very important
that we also get the support.

We are working with the COP
officers in the City of Pittsburgh and the
Fire Bureau we have approached them we
wanted to ask our COP officers to do out
reach. They interact with young people
throughout the day in the park system and
the like. And we what them to stop kids,
let them know it is a $25 citation if you
don't have your helmet on. But we are
also looking for some rewards from
McDonald's and others to reward young
people that the officers stop that do have
the helmets on. So we have a lot of
different ideas and things planned.

As far as fundraising, 1 spoke with
Councilman Diven and we're looking to
maybe raffle off a Harley Davidson with
all the money being donated to the
coalition. And Councilman Diven has
been nice enough to help co-chair that
campaign which you should be hearing
about because we may even have to bring
the Harley in here to promote it. Maybe I
will get John Cigna to ride it in from
KDKA.

ee
a SS

I want to thank all of you for being
here. We look forward to the bike rodeos
the rodeos are in several colleagues’
districts. I am sure they can be helpful
with outreach and be there that day and
maybe help some of the kids with helmet
‘wearing.

So with that we need a group photo
here.

The Chair:

Will the members of the WIC
Organization please come up? We have
Chuck Vukatich is the Assistant Deputy
Director and his staff. This is a very, very
important project and I have been
personally involved with it and it is
amazing how many people you help. And
it is accredited to your organization.

Again, I want to thank you on
behalf of all Pittsburghers and Allegheny
County and again the amount of families
you help is a tremendous asset.

MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTS:

No. 1600 WHEREAS, the
Congress of the United States established
the Women, Infants and Children
Supplemental Food Program, popularly
known as the WIC Program, a quarter of a
century ago; and,

WHEREAS, Allegheny County
served as one of the test sites for the WIC
national demonstration project in 1974;
and,

WHEREAS, the WIC Program is
administered by the Allegheny County
Health Department and promotes healthy
child growth and development through
nutrition education and by providing free

795

mutritious foods to income-eligible and
medically or nutritionally at-risk families;
and,

WHEREAS, studies show that
WIC encourages early prenatal care;
improves weight gain during pregnancy;
increases birth weight; decreases
premature delivery; increases the rate and
duration of breast feeding; reduces iron
deficiency anemia in children; and
enhances physical growth and cognitive
development; and,

WHEREAS, WIC is not just for
low-income families on public assistance
but has income limits which are high
enough to make many working families
struggling to get by on modest incomes
eligible for benefits, as demonstrated by
the fact that one out of every four families
in Allegheny County is employed and
receives no public assistance; and,

WHEREAS, WIC has had an
enormous impact in the City of Pittsburgh,
providing food benefits worth about $75
million to an estimated 285,000 residents
since the program's inception a quarter of a
century ago; and,

WHEREAS, WIC in Allegheny
County has grown from a pilot project
with a caseload of 11,000 in 1974, to a
long-established program which now
serves nearly 20,000 women and children,
almost half of whom reside in the City of
Pittsburgh.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize the
important and necessary role that the WIC
Program has made towards the well-being

aaa

of all women, children and families
throughout the United States; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that
the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does
hereby declare May 1999, "WIC Month"
in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt the
resolution.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Santel:

I will start with myself, Gary
Santel. I am a Public Health Nutrition
Administrator with the WIC program of 11
years. Pat Waag is also with us. She is a
Public Health Nutrition Administrator
with the WIC program. Kathy White a
Public Health Nutrition Supervisor with
the WIC Program. Barbara Curlee, who is
also Administrator with our program, and
Chuck Vukatich Assistant Deputy Director
of the Allegheny County Health
Department.

And Chuck has some presentations
after I am done with thanking Councilman
O'Connor and the rest of City Council for
this special proclamation given to our
program. 25 years of the WIC Program,
wow. For our program to remain in effect
and get funding for that many years is truly
incredible.

Allegheny County as was noticed
in the proclamation itself was actually the
second grant that was awarded on the WIC
Program. The Allegheny County Health
Department being given that grant. Our
first director of the program, Dorothy
Cuogner (phonetic), was very instrumental

in getting that grant here in Allegheny
County. It was also very instrumental in
the national movement to get the WIC
Program approved as a national program.

Right now the WIC program is
servicing participants in all 50 states and
all the territories and also 33 Indian tribal
organizations. Locally here in Allegheny
County we service a little over 19,000
Participants in the WIC Program and last
year alone those participants spent $10.6
million in 83 WIC authorizing grocery
stores in Allegheny County.

A little known fact about the WIC
Program is that we also issue the checks
that are given out for the farmers market
nutrition program. We do administer that
program for the Department of
Agriculture. Last year we issued benefits
to 8,000 and 62 participants in Allegheny
County who in tem spent over $90,000 at
the local farmer markets buying fresh
fruits and vegetables that were locally
grown here in Pennsylvania.

Once again, I would like to thank
Council and Councilman O'Connor, Chuck
has some presentations to make to you.

Mr. Vukotich:

I want to make this quick. I have
got two items for members of Council.

The Postal Service has honored
Bugs Bunny and all these other people
didn't see fit to honor the WIC Program
25th Anniversary with a stamp. But they
did honor us with a special cancellation its
available down here at the Grant Street
Post Office and this is an original art
graphic of the cancellation’s design, and
these are all cancelled for the 25th

aaoaaRD—@S$@hmDRnDDDhW@WYloh ll —

Anniversary of WIC. I have one of these
for everyone on City Council.

Also we have this is the important
one. We have Rolodex cards for the WIC
Program so if you have any constituents
who need a referral to WIC this is the
telephone number and address you can
send them on. We are down here,
downtown although we have clinics all
over the community; our main office is
downtown here. So this will help you get
in touch with the WIC Program.

So thank you very much and we
will present the first one to the President
here and the first card and I have one for
everyone. Thank you.

The Chair:

We have some to be read into the
record.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTS:

No. 1601 WHEREAS, The
International Geneva Association,
Pittsburgh Branch has named Mr. Louis
Bucci RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR
1999; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bucci is the
owner of the London Grille Restaurant in
the Mt. Lebanon Galleria and the newly
restored Temperanceville Tavern in the
West End neighborhood of the City of
Pittsburgh, and he was elected President of
the 500 member Westem Pennsylvania
Chapter of the National Restaurant
Association; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bucci has played a

leading role in the restaurant business for
more than 20 years; starting as a teenager

797

working at menial tasks as a janitor,
dishwasher, bus boy, and waiter in the
Pittsburgh area; and

WHEREAS, after studying
journalism at Duquesne University and a
tour of duty with the US Army as a
paratrooper, he went to Colorado where he
worked his way from doorman to assistant
to the President for one of the nation's first
bar and restaurant chains; from there he
went on to hold senior executive positions
in three other restaurant chains and
became the owner of five-star restaurants
in Colorado and California; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bucci is known
as a dynamic leader and excellent
communicator who understands issues
facing the restaurant industry and meets
them head on with passion and vision; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bucci _ is
especially committed to programs and
policies that encourage, train and mentor
young people entering the restaurant
industry and to changing the idea that
working in a restaurant means "flipping
hamburgers" by developing a
comprehensive program designed to
educate young people about the restaurant
business and provide training and jobs at
the management level.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh congratulates Mr. Lou Bucci
upon receiving this prestigious award; and

BE If FURTHER RESOLVED,
that Sunday, May 16, 1999 be declared
“LOU BUCCI DAY" in the City of
Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved to adopt the

SSeS

resolution.
MR. ONORATO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. O'CONNOR AND ALL
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT:

No. 1602 WHEREAS, the future of
Israel is in high technology and the future
of high technology in Israel is at the
Technion; and,

WHEREAS, the Technion has
maintained its pioneering research in
biotechnology, aerospace engineering and
information technology in its continuing
effort to secure Israel's economic future;
and,

WHEREAS, the local chapter of
the American Society for Technion
Women's Division raises funds for
scholarships to attend the Technion who
couldn't otherwise afford it and to support
the biomedical engineering research
projects at the Technion; and,

WHEREAS, the American Society
for Technion Women's Division will hold
a Founders Luncheon Sunday, May 16"
celebrating "Multi Generations"; and,

WHEREAS, the 1999 American
Society for Technion Pittsburgh Women's
Division is honoring Evelyn Rosenberg
Engelberg, former President of the
Pittsburgh Chapter and active member for
over 30 years; and,

WHEREAS, Evelyn Rosenberg
Engelberg and her husband, Herman, have
endowed a scholarship fund for needy
Technion students and count themselves as

members of many
organizations; and,

other Jewish

WHEREAS, Evelyn Rosenberg
Engelberg and Herman Engelberg are the
proud parents of Marilyn, Rosalyn,
Sherilyn, Marcelyn and Moshe Aaron; the
proud Grandparents of Jon, Kevin, Becky,
Lissie, Jake, Jessa, Leba, Abby, Nina,
Emily, Benjy, Benny and Hanna; and the
proud Great Grandparents of Rachel and
Emily.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby congratulate
Evelyn Rosenberg Engelberg for her
dedication and commitment to Technion
and the Jewish Community as a whole;
and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare May 16, 1999,
"Evelyn Rosenberg Engelberg Day” in the
City of Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved to adopt the
resolution.
MR. HERTZBERG seconded the

motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. O'CONNOR AND ALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRSESENT:

No. 1603 WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith
is an intemational Jewish organization
committed to the security and continuity of
the Jewish people and the State of Israel,
defending human rights combating anti-
Semitism, bigotry and ignorance, and

providing service to the community on the
broadest principles of humanity; and,

WHEREAS, B'nai B'rith’ mission
is to unite persons of the Jewish faith and
to enhance Jewish identity through
strengthening Jewish family life and the
education and training of youth, broad-
based services for the benefit of senior
citizens, and advocacy and action on
behalf of Jews throughout the world; and,

WHEREAS, the Guardian of the
Menorah Award is conferred upon
individuals by B'nai B'rith who have made
a special and lasting mark in their chosen
field of endeavor and eamed the respect
and admiration of colleagues, both in the
corporate world as well as the general
community; and,

WHEREAS, the Guardian of the
Menorah Award honoree stands as a
beacon of light, illuminating all that is
good and what we must strive for; and,

WHEREAS, the 1999 Guardian of
the Menorah Award honoree is Julian Falk
for his outstanding record of selfless
service for the betterment of mankind and
the Jewish people; and,

WHEREAS, a graduate of Penn
State and George Washington University
Law School, Julian Falk presided as
Senior Counsel to the Singer Company
and is currently part owner of Meyers
Plumbing and Heating Supply Company;
and,

WHEREAS, Julian Falk has also
dedicated himself to community service as
is proven by his active participation in
various charities and community activities,
including the Jewish Genealogy Society of

799

Pittsburgh, Jewish Archives, UJF, the
United Way and the Jewish Chronicle.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby congratulate
Julian Falk upon receiving the Guardian of
the Menorah Award; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare May 23, 1999, "Julian
Falk Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. FERLO moved
resolution.

to adopt the

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Thank you. We will now move to
public comments and anyone in the
audience who wishes to address Council
for three minutes. Please state your name
and address for the record.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ms. Brown:

My name is Yvonne F. Brown. I
live at 2633 Brackenridge Street,
Pittsburgh 15219.

Citizens that are and any advocates
for children youth families if you are
watching please get your pencil and paper
I will give you my telephone number later.
It is at this time, still 621-7641 but I will
try to do it again.

£8 8 z___OOOee:,

I have to speak fast. Now, last
week I came down but you are not
showing that at all. There might have
been some type of technical problems but
people are saying if you are going to show
the reruns of the Mayor giving out the
rewards to please show the whole
complete meeting.

Also last week before I spoke there
was a black construction owner who came
and made allegations that the city or that
he has put in for a bid for job that is
$100,000 less than a white company from
out of town. Now that was not shown.
The Council will have to deal with that but
you as citizens should know that it doesn't
seem like we're treating our black
construction workers as they should.

Also I spoke to Stanley Lowe about
trying to help to alleviate the number of
young babies that we are finding in the
projects. He was very mean and nasty. He
screamed at me. I had to ask him to calm
down. If Stanley Lowe is not willing to be
part of the solution then he's a major part
of the problem.

Also I went before the Board of
Education last night to speak. Ron Suber
the President of the thing would not let me
speak but I tried to go to tell them that you
have teachers in Brashear High School that
are challenging our blacks and poor
students telling them to take and hit me
and hit me. Now what we seen with those
white students in the very nice
neighborhoods in Oklahoma or Colorado,
we don't want it to happen here. So please
help me make Ron Suber treat all parents
equally.

T also want to say that the Mayor is
taking credit for a food market up in the

800

Hill District. We don't even have one. We
haven't had one in over 30 years. I maybe
wrong with the 30 years but we haven't
had one and we are saying that maybe if
we had a supermarket in our area, some of
those babies might not have been dead.
The mothers could have walked to the
stores instead of trying to get onto the
Southside or other places not in our
neighborhoods. The Mayor is taking
credit.

He needs to take credit also for the
Crawford Square area up there. Some of
those houses are actually falling apart.
Cracks are in those new that's Crawford
Square that he brags about. You need to
know that they have put up a shabby deal
for a lot of those people and some of the
people can't even afford that. You need to
know about Hope Six and I am asking the
advocates to call me, 621-7641.
621-7641. Thank you.

The Chair:

Thank you. I might comment on
the last week's tape it was replayed
Thursday and Friday. There was a
technicality. Next speaker.

Any others speakers to address
Council?

Mr. Leeper:

Steve Leeper. I was asked to come
and speak a little bit about the situation
with the Penguins. I think there is a lot of
misinformation going out about what is
happening with the Pittsburgh Penguins
and I thought maybe it would be
appropriate for us given the fact that you're
considering a non-binding resolution
regarding the issue of eminent domain.

8 gz OS

First of all contrary to some
individuals involved with the Penguins
particularly the existing — penguin
ownership to suggest that nothing has been
done by the public I think is a reflection of
where the existing ownership is in terms of
its commitment to this area.

First of all the comments not to
relocate and the fact that the Public
Auditorium Authority at the urging of the
Mayor and County Commissioners have
filed suit to insure that this team stays in
Pittsburgh and lives up to the obligation
that was set forth in the documents that we
signed just over 18 months ago. So we
already made improvements to that
facility. We have a team that was
supposed to be playing up in the Civic
Arena through the year 2007. And we
filed in court for injunctive relief to have
the court uphold our covenant not to
relocate and we were successful in court.
As a result of that we really sent a message
nationally about teams who think they
have a right once they sign agreements,
sign leases and sign obligations to play
after given significant public assistance
that they have the right to go shop teams.
The same lawyer who suggests that his
existing owner, Roger Marino, did not go
out and shop the team was the same guy
who says we're not doing anything.

So based on his performance of the
past in terms of representing the facts in
the case I would question Mr. Sables
ability to comment at all on what the
Public Auditorium Authority is doing,
what the commission is doing and what
the Mayor is doing. I would ask this body
not to react particularly to representatives
of the existing ownership because in fact
they have yet to come up and suggest that

they have an obligation to stay in this city.
And once we have an ownership that says
that this city deserves a hockey team, that
they will put the full faith and effort into
staying, keeping that team here then that's
really not an entity that we want to do
business with. Notwithstanding there are
several parties that are presently putting
forth proposals on the table to keep this
team in Pittsburgh and we're very
optimistic that we are going to come up
with a solution to this problem.

We are convinced that Pittsburgh is
a hockey town. We're convinced that
Pittsburgh deserves a hockey team, that
had the fans support and we have shown in
the past that we have given it public
support. We are hesitant however at this
point in time to identify anyone of these
potential bidders as being the bidder that
we should support. I know that there is
suggestion by the National Hockey League
that we should jump on the Mario plan and
support that whole-heartedly. Again
questioning the NHL's ability to concern
which plan is the most viable one, they are
the same people that came in and told us
that we should do the Betman plan, excuse
me the Baldwin plan 18 months ago. So
rather than jumping on and panicking here
J am suggesting that we be prudent in our
review of the individual plans.

There are discussions going on
behind the scenes with all of the players
that really matter in this transaction. SMG
matters for a variety of reasons, one is they
have a contractual lease up at the Civic
Arena, They have the ability to make
concessions and they have the financial
wherewithal to be a player in this
transaction. Fox Sports has a reason why
they want this team here. They are a very
significant of Fox Sport programming, the

a SN

Penguins are and that we believe in the
long run it is very important for Fox Sports
to have this team play in Pittsburgh.

So we believe inherently that the
three entities, the public, SMG and Fox all
have similar interests in wanting to keep
that team up there. At the same time it's
going to be necessary for us to push all
these entities to make the necessary
concessions to make this team viable.
Right now the Mario plan recommends
several things. It suggests that one way it
can raise an additional five half million
dollars a year in revenues is by having
some one condemn their lease. And I have
said publicly and I will continue to say
publicly, we don't believe that's a viable
option. One because we believe that there
are other ways to do this. Secondly, in
order for one to condemn a lease or peace
of property you need money. And the
condemnation of that lease would be a
very costly endeavor.

Secondly, the Mario plan called for
and does not speak specifically to the issue
of the ongoing debt service on the Public
Auditorium Authority bonds that are
presently paid by the Penguins and by
SMG. Again that number could be as high
as $2 million a year so that is undefined in
the plan on how that was going to be paid
for.

And finally, it assumes in relatively
short order that we have a new arena
available for the Penguins to play. Now
we're not suggesting one way or the other
that a new arena should or should not be
part of this plan. However, in analyzing
the Mario plan it is our belief that they are
considering that virtually all the revenues
from that new arena go into the operations
of the team. And as you well know from

802

the Steeler's situation and Pirate situation
we have utilized a variety of different
revenue streams generated from these new
facilities to help build the facilities. We
have to make sure that if in fact it is
desired by the public leaders in this
community that a new arena should be put
into place and that we have to make sure
that we utilize some of the revenues
particularly in the case of an arena which
can generate significant private revenues
that we be able to make that part of the
mix in terms of a new arena financing.

So, although we make there are
some extreme benefits associated with the
Mario plan, we would suggest that we wait
until we hear the responses back from
SMG and Fox which we believe they will
respond this week. I think there are other
people that have suggested that they may
in fact file a plan. I on one hand believe
this is an urgent situation and that we need
to be ready at a moments notice to get the
Necessary parties in a room to make the
necessary compromises to get this team on
track, to get ready for next season.

On the other hand, I think pushing
the panic button at this point in time would
be disastrous and what happens is when
you make decisions and take policies into
consideration under duress I think often
times we make bad decisions. So I ask
you not to move forward on a resolution
for condemnation, allow us to continue the
ongoing negotiation. And don't believe
some of the rhetoric that is going on in the
newspaper and in other places regarding
the fact that the Mayor, the
Commissioners and Public Auditorium are
not active in this process. In fact we are
very active and we do not think it is our
Tesponsibility to publicly state just how
active we are.

ee
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Mr. Ferlo:

Gentlemen, thank you,
Mr. President. First of all, I want to thank
Mr. Leeper for coming down today and
speaking and for what I think he has
articulated a very prudent and reasonable
approach as to what the public sector rule
and his in particular and the Mayor's rule
should be right now during this difficult
period.

As strongly as I feel about the need
to maintain and preserve the future
existence of the Penguins and the City of
Pittsburgh, I am 100 percent totally
committed to keeping the Penguins here in
the City of Pittsburgh and financially
solving the future. But as equally strong
as I feel about that, I am equally strong to
say that there is no way I am going to vote
in any way to effect the city's operating
budget or the city's capital budget to
salvage this team, build a new arena or
anything involving the city’s operating
budget or capital budget. We do not have
the money.

There is a role for the public sector
to play specifically to the Public
Auditorium Authority. But I want to thank
the Mayor last night for his comments on
television because I think he was
coolheaded, levelheaded and gave a
reasonable approach about why we need to
be involved and the manner in which he
needs to be involved at this time. There is
an orchestrated campaign going on right
now by the editorial boards, by sports
jocks, by sport fans of the Penguins to
their credit to whip up a hysteria basically
throwing all caution to the wind,
suggesting that all elected officials
including Council just forget about their

fiduciary role and obligation and just write
a blank check to Mario or some other
group to save the Penguins. I am not
going to vote to do that nor should we do
that.

There are a lot of private
negotiations going on, it’s obvious the
NFL is imposing a time constraint for
obvious reasons. It is obvious that the
Marino interest groups want the most out
of the deal and it can't be at the expense of
city taxpayer. That's not our function at
this time. I think some of these
negotiations need to take place. There is
no way I would even vote to reward a
bankrupt morally let alone financially
bankrupt Marino operation in terms of the
way and the manner in which he has
conducted the teams operation over the
last several years. Certainly the Mario
Lemieux proposal looks promising, but I
am not just going to write Mario Lemieux
a check I don't care how great a player he
is. We are talking about business now.

I don't know if Mario is just in it to
make sure he gets his 30 million out and
then runs I don't know that. I hope not and
I think not but I don't know for sure
because I am not involved at that level.
So, I want to support the Mayor's
approach. I think he needs to be in there
each and every hour but I think he needs to
hold back the checkbook. I think he needs
to make sure that the parties negotiate in
good and what ever happened to a level of
appreciation from the Penguins about what
the public has done already.

Millions of dollars have been sunk
into the arena, even the point of new seats
which a month later they didn't like and
wanted to rip out. Have we forgotten that?
We have done nothing but be supportive

8 OOOO

of the Penguins and Civic Arena operation
and we will be prudently and appropriately
supportive in the future. But I am not
about to write a blank check for Mario
Lemieux, the Pittsburgh Penguins or
anyone else. It doesn't need to happen. I
mean the amount of profiteering in sports
has certainly been outrageous. We saw
that with the effort by Senator Specter now
with his albeit Johnny come lately
approach on teams contributing to stadia
construction. But we should not throw
caution to the winning this deal that is
going on right now. There is a role to
play. We will keep the Penguins here but I
am not about to open up the City's
checkbook and write blank check.

Mr. Hertzberg:
Mr. President, it's a difficult
situation. The fact of the matter is no

matter how you look at this deal, the SMG
lease as it now stands is going prohibit any
group from being able to effectively
operate the Pittsburgh = Penguins.
Financially it will never work and if
Mr. Leeper wants to correct me, I don't
think he will, I think we all realize that.
And I appreciate his comments that things
are going on behind the scenes that we're
unaware of, but if someone doesn't do
something and things don't move ahead,
that lease will remain in effect. It is going
to prevent this whole situation from ever
moving forward. That's why I think
eminent domain still has to be considered.

And based on Mr. Leepers
credibility he has a ton of credibility with
me. He's done a great job in everything he
has been involved in. I am going to ask to
hold the non-binding resolution again.
This resolution isn't one that says City
Council is going to dig into the city's

operating budget, the city’s capital budget
or anything like that. It is just a
non-binding resolution that's asking the
Public Auditorium Authority to consider
using this. Certainly public money has
been put into the Pittsburgh Pirates and the
Pittsburgh Steelers. What this eminent
domain will amount to dollars and cents
wise, I submit it is going to be a lot less
than what we are talking about with either
the Pirates or the Steelers.

And I just -- I still don't get the
same feeling that I got with the Pirate
threat of leaving town was there. I just
don't get that same sense of urgency here.
But I think there is cause to have even a
greater sense of urgency because the
Pirates were never in bankruptcy. The
Penguins are in bankruptcy court and they
have been in bankruptcy court. Something
has to give, either a plan to reorganize
them has to be approved or they're going
to be liquidated. Something is going to
happen and it is going to happen fast.

I know that I appreciate
Councilman Ferlo's comments _ that
pressure is trying to be exerted and the
thing to do here is be cool, but the reality
of it is, the NHL does have to do
something for next year. They have to
make plans and they have got to make
them soon. So I hope things are moving. I
hope the behind the scene things are
happening. When the appropriate time
comes during the meeting, I will make a
motion to hold for one week.

Mr. Udin:

T want to just to repeat my cautions
of last year — I last week J still have not
seen the legal opinion that verifies that the
lease can be taken by eminent domain.

ESSE

Although I have heard people claim that
they believe it can. I stil] have not seen a
written legal opinion, which states that.
Number one, aside from the legal opinion
just the same as if the city condemns a
building, the city has to be prepared to put
up the money that the value of that
building would have been worth. We need
lo do a -- if we're going to be serious about
continuing to talk about a condemnation of
the lease, we need to know what that
might cost the taxpayers of the city rather
than just talking condemning a lease as
though we're just-condemning a building
by the Bureau of Building Inspection. It
costs money. We will have to pay what
ever it is determined the value of that lease
was.

J am glad to hear Mr. Leeper here
today giving evidence that the Public
Auditorium Authority as we said last week
is involved appropriately in this entire
discussion and they will continue to be
involved. The Mayor is involved
appropriately. I think it would be reckless
of Council to insert ourselves into the
process of very delegate negotiations that
are going on. And so I am glad to hear
that Mr. Hertzberg is going to hold the
resolution. I would support it, but before
Mr. Hertzberg even considers bringing it
back, I would like to see both a legal
opinion and a financial estimate of what it
might cost the taxpayers of this city to
condemn the lease.

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President. As a
member of the Auditorium Authority the
course that Mr. Leeper outlined and I think
the course the board has taken so far has
been an appropriate course. I mean clearly
there is a problem in terms of the

Penguins, that's an understatement. When
you look at it historically, Howard
Baldwin really gutted the team financially.
Roger Marino then came in and wanted to
move the team. For people who say that
the Auditorium Authority hasn't taken
action. I am not talking about people here,
but rather on those talk shows because |
heard one of them last night. They need to
remember that in many ways the first
public action that was taken with respect
to this crisis was the Public Auditorium's
action and that is we sued the Penguins.
We sued the Penguins six months ago to
prevent roger Marino from taking the team
out of Pittsburgh.

That was on Steve Leeper's advise,
that was on our Council's advise and I
think it was good advise because we got a
judicial decision saying he couldn't have
any contacts with anyone, any other team
outside the City of Pittsburgh. So I think
that action really was one that secured the
team here at least legally and now of
course there is serious financial
consideration.

I appreciate Councilman
Hertzberg's saying that he is going to hold
this bill. I think that's wise to do. The
Auditorium Authority we had an eight
o'clock meeting this moming on it.
Certainly we are meeting on a weekly and
sometimes on a twice a week basis. I
think what needs to happen is that we need
to study the plan. We need to prod SMG.
We need to prod Fox Sports, and we need
to prod the Mario Lemieux group to come
together and try to reach agreement. Steve
Leeper has done that. The Auditorium
Authority is doing that. I think that is the
prudent course right now. If it tums out
that they can't reach agreement and that
things fall through the floor, then I think

a=sagl‘*eaw=$=$“$Saam9ma9BaSSNmS

we come back and look at more extreme
measures. I don't think that's necessary
now.

The Chair:

I think this is very similar to the
Pirates and I think the Mayor -- I watched
him last night -- I think he was correct we
are paying the fans and the citizens are
paying for total mismanagement of the
team. This has been going on for years.
Don't forget when the Pirates had eight
corporate owners, they were losing a heck
of a lot of money too. So although they
were good corporate citizens they had no
business running a baseball team. So we
hope that it is moving in the right direction
to find a substantial owner. I don't think
that any of us are disagreeing with what
Mr. Leeper said. We need to know that it
is being shown the same urgency of the
Pirates with your leadership and you were
very heavily involved with the Pirates. If
you want to go through it Mr. Cohen who
is on the Auditorium Authority, I think
Council has to be abreast of what is going
on. That is a key issue for us.

I know the commissioners, it is
election time, maybe they are waiting until
after the election to get involved. I don't
see at least publicly too much
involvement. We don't have to get into all
that but we do have a deadline. I think we
want to make sure that at least we're not
leaving any stone untumed. If you are
involved with it, I commend you being
there but I also know that you're building
two baseball parks and a convention
center. So maybe you should take a
couple of weeks off and you can get up
tomorrow morming and worry about the
Penguins, I would be satisfied.

Mr. Leeper:

We would be glad to continue to
brief Council] and maybe that would be
most appropriate. I would ask our
Solicitor to determine that this matter may
constitute something we could do in
Executive Session if we felt that some of
the discussions that we were having could
be problematic.

Again I want to emphasize one
thing here and actually two things. One is,
I want to reinforce what Mr. Cohen said.
The very first critical action that was taken
was not even the filing of the suit, but the
fact that 18 months ago it was in the
designing of the legal documents. Thank
goodness of our legal counsel from Read
Smith, Eric Shaffer that we crafted a
covenant not to relocate outside of that
lease. And to have a bankruptcy court
uphold that covenant is really, I want to
say, is unprecedented but certainly
something we think will set some
standards across this country. So that first
step allows us to now negotiate without
having to worry about someone always
saying you no longer have this covenant. |
can walk out of here any time I want to
and I] want you the public to pay for it. So
by doing that we sent a clear message.

So now what's happened is that
now everyone is regrouping on how they
are going to come back to us with a
proposal. They know that sitting out there
was this covenant not to relocate. So I
think that's the most important thing.

Just the last thing is that and just I
don't disagree with anything that Alan
said. But the SMG lease, let's be clear
how we ever got to that point and the point
is that in the early '90s, right after our

Stanley Baldwin bought that team for
slightly over 25 million dollars. That's all
he paid for a national league hockey
franchise. He did not pay to have the
operational benefits and revenues of that
facility. He took that team and I can go
down the host of issues, but at the
statement time he was losing money every
year. I want to make this distinction
between them and the corporate leadership
that had the Pirates, when they were losing
money, he was distributing money to
partners.

Let's be clear about that. During
the time he was losing money, he was
distributing money to partners. And as a
result of that now we have gotten
ourselves not into 25 million dollars worth
of debt and that's the other thing he did, he
bought that team with all debt. And that
says something about a league that allows
someone to buy a franchise totally
leveraged. So then he gets himself further
into debt and enter Roger Marino he
invests in this. The strike occurs, Mario
retires, all the other things that are
acceptable problems that maybe were
outside their control. But in the mean time
they have increased the debt to over 40
million dollars plus. What they have done
in position debt of about another 15
million dollars or so and they are turning
around and saying we have miss managed
the team but you know what I can solve all
that.

It is kind of like you know these
guys that are selling everyone home equity
loans and saying get rid of them. If you
take my home equity loan, as if your debt
goes away, their solution to this problem is
I am not the bad guy these guys SMG are
the bad guys. The guys with the bad lease.
Well wait a minute, that's why you bought

that team for 25 million dollars. So at the
same time, we need ~ it’s at a point in time
where SMG has to realize that this is an
asset to them. And the only way they are
going to continue to enjoy the benefits of
this asset is by the gift. We're going to
push that and we're going to push Fox and
we're going to push all the other potential
owners.

But again, I think what has
happened here is we have gotten I think a
bad PR situation where we think that in
and of itself, that lease is the problem. I
believe that the lease needs to be
restructured, concessions need to be given
back to the teams in order for it to be
viable, yet at the same time, I wish that
was the only problem associated with this
team.

The Chair:

I think it is clear. People don't
realize that the SMG lease is really they
were the bank for Baldwin to buy this
team. So they are really not the bad guys
but unfortunately it has been mismanaged
so they have to come together and try to
solve the problem. I don't know of any
awareness Mr. Ferlo that they have asked
us, city taxpayers to put any money into
this. This is a team problem right now.
New arenas are down the road and all that.
I don't believe it should be spoken about
until this team solves their problem.

Again, I don't even know who the
people are. Mr. McClatchey in two years
turned that team around to be breaking
even. So it shows what a good
owner/operator can do.

Mr. Ferlo:

eee

I don't think it is fair for them to go
to the RAD Board or go to the hotel/motel
tax or anything else that has been used in
the past. It is just not fair and anyone who
thinks that it was just coincidence that
knowing that Mario was going to retire he
gets a 26 million plus windfall. I mean
how is anyone that naive to think that he
was not involved in the beginning and
possibly relocating and marketing this
team elsewhere, knowing full well that he
would get his $26 million back? If you
think I am going to believe that Mario is
just a great angel here and that is getting
$26 million knowing he is not even going
to play, I mean he was going to be part of
this scam to move the team and market it
at a higher profit somewhere else. I will
always believe that.

The Chair:

I don't want to debate the issue. I
don't think Mario was part of that scam at
all because he and Roger Marino were
certainly at terrific odds. If they would
have come together we probably could
have succeeded this thing.

Mario is very committed to
keeping the team here. Although you may
be partially right, he certainly has an
invested interest, but I also think his
interest is keeping here, and he is doing
exactly what Mr. McClatchey did, he is
bringing together people with financial
dollars to keep this team here. Again, it
has got a long way to go, but I hope
Mr. Leeper can keep us informed and we
want to support them and make sure it
stays here.

Mr. Leeper:

Well we will work with your office

in setting some executive sessions. Thank
you.

The Chair:
Thank you.

Can we have a five minute recess,
because we have been waiting seven, eight
minute recess, we have all council
members here for a photo that needs to be
taken.

(Whereby a recess was taken.)
The Chair:

Thank you. Council's meeting is
now unrecessed. Move to presentation of
papers.

PRESENTATION OF PAPERS
MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:

No. 1604 Resolution Providing for
the issuance of a $16,636.46 warrant in
favor of NORALCO CORPORATION,
1920 Lincoln Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15239,
for additional costs directly related to the
repair and rehabilitation of an unforeseen
party wall with the adjoining structure at
704-706 Second Avenue in completion of
the Demolition contract dated January 20,
1999, by and between the CITY OF
PITTSBURGH, BUREAU OF
BUILDING INSPECTION, and
NORALCO CORPORATION for the
razing of the structure at 700 Second
Avenue.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

Gee

No. 1605 Resolution Authorizing
and directing the Mayor and the Director
of General Services to lower the Cable
Franchise Fee paid by City of Pittsburgh
cable television users commensurately
with the rate increase _recently
implemented by TCI of Pennsylvania. —
(SPONSORED BY MR. FERLO)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Lands, Buildings &
Procurement.

No. 1606 Resolution Authorizing
the Mayor and Director of the Department
of Parks and Recreation to name the
playground at Broad and Evaline Streets in
Garfield, constructed upon the properties
with Lot and Block Numbers 50-L-184
and $0-L-187 in the 10" Ward, to be the
“Nelson Mandela Peace Park”
(SPONSORED BY MR. FERLO)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Parks, Recreation & Youth
Policy.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
Also,
No. 1607 Resolution Amending

Resolution No. 667, effective November
30, 1998, entitled “Providing for an

809

Agreement or Agreements, or use of
existing Agreements and/or a Contract or
Contracts, or use of existing Contracts for
design and construction of improvements
to various Overlooks, including but not
limited to the West End Elliott Overlook;
and providing for the payment of the cost
thereof,” by increasing the total project
allocation by $250,000.00 from
$225,000.00 to $475,000.00.

No. 1608 Resolution Providing for
an Agreement or Agreements, or use of
existing Agreements and/or a Contract or
Contracts, or use of existing Contracts in
connection with the Neighborhood Street
Improvements Program and the
Rehabilitation/Replacement of the S. 10"
St. and S. 15" St. Pedestrian Bridges;
providing for a Cooperation Agreement
with the Pittsburgh Parking Authority; and
providing for the payment of the costs not
to exceed $944,600.00.

No. 1609 Resolution Providing for
an Agreement or Agreements, or use of
existing Agreements for Construction
Inspection Services on various City
projects; and providing for the payment of
the costs not to exceed $150,000.00.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Engineering and
Construction.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

No. 1610 Resolution Granting unto
Allegheny County, 101 Courthouse, 436
Grant Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15219, their successors and assigns, an
encroachment to construct, maintain and
use at their own cost and expense, an
Exhibit/Information Panel on a portion of
the sidewalk area of Forbes Avenue

adjacent to the City-County Building in
the 1 Ward, 6" Council District of the
City of Pittsburgh.

No. 1611 Resolution Vacating
portions of North Negley Avenue and
North St. Clair Street in the 11 Ward, 9”
Council District of the City of Pittsburgh.

No. 1612 Resolution Vacating
portions of Federal Street, West General
Robinson Street, Stadium Drive East and
North Shore Drive in the 22" Ward, 6”
Council District of the City of Pittsburgh.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Public Works, Water &
Environmental Services.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

No. 1613 Resolution Authorizing
the Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh to Acquire all of the City’s
Right, Title and Interest, if any, in and to
the following Publicly-Owned Property in
the City of Pittsburgh (Council District
No. 3 -- Residential Construction). ---
(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD &
MR. HERTZBERG)

18th
4-C-94
6 McArdle Roadway

18th
4-G-249
35 Vinecliff Street

18th
4-G-254
8 McArdle Roadway

18th
4-G-256
43 Vinecliff Street

810

18th
4-G-264
41 E. Sycamore Street

18th

N/A

Portion of Vinecliff Street
(To be Vacated)

MS. MCDONALD moved to suspend
Rule 8 by providing for consideration of
the bill only until or after the 8th calendar
day following the meeting in which the bill
was introduced, so the bill will be on the
agenda this Wednesday.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Also,

No. 1614 Resolution providing for
an agreement with Byrd R. Brown Law
Offices for legal representation as the
Solicitor of the Pittsburgh Commission On
Human Relations in1999, at a cost not to
exceed $20,000.00.

No. 1615 Resolution Approving
Execution of a Contract for Disposition by
Sale of Land by and between the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
and Jeanine C. Bacon for the Sale of Block
7B Lot 380 in the Twenty First Ward of
the City of Pittsburgh for $310.00
(Council District No. 6 - 1410 Hamlin
Street - Off street parking and sideyard). --
-(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD &
MR. HERTZBERG)

No. 1616 Resolution | Approving

execution of a Contract for Disposition by
Sale of Land by and between the Urban

Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
and Chartiers Nature Conservancy, Inc. for
the sale of Parcels 12A and 12B in the
28th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh, in
Redevelopment Area No. 24, Block 69B
Lot 2 -- Ingram and North Duane Avenues
--Council District No. 2 (recreation area).
The purchase price of $50,000.00. ---
{PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD &
MR. HERTZBERG)

No. 1617 Resolution Approving
execution of a Contract for Disposition by
Sale of Land by and between the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
and Ear! K. Russell and Valerie Jo Russell
for the sale of Parcels 100 and 108A in the
13th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh, in
Redevelopment Area No. 19, Block 174G
Lots 265, 264 and 263 -- 1210-1218
Pineridge Street --Council District No. 9
(garage and sideyard area). The purchase
price is $2,000.00. . ---(PRESENTED BY
MS. MCDONALD & MR. HERTZBERG)

No. 1618 Resolution Authorizing
the Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh to acquire that property, located
at 477-479 Kilbourne Street, in Council
District Number 5, in the 15th Ward of
the City of Pittsburgh owned by Francis
Rende and designated as Block 56-D and
Lot Numbers 131, 132 and 164 in the
Deed Registry Office of Allegheny
County. (PRESENTED BY MS.
MCDONALD & MR. HERTZBERG)

No. 1619 Resolution Authorizing
the Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh to acquire the following
property in the 15th Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh privately owned, and designated
as in the Deed Registry Office of
Allegheny County, under the Residential

811

Land Reserve Fund. (PRESENTED BY
MS. MCDONALD & MR. HERTZBERG)

56-N-190
5109 Ladora Way
Guy Oliveri

56-N-189
5111 Ladora Way
Guy Oliveri

56-N-188
5113 Ladora Way
Guy Oliveri

56-N-187
5115 Ladora Way
Clara Karafa

56-N-186

5117 Ladora Way
Hartman/Kissell
56-N-184

5119-27 Ladora Way
Hartman/Kissell

56-N-178
5129-37 Ladora Way
Hartman/Kissell

56-N-172
5139-47 Ladora Way
Hartman/Kissell

56-N-166
5149-57 Ladora Way
Hartman/Kissell

No. 1620 Resolution Authorizing
the Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Pittsburgh to acquire that property, located
at 161 Brahm Street, in Council District
Number 1, in the 26th Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh owned by William Pegg and
designated as Block 46-J and Lot Number

aaa eee

132 in the Deed Registry Office of
Allegheny County. (PRESENTED BY
MS. MCDONALD & MR. HERTZBERG)
MR. O'CONNOR PRESENTED:

No. 1621 Communication from the

No. 1622 Communication from City
Controller, Tom Flaherty submitting a
Special Report on Stadium Lease
Comparisons with 15 U.S. Cities for
Major League Baseball.

Which were read, received and filed.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to receive
and file.

MS. MCDONALD seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Now move to unfinished business.
Is there any unfinished business to come in
front of Council?

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mr. Hertzberg:

Two items. First with respect to
that resolution with the Penguins and
eminent domain, I make a motion to hold
that for one week.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.

$12

Mr. Hertzberg:

Second, 1 think you recall last week
the topic of Just Ducky Tours and their
problems related to PNC Park and being
able to get in and out of the water on the
North Shore. It was discussed and I want
to thank everyone on Council for their
reactions and their support for Just Ducky
Tours. There is a tentative agreement
that's been reached with the Pittsburgh
Pirates that will allow the ducks to come
out of the water through the PNC Park site
at least until November. It not so there
will be probably another year worth of
problems we have to for Just Ducky, but at
least they are going to get through the
current season with the good duck
weather. So I appreciate everyone’s
support on that. And I want to thank the
Pirates for stepping to the plate and
helping the ducks.

The Chair:
Council doesn't need a Ducky Tour

or anything, we can handle that okay.
Thank you, anything else under unfinished

business? Hearing none, move to
Committee Chair Reports.
CHAIR REPORTS

Mr. Diven:

I will try to keep it brief today. I
understand the hour is getting late. Just
some updates regarding some of the
bureaus within the Public Safety
Department.

In the Police Bureau, all assistant
chiefs were rotated to new positions and
they will receive valuable experience in
operating another branch of the bureau.

They have hired a Manager of Professional
Development that was a suggestion that
was made by the McKenzie study. They
have also hired a Public Affairs Officer,
which was another recommendation of the
McKenzie study. And one note that
Council will have an interest in is the
officer safety committee met and they
voted in favor of the road spike tire
deflation devise. Remember we had the
Post Agenda that was the one that they
thought would be the best.

The Chair:
The one the state police are using?
Mr. Diven:

I believe so, yes. That's the one
that they had chosen after reviewing the
products and they will be proceeding with
the purchase. So I am sure that legislation
will be coming in front of Council shortly.

In the EMS Bureau they're in the
process of interviewing 60 candidates to
fill 30 positions for the EMT position with
the basic life saving units. Also the week
of May 17th is EMS Week. We will be
preparing legislation, my office will be
preparing a proclamation to recognize that
in the City of Pittsburgh.

Right now River Rescue is being
staffed from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. in a trailer
underneath the Clemente Bridge and they
will continue to work with the contractors
to ensure the 24-hour access to the boats
for river rescue. They’re also in the
process of breaking down the number and
type of calls EMS responds to by Council
District and that information will be
available shortly.

Additionally the leaming channel

is doing a ride along with the City of
Pittsburgh paramedics for the next month
for their show Paramedics. Chief Kennedy
has pointed out that the reason that
Pittsburgh was chosen for this show was
because of our great reputation nationally
as leaders in the paramedic field. So we
look forward to seeing what kind of
coverage the City of Pittsburgh gets in
that.

Another issue that has come up in
the Emergency Operations Center, I am
sure most of you probably were aware of
the comments made in the news television
reports last week regarding staffing levels
at the EOC. Right now they are in the
process where it is a pretty bad situation.
They have mandatory overtime, as much
as three days in a row where you have
people working dispatch working 16-hour
shifts. I don't know how we got to this
point but I think Council definitely needs
to take a role in finding out what the
problem is, why don't we have the number
of people working in dispatch?

There was a one statistic that was
quoted, I believe 1700 hours of overtime
was responsible because they didn't have
the staffing levels to support full shifts
working in 911 dispatch. I had the
opportunity to talk with Chief Rowntree,
he's told me that five trainees have started
a 12 week program that started last
Monday and they're in the process of
testing an additional class of applicants
which they have approval to hire ten more
people. But unfortunately when you look
at the 12 week training as a requirement
for stepping into these positions, we're in a
situation where even if we hire these
people today, it is going to be three months
before they're activity involved in
lessening the occurrence of mandatory

overtime in the 91] Center. So it is
definitely something that I believe Council
needs to take a role in and making sure
that we set up a procedure so that we're not
asking a handful of people to really have
to give up everything else in their life to
staff the 911 Center.

I think just the amount of fatigue
and the level of stress associated with the
job at the 911 center and the dispatch
position is a pretty tremendous stress level.
I think that we need to put together a
procedure or system that makes sure that
we have people constantly in a position to
go on if vacancies open up in the 911
dispatch center. So that's one problem that
I think we definitely need to take a look at.
I would also like to commend those people
that work in the 911 center. The
dispatchers who are working the
mandatory overtime and who are making
the sacrifice. I know it's a tough situation
for them and they're to be commended for
their dedication to the city's public safety
services.

In addition the Emergency
Operation Center is in the process of
loading new data into their CAD system.
They are also in the process of working on
their Y2K problem and they're also
discussing issues related to mass
destruction weapons, They're in the
process of finishing the final phase of
microwave communication system. And
theyre [ guess hardening the
communication infrastructure _ against
outages. So there are some of the things
that EOC is working on.

In the Bureau of Fire, they're in the
process of preparing a bid for purchasing a
new pumper and also going after
rehabilitating ten 1986 pearce pumpers
which will extend the life of those

814

pumpers to the year 200six. Right now
they're in the process of putting recruit
training in. They have a class for the
spring and there is supposed to be another
class scheduled to start sometime this
summer. So that hopefully we will have
additional firefighters brought on by the
end of the year.

They are also pursuing terrorism
and terrorism recognition and response
training and they're continuing in their
high rise operations working with high rise
buildings to insure that if a crises or
emergency ever happens there we will be
in a position to handle it effectively and
professionally. And some more
information here.

They're continuing with their fire
prevention program. I think one of the
causes of the lower occurrence of fires in
the City of Pittsburgh has been a
tremendous proactive fire prevention
program and the City of Pittsburgh Fire
Bureau is continuing on in that direction.
The smoke detector program they have had
2,216 residents canvassed and they have
had 174 smoke detectors installed. The
Fire Prevention Company Inspection
Program they have gone out and had 432
inspections completed and I believe
another 276 in the fire prevention
inspection.

But they're also doing a school
curriculum where they are going out and
teaching classes. I believe they put on 63
programs as of this year where they're
going out and working with child safety
programs and doing special exhibits and
doing things to make children aware of
who to contact in a time of emergency. So
they have been very busy and they have
accomplished enough. It is a shame with

ee
ea—=seeee

the lateness of the hour there is a whole
package of information regarding some of
their goals and some of _ their
accomplishments. I will make sure
Council gets a copy of this and that's all
the information.

The Chair:

] think we have some questions or
comments.

Mr. Udin:

Yes, sir, thank you, Mr. President.
One, I read an article in today's paper
where Commander Freeman spent a
considerable amount of time with a
distraught shooting suspect talking the
suspect off the roof. And Commander
Freeman apparently displayed a
considerable amount of patience and skill
in getting the person off the roof and able
to surrender.

That is certainly a much more
preferable outcome than the kind of
violent outcome that could have occurred
with a less patient and less experienced
commander in charge. I want to just
commend Commander Freeman although
it was unfortunate our same article
contained an incident where there was an
unfortunate accident when a window was
broken when the man was apparently
breaking the window to get out of the
house. Somehow an officer became
frightened and ducked for cover and broke
his arm in the process. J don't know what
that was about, but Commander Freeman
certainly displayed tremendous skill and I
want to commend him for that. That's one
thing.

Secondly, I received a letter from

815

the principal of a middle school who
conveyed an incident that I could not
believe happened and I would like to ask
Mr. Diven to look into it. It was a
wrestling match at a middle school and the
principal called 911 for an ambulance
because the child broke his wrist and his
wrist was there dangling and the child was
riving in pain. After 15 minutes and no
ambulance the principal called and they
were told there was no ambulance
available. After 30 minutes the ambulance
dispatched 911 dispatch called back and
told the principal there was still no
ambulance available and perhaps they
ought to she ought to take the child in a
car, in a private car to the hospital.

I just couldn't believe that that is
our EMS system here in Pittsburgh
because usually when we talk about EMS
response times at the table we are talking
about six and a half minutes to seven
minutes and one of the most rapid
response times in the nation. I just could
not believe that we have like over 30 or 40
minutes with no ambulance service
available for a child with a broken limb.

And so I hope that is some rare
occasion that is not repeated on a regular
basis. I would like to hear from Mr. Diven
after he has an opportunity to look into it.
I can't imagine what would take over a
half-hour for ambulance service to respond
to an elementary school call, or a middle
school will call with a medical emergency.

Mr. Diven:

I will definitely follow up with
communication to Chief Kennedy to ask
for the details on this but I can tell you that
this happened last year.

eee

I know my office was contacted.
There was a child at Beechwood School
that fell and cut himself and the same
situation ensued where an ambulance
wasn't available. And following up on that
complaint and that request to find out what
happened, I was informed that there was a
couple alarm fire in Southside and a lot of
the paramedic units were at the scene there
and couldn't leave because they were
attending to people from a fire. So it does
happen.

And one of the things that at least
in looking at the basic life savings units
that the EMT's are supposed to staff they're
supposed to be able to fill the gaps. So the
likelihood that if someone has a non-life
threatening emergency such as a broken
arm or cut that needs stitches or something
that nature the basic life saving units are
supposed to be available and concentrate
on making sure that those gaps are filled.

So I will follow up with a
communication to Chief Kennedy to ask
for the details in response to that particular
incident. But I know that things have
happened not as frequently as something
that would be routine, but there are times
in emergency response where for whatever
reason if they're attending an auto accident
or a fire that those units just are not
available, because they're in other parts of
the city. But with the addition of the
EMT's and the basic life saving units
hopefully we will be in a position to make
sure that we can respond to any emergency
that happens in the City of Pittsburgh.

The Chair:
I would be concerned if you are

correct and there is some emergency, what
is the back up plan? I mean we have

816

firefighters, we have police officers, if they
can't be there then the person should be
told there is an emergency, please --

Mr. Udin:

Certainly it is not the whole entire
EMS force was at one fire?

The Chair:

I am just saying, whatever --
Mr. Diven:

I don't know.
The Chair:

There has to be other back up
somehow. Even if in the rarest case, they
were, what is the back up? Whatever, we
have to get the person or child or anybody
else to the hospital no matter what the
situation is. So hopefully we have a back
up plan.

Mr. Diven:

I mean you have to understand I
believe, I am not sure on the statistics, but
I believe there are 12 EMS paramedic
units citywide and we do have a city that
has a population of over 300,000 people.
We have a lot of people that come in from
outside the City of Pittsburgh. So I mean
that obviously they're doing the best that
they can, but we can improve and I think
that needs to be stressed.

The Chair:
My point is if it is a rare occasion

and all 12 are some where, there should be
a back up plan. Some one else has to get

eee eee
=e

there and help that child.
Mr. Diven:

I will definitely follow up on it.
The Chair:

I remember the days when a police
officer would put you into a wagon and
Tush you to the hospital to have a baby or
whatever else. We have to have some
back up plan. I will be interested in a
follow up from that.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you. If you could also
check on Zone 4 police staffing levels. In
fact, I think we share Zone 4, Councilman
Diven. Because I have had steady
complaints for at least a year now from the
communities Esplen, Sheridan, Elliott and
the West End that there doesn't seem to be
a sufficient number of police out on the
streets. Even it seems like the levels are so
low that they can't even react to reports let
alone try to have a presence in some of our
more troubled areas.

So maybe you can check but I am
being told that the staffing levels have just
been on a slow decline and that there aren't
any new classes or anything else going on
as far as getting some more police hired
and up to the appropriate levels.

Mr. Diven:

We have in the budget money to
but together a civil service exam on
sometime this year for new police hires. I
believe during the budget time we talked
about hiring 25 additional police officers.
But I have heard the same complaints. In

817

fact, one of the things that I followed up
on, I believe when they had the Fortune
500 group in, a lot of the Zone 4 police
officers were called to come down and
protect or serve as security around the
Westin William Penn which only Jeft one
car to canvas all of Zone 4 which that's not
acceptable.

Another thing that I was shocked
about was with the allocation of COP
Officers. Anytime we have a major event
in the City of Pittsburgh, a lot of the COP
officers are pulled out of there respective
neighborhoods to save the city on overtime
pay that it would cost to bring more
officers out. I think the purpose of the
COP officers is not to supplement your
overtime budget. It is to build roots and
relationships with people in the
community and they can't do that if every
week they're pulled out to respond to a
need for whatever major event is
happening in the City of Pittsburgh.

But I will definitely follow up on
that and try to get you the dates on when
they are going to have the test and how
many they are planning on hiring. But I
think one of the problems we need to be
aware of is with the lack of funding
coming from the state for the municipal
courts, I don't know if it is the
administration’s plan to cut the scale back
on hires. I know they have done it with
the 52 vacancies in Public Works that we
had placed in the budget. I believe they
have only hired 17. So the additional
police officers might be something that we
have to get clarification from the
administration as to what their intentions
are with those positions.

Mr. Hertzberg:

SS SS OCONEE

Maybe on the COP issue which is
the same feedback I am getting, I think all
their shifts were changed related to the
Marathon. Citywide the COP's all
changed shifts for I don't know how many
weeks it was before the Marathon so that
when they worked during the marathon, it
wouldn't be overtime. That certainly
wasn't what Council had in mind in
supporting the idea of community oriented
police. It was to have people that knew
particular neighborhoods not to be our
special events police.

So hopefully we can also talk about
some changes we're our COP's are doing
what we had hoped they would do and I
think they're supposed to be doing.

The Chair:

IT just have one comment on the
911 staffing. I would ask you to get a
report of where we are and where we are
going because summer vacations are
coming up. It looks like when you fall
behind and there is a management problem
it is not going to recover overnight. So I
would ask you to get an update on the
staffing and when they're going to solve
the problem.

Mr. Diven:

Like I said in my report, they have
hired five, they started last Monday to go
through the 12 week training process.
They have got approval to hire an
additional ten, which I don't know what
date they will be entering training. But
even if we hire them they still have three
months worth of training, so we're not
going to be in a situation and it is very
unfair to the people that work in
emergency operations to ask them to put
aside everything else in their life and

818

mandate that they work there. I think
that’s going to have a devastating impact
on morale and their physical ability to
perform under high stress levels.

I think that job can be compared to
an air traffic Controller. I mean any time
some one calls 911, obviously they have
got an emergency. If people aren't in a
position to have the rest and the relief from
stress that their job puts on them, I believe
it will have an adverse effect on their
ability to perform whether they want to be
there or not I think it physically and we all
have limitations and if we ask people to
work three days in a row and for 16 hours
a day, that is a very tough requirement let a
lone working in an environment that has
such a high stress level around it when
responding to emergency calls.

The Chair:

Again paying overtime you could
put 15 Pittsburghers to work tomorrow
and actually save money and have a better
job performance. And the other issue, I
will wait until after the election I guess we
will make a decision on the 911 center to
move to North Point Breeze and I
understand they're working on a lease so
hopefully that will be resolved quickly.

Moving on to reports of
committee.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1623:
Report of the Committee on Finance and

Budget for May 5, 1999, transmitting
sundry of resolutions to Council.

—oo Lee

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1540:

Resolution Authorizing and
directing the Mayor, the Director of
General Services, the Director of the
Bureau of Information Systems (CIS), and
the City Clerk, to enter into an
agreement(s), professional services
agreement, and/or contract or contracts for
the design, development and
implementation of a computer based
multimedia interactive information kiosk
for placement in the lobby of the City
County Building to include the purchase of
computer equipment, equipment, supplies,
communication hardware, _ software,
training and maintenance, at a cost not to
exceed Thirty Five Thousand Dollars
($35,000). --(SPONSORED BY MR.
FERLO)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1562:

Resolution repealing items in
Resolutions, approved on various dates,
authorizing the sale of properties in
various wards of the City of Pittsburgh, in
accordance with Act No. 171 of 1984.

(A)508 Richland Street, being sold
to Robert E. Vance, 2 sty. brick house, 13"
Ward, Block 174P, Lot 16, amount
forfeited $150.00. Council District 9.

(B) 50 Cushman Street, being sold
to Rosemary K. Stull, 18" Ward, Block

819

4R, Lot 270, amount being forfeited
$100.00. Council District 3.

(C) 1421 Adams Street, being sold
to Mary D. Lewis, 2.5 sty. ork. hse. & 1
car. Gar, 21" ward, block 22F, lot 113,
amount forfeited $500.00. Council
District 6.

(D) 1505 Allegheny Avenue, being
sold to Marion Kelley, 2 sty. brk. hse.
Amount forfeited $260.00. Council
District 6.

(E) 504 Jefferson Street, being sold
to Anthony R., Brown & Geraldine
Reynolds, amount forfeited $100.00.
Council District 6.

(F) 327 Gould Avenue, being sold
to Carl W. Dorow, amount
forfeited$400.00. Council District 1.

(G) 43 Schubert Street, being sold
to Daniel J. Helt & Denise A. Helt,
amount forfeited $100.00. Council
District 1.

(H) 136 Winslow Street, 2 sty. fra.

dwilg., Darnell Grisham, amount forfeited :

$100.00. Council District 9.
Which was read.

Also,

Bill No. 1563:

Resolution providing for
conveyance by the City of Pittsburgh of
certain properties in the 3" and 5" Wards,
to the Housing Authority of City of
Pittsburgh for inclusion in the Hope VI
Program, for the sum of $1,000.00 per
property. Council District #6.

a» __OOMOM

WARD 3

1805 Cliff St.
9-M-123

2-1/2 sty.brk. hse.
850 sq, ft.

1817 Cliff St.
9-M-131

2 sty. brk. hse.,
I sty. brk. gar.
3,642 sq. ft.

1734 Cliff St.
9-M-219

3 sty. brk. hse.,
1 sty. c. b. gar.
1,292 sq. ft.

1904 Bedford Ave.
9-M-302

I sty. brk. bldg. (rear)
2,667 sq. ft.

1841 Webster Ave.
9-S-199

2-1/2 sty. brk. hse.
1,472 sq.ft.

WARD 5

37 Davenport St.
10-J-26

2 sty. brk. hse.
1,814 sq. ft.

139 Erin St.
10-J-45

3 sty.brk. hse.
2,306 sq. ft.

206 Devilliers St.
10-J-205
2 sty. brk. hse.

1,725 sq. ft.

2001 Webster Ave.
10-J-208

3 sty. brk. hse. & store
1,430 sq. ft.

2019 Webster Ave.
10-J-232

3 sty. brk. dwg. & sto.
953 sq. ft.

218 Erin St.
10-J-273

2 sty. brk. hse.
2,894 sq. ft.

15 Davenport St.
10-N-44

2 sty. brk. hse.
1,900 sq. ft.

219 Erin St.

10-J-261

Brick Commercial bidg.
2,250 sq. ft.

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1564:

Resolution providing for
conveyance by the City of Pittsburgh of
certain vacant lots in the 3“ and 5" Wards,
to the Housing Authority of City of
Pittsburgh for inclusion in the Hope VI
Program, for the sum of $100.00 per lot
plus all necessary and incidental expenses
in connection with such acquisition.
Council District #6.

THIRD WARD

3 Cassatt St.

ee
eee

9-M-112 1,342 sq. fi.
1,919 sq. ft.

1848 Cliff St.
12 Cassatt St. 9-M-187
9-M-114 2,030 sq. ft.
2,907 sq. ft.

1841 Monaca Pl.
1803 Cliff St. 9-M-188
9-M-122 1,508 sq. ft.
892 sq. ft.

1836 Cliff St.
181) Cliff St. 9-M-194
9-M-127 6,875 sq. ft.
890 sq. ft.

25 Monaca PI.
1829 Cliff St. 9-M-195A
9-M-137 1,834 sq. ft.
3,331 sq. ft.

1830 Cliff St.
1835 Cliff St. 9-M-195B
9-M-143 1,162 sq. ft.
1,665 sq. ft.

11 Monaca PI.
1837 Cliff St. 9-M-202
9-M-146 1,311 sq. fit.
1,665 sq. ft.

5 Monaca PI.
1839 Cliff St. 9-M-203
9-M-147 1,427 sq. ft.
1,665 sq, ft.

4 Monaca Pl.
10 Ledlie St. 9-M-204
9-M-173 700 sq. ft.
946 sq. ft.

2 Monaca PI.
1858 Cliff St. 9-M-206
9-M-180 700 sq. fi.
2,745 sq. ft.

1 Monaca PI.
1850 Cliff St. 9-M-207
9-M-186 700 sq. ft.
1,342 sq. ft.

1809 Bedford Ave.
1843 Monaca Pl. 9-M-245
9-M-186A. 2,874 sq. ft.

e6V6=6“3—co—nwanmnmao?j€w0ww#wowowoOwouanmewswmaqT#ylou0TS OOOO

810-812 Cassatt St.
9-M-246
3,863 sq. ft.

1815-1817 Bedford Ave.
9-M-251
1,586 sq. ft.

802 Cassatt St.
9-M-251A
663 sq. ft.

10 Monaca Pl.
9-M-258
671 sq. ft.

58 Monaca PI.
9-M-277
9,800 sq. ft.

809-811 Monaca Pl.
9-M-279
885 sq. fi.

1918 Bedford Ave.
9-M-290

1,096 sq. ft.

1916 Bedford Ave.
9-M-293

1,050 sq. ft.

1914 Bedford Ave.
9-M-294
1,156 sq. ft.

1902 Bedford Ave.
9-M-303

600 sq. ft.

1900 Bedford Ave.
9-M-304

1,638 sq. fi.

1864 Rowley St.

9-M-305
1,069 sq. ft.

1852 Bedford Ave.
9-M-306
2,667 sq. ft.

1848-1850 Bedford Ave.
9-M-308
5,354 sq. ft.

1846 Bedford Ave.
9-M-309
2,667 sq. ft.

1840 Bedford Ave.
9-M-314
910 sq. ft.

1838 Bedford Ave.
9-M-315
910 sq. ft.

1848 Rowley St.
9-M-317
778 sq. ft.

1834 Bedford Ave.
9-M-319
2,667 sq. ft.

1830 Bedford Ave.
9-M-320A
1,200 sq. ft.

1911 Webster Ave.
9-M-324
2,667 sq. ft.

1729-1731 Bedford Ave.
9-S-37

2,838 sq. ft.

1801 Bedford Ave.
9-S-38

1,690 sq. ft.

ee
=e eee

1834 Rowley St.
9-S-44
980 sq. ft.

1822 Bedford Ave.
9-S-46A
1,474 sq. fi.

1824 Bedford Ave.
9-S-45
1,280 sq. ft.

1812 Bedford Ave.
9-S-51
1,551 sq. ft.

1810 Bedford Ave.
9-S-52
1,914 sq. ft.

1815 Rowley St.
9-S-53
672 sq. ft.

1813 Rowley St.
9-8-54
668 sq. ft.

1806 Bedford Ave.
9-S-70
2,823 sq. fi.

1900-1902 Webster Ave.
9-S-211
5,594 sq. ft.

1819 Enoch St.
9-S-231
564 sq. fi.

1815 Enoch St.
9-S-231A
560 sa. ft.

823

1817 Enoch St.
9-S-231B
542 sq. ft.

1936 Bedford Ave.
10-J-195
1,251 sq. fi.

WARD 5

39 Davenport St.
10-J-27
1,166 sq. ft.

2032 Webster Ave.
10-J-33
954 sq. ft.

141 Erin St.
10-J-44
2,366 sq. ft.

2000 Bedford Ave.
10-J-196
1,300 sq. ft.

2004 Bedford Ave.
10-J-198
2,779 sq. ft.

202 Devilliers St.
10-J-207
657 sq. ft.

2014-2016 Bedford Ave.
10-J-216
2,535 sq. ft.

2018 Bedford Ave.
10-J-218
1,248 sq. ft.

24 Shipton St.

10-J-220
6,000 sq. ft.

Soe

26 Shipton St.
10-J-224
1,587 sq. ft.

4 Shipton St.
10-J-226
1,497 sq. fi.

3 Shipton St.
10-J-227
1,492 sq. ft.

2 Shipton St.
10-J-228
3,073 sq. ft.

15 Seal St.
10-J-245
2,500 sq. ft.

2030 Bedford Ave.
10-J-251
1,472 sq. ft.

2032 Bedford Ave.
10-J-252
1,472 sq. ft.

2034 Bedford Ave.
10-J-253
1,472 sq. ft.

209-211 Erin St.
10-J-263
2,160 sq. ft.

220 Erin St.
10-J-272
2,422 sq. ft.

216 Erin St.
10-J-274
3,360 sq. ft.

824

2101 Webster Ave.
10-J-275
2,100 sq. ft.

2109 Webster Ave.
10-J-279
2,200 sq. ft.

2111 Webster Ave.
10-J-280
1,570 sq. ft.

2115 Webster Ave.
10-J-282
1,472 sq. ft.

2119 Webster Ave.
10-J-283
1,723 sq. ft.

2121 Webster Ave.
10-J-284
2,986 sq. ft.

2123 Webster Ave.
10-J-285

2,058 sq. ft.

2127 Webster Ave.
10-J-287

2,100 sq. ft.

2129 Webster Ave.
10-J-288
1,758 sq. ft.

2135 Webster Ave.
10-J-289
2,076 sq. ft.

2137 Webster Ave.
10-J-290
1,600 sq. ft.

2141 Webster Ave.
10-J-291

_————
a 8

3,150 sq. ft.

2151 Webster Ave.
10-J-297

1,920 sq. ft.

2153 Webster Ave.
10-J-298
1,920 sq. ft.

2155 Webster Ave.
10-J-299
1,916 sq. ft.

105-109 Perry St.
10-J-316
4,320 sq. ft.

4 Fir Way
10-J-324
1,083 sq. ft.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1565:

(A) 2314 Arlington Avenue, 16"
Ward, Block 13-L, Lot 240, being sold to
Jeffrey S. Koch & Anita L. Koch, $500.00.
Vacant lot containing an area of 2,032 sq.
ft. Intended Use: Build a garage.
(Council District 3).

(B) 2164 — 2166 Centre Avenue,
5" Ward, Block 10P, Lot 109, being sold
to Victor J. Grigsby, $4,000.00. 2-2 sty.

825

brk. apt. hses & stores 2-2 sty brk. hses. rr.
situated on a lot containing 6,387 sq. ft.
Intended Use: Redevelop and establish
business. (Council District 6).

(C) 7211 Kedron Street, 13" Ward,
Block 174B, Lot 289, being sold to Jeffrey
B. & Wanda N. Rollins, $1,200.00. Two
story brick house situated on a lot
containing an area of 2,325 sq. ft Intended
Use: Personal Residence. (Council
District 9).

(D) 214 Kaercher Street, 15"
Ward, Block 55-A, Lot 254, being sold to
Robert & Roberta M. _ Labishak.
$2,000.00. Vacant lot containing an area
of 9, 920 sq. ft. Intended Use: Build
Personal Residence. (Council District 5).

(E) 1321 Adams Street, 21" Ward,
2.5 sty. brk. hse. situated on a lot
containing an area of 1,440 sq. ft,

$2,500.00. Intended Use: Personal
residence or rental property. (Council
District 6).

(F) 858-860 Spring Garden

Avenue, 23 Ward, Block 24E, Lot 135,
$500.00. Intended Use: Vacant lot
containing an area of 3,000 sq. fi.

Intended Use: Off street parking
(Council District 1).
(G) 862-864 Spring Garden

Avenue, 23" Ward, Block 24E, Lot 136, 3
sty. brk. hse.-tavem situated on a lot
containing $5,500.00. Intended Use:
Rental Unit. (Council District 1).

(A) 112 Carrington Street, 25"
Ward, Block 23-F, Lot 176, 2 sty. fra. hse.
situated on a lot containing an area of 1,
000 sq. ft, $500.00. Intended Use:
Personal Residence. (Council District 6).

aeaCaaa0—wNwDHO?0 oe

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1543:

Resolution transferring the amount
of Two Hundred thousand ($200,000.00
Dollars from Salaries to Premium Pay,
both within the Department of Public
Works. ---(PRESENTED BY MR.
HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1575:

Resolution Authorizing and
directing the Director of the Department
of Finance to issue partial checks to
supplement the pay of any City employee
who is called to active military services
(any Reserve, National Guard Component
of the U.S. Armed Forces or Coast
Guard) due to Operation Allied Force to
support NATO operations in Kosovo,
amounting to the difference between their
military pay and City salary, and to
maintain all health care benefits for said
employees, their spouses and dependents
during their term of absence in Kosovo. --
-(SPONSORED BY MR. DIVEN)

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on

the bills?

Mr. Udin:

826

All though it comes in the
Department of Finance, I want to
commend Councilman Ferlo on the kiosk
program. I hope he will speak on that it is
included in today’s bills.

The Chair:

Also, I would like to commend Mr.
Diven for supporting our soldiers who are
going to go over in a very crucial time to
be away from their families up to as many
as nine months. I think it shows a lot and
we have had quite a few calls. I want to
thank you for introducing that bill.

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed will vote no.

Clerk, please cal] the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1624:

Se
——— eee

Report of the Committee on Public Works,
Water and Environmental Services, for
May 5, 1999, transmitting sundry of
resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1544:

Resolution Granting unto
Friendship Development Associates 5530
Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsyivania
15206 and Bloomfield Garfield Corp.,
5149 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania 15224, their successors and
assigns, an encroachment to construct,
maintain and use at their own cost and
expense, a handicap ramp on a portion of
the sidewalk area of 5530 Penn Avenue in
the 8” Ward, 9" Council District of the
City of Pittsburgh.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1546:

Resolution granting unto Home
Depot, Regional Headquarters, 3096
Hamilton Bivd., South Plainfield, NJ
07080, their successors and assigns, an
encroachment to construct, maintain and
use at their own cost and expense, an 18”
storm sewer encroachment under the
sidewalk of East Liberty Boulevard in the
11" Ward, 9” Council District of the City
of Pittsburgh.

Which was read.

Also,

827

Bill No. 1547:

Resolution granting unto Valenta
Platt Design Group. Inc., 2006 East
Carson Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15203, their successors and assigns, an
encroachment to construct, maintain and
use at their own cost and expense, a
double-faced projecting sign over the
sidewalk area of 2006 East Carson Street
in the 17" Ward, 3“ Council District of the
City of Pittsburgh.

Which was read.
The Chair:

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Ferlo

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

TSE EOSNONONOOOOEE

Bill No. 1625:

Report of the Committee on Planning,
Zoning and Land Use for May 5, 1999,
transmitting two resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 1559:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements or Contracts, or
use existing Agreement(s) or Contract(s),
with consultants, vendors, and/or
contractors for the purpose of planning
and/or implementation costs of the
Hazelwood Second Avenue Development
Project and related costs in support of this
project, at a cost not to exceed $27,600.00.

Which was read.

.Also,

Bill No. 1560:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements or Contracts, or
use existing Agreement(s) or Contract(s)
with consultants, vendors, and/or
contractors for the purpose of planning
and/or implementation costs of the Trail
Development Project and related in costs
in support of this project, at a cost not to
exceed $427,800.00.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on

the bills? Bills are now ready for final
action. All in favor of the passage of the

828

bills vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Ferlo
Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald
Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)
AYES Seven NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1626:

Report of the Committee on Housing,
Economic Development and Promotion
for May 5, 1999, transmitting sundry of
resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1548:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements, with various
community organizations for operational/
administrative expenses, maintenance,
purchase of equipment and/or
rehabilitation of neighborhood facilities
for the benefit of residents of the City of
Pittsburgh and further, authorizing various
departments to enter into contract or
contracts or use existing contract or

ee
a 8 8 E_SS

contracts for the purchase of equipment
and/or furniture at a cost not to exceed
$1,182,175.00.

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1549:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements with
Community Based Organizations for
community and economic development
planning assistance —in various
neighborhoods in the City and providing
operating support for these groups in an
amount not to exceed $900,000.00

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1550:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement(s) and Contract(s) with
Consultant(s) and Vendor(s) to assist the
City in improving its Citizen Participation
Process and providing for the payment of
the cost thereof, at a cost not to exceed
$215,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1551:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements or Contract or
Contracts, or use of existing Agreements
or Contracts, with a Consultant or
Consultants, or Vendor or Vendors, for the
purpose of conducting planning and
management studies, and related activities

in support of such studies including the
purchase of data and data analysis
equipment, at a cost not to exceed
$225,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1552:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements or Contracts, or
use existing Agreement(s) or Contract(s)
with consultants, vendors, and/or
contractors for the purpose of planning
and/or implementation costs of the Saw
Mill Run Transportation Study Project and
related costs in support of this project, at a
cost not to exceed $69,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1553:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements with the Urban
League of Pittsburgh, for the
implementation/ administration of the
Housing Counseling Program, and related
costs, in an amount not to exceed
$100,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1554:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements with various
community organizations for operational/

administrative expenses, maintenance,
purchase of — equipment; and/or

ee
a 8 gle

rehabilitation of neighborhood facilities;
and for administrative/operational costs,
maintenance, purchase of equipment,
and/or rehabilitation of neighborhood
facilities of various departmental
programs/projects for the benefit of
residents of the City of Pittsburgh, at a
cost not to exceed $582,279.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1555:

Resolution providing for an
Agteement or Agreements, in a form
approved by the City Solicitor with the
Jewish Healthcare Foundation, to provide
administrative and operating expenses,
housing and housing related supportive
services to persons with HIV/AIDS and
their families, at a total cost not to exceed
$491,000.00, chargeable to and payable
from the HOPWA Trust Fund, 566100-
2650-110000-H1999-2216302-1999.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1556:

Resolution providing for the filing
of a Community Development statement
by the City of Pittsburgh with the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban
Development for a grant in connection
with the 1999 Community Development
Block Grant Program; providing for the
execution of grant contracts and for the
filing of other data providing for required
assurances; providing for execution of
payment vouchers on letter of credit and
for certification of authorized signature;

830

the deposit of the funds in a bank account
and providing for the payment of expenses
within categories.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1557:

Resolution amending Section 3 of
Resolution No. 45, effective February 18,
1999, entitled Adopting a Tax Increment
Financing Plan presented by the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
creating the Fulton Building Tax
Increment Financing District, and making
certain findings and by changing the date
of creation. (Council District No. 9)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1558:

Resolution authorizing the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh to
Acquire all of the City’s Right, Title and
Interest, if any, in and to the following
Publicly-owned Property designated as
Block 15-G, Lots 296, 297, 298, 303 and
304 in the 18" Ward City of Pittsburgh
(Council District No. 3):

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1578:
Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements with various

organizations, for operational/
administrative expenses, maintenance,

purchase of equipment, and/or minor
rehabilitation of neighborhood facilities
for the benefit of residents of the City of
Pittsburgh and further, authorizing various
City departments to enter into contact(s) or
use existing contract(s) for the purchase

and installation of equipment and/or
furniture, at a cost not to exceed
$122,500.00.).

Which was read.

The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Ms. McDonald:

Yes, Mr. President, I have an
amendment before all Council members. I
would like to make a motion to amend bill
1578 to delete the wording of Council
District Nine and to replace that with five
organizations, African American Chamber
of Commerce, Sickle Cell Society, Big
Brothers and Big Sisters, Robin Street,
church families and youth 2000 and
Waverly Presbyterian Church After School
Program.

MR.
motion.

HERTZBERG seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you, Mr. President. I still
continue to be concemed about the
Council appropriation for the community
development corporations through the
APPO funding stream. Despite the fact
that all the organizations are worthy, there
is no question in my mind that they are,

they certainly do a good job.

That is not the issue I am raising
but rather, we continue to have limited
resources. Albeit because of the no longer
funding the Pittsburgh Partnership portion
of this block grant we put it all into the
APPO funding stream, my concer is that
we still have a situation where there are
too many community development groups
that are seeking funding. And we don't
have a big enough pot of money to actually
award them with some annual funding.

I would say 80 or 90 percent of all
the groups that have applied for the last six
or seven years except for maybe a couple
are basically the same groups that we have
been funding for more than half a decade.
And while they all do good work whether
it be housing development, commercial
development, direct services, advocacy in
the community, all of which I applaud, I
still believe that we should try to create an
incentive for some of these organizations
merging or trying to better define what the
territorial service area is.

In my own district for instance in
the Lawrenceville community. I had urged
for a number of years that the
Lawrenceville Development Corporation
and the Lawrencevilie Business
Association merge and consolidate some
expenses and actually work at a more
concerted and strategic way to redevelop
both the Butler Street Business Corridor.
The retail as well looking at some of the
housing needs and some of the needs of
some of the larger manufacturing
companies. So they have actually merged
now and I still want them to get funded but
1 think there is a certain economy scale
financially and also I think they work more
strategic.

SS"

You have for instance on the North
Side every neighborhood has their own
separate funded group. You have less
groups in the south and the western
portion of the city and then the eastem
portion within the river probably has
disproportionately the largest number of
different groups that get funded. And
some groups are more effective in terms of
direct results and some groups as far as I
am concerned are less effective. They are
well meaning, there was a need there. I
am not commenting on that. The need is
there, but that doesn't mean necessarily
that the group has represented the need in
terms of fulfilling some clear objective or
getting some activities completed and I
don't want to pick on any one group.

We all know that there are stronger
groups and less effective groups and the
like. I would ask since I have never been
able to change this, and I don't think I will
be able to change it now either, but come
budget time I would ask since we increase
the pot from roughly 500,000 to now 9
hundred thousand dollars, just increasing
the pot now we like re-institutionalize and
continue to just say it is all right to go out
and work separately, we are going to just
keep funding all these groups. I think we
are sending the wrong message.

I would ask that between now and
budget time and when we look to re-
appropriate the CDBG budget of 2000,
that we look at taking some portion of this
money out and making some kind of a
reward system for those groups that
consolidate and maybe come up with a
master plan. It doesn't make any sense. I
will pick an example. For instance in my
area, we have a very talented individual
worked for Bloomfield, Garfield
Corporation, now he's on the staff of the

832

ELDI; he's just a wonderful development
person. Everyone in the eastern
neighborhoods that I represent has a lot of
faith and trust in him, but he is someone
that we want to tap within the Highland
Park Community to do development of
housing in a court of Mellon Street and
North Saint Claire and Portland.

We have talented people, which
you see in Garfield Jubilee, I don't
understand why we split all of these
energies. I would rather see us fund a
concerted group that has a coordinated and
a strategic plan rather than all these
separate groups doing their own thing.

I just don't think we're getting the
most bang for the buck. I don't think we're
getting the most done that we could be
doing. We also have areas that are badly
in need of intervention but we don't
territorially have a community
development group so what happens to
those neighborhoods. I can go through the
whole city and list those neighborhoods. I
would just ask that we think about those
issues between now and the budget time
and not proposing that we change the
APPO stream now. But I would like
Council to maybe think about come time
of the budget we engage in discussion with
some of these groups about how we can
better do business in the future.

Mr. Udin:

Yes. I unite with a good deal of
the concerns that Councilman expressed.
However there are a number of these
groups that have heeded our cautions of
the past and have taken steps to work
together to merge, to work collaboratively
on projects and that kind of activity is
ongoing.

eee

There is a committee in place that
looks at these issues and other issues and
Council members are encouraged to either
attend the meetings themselves or send
their staff. I know that Councilman
Cohen's staff, I mean Councilman Ferlo's
staff attends regularly. My staff attends
regularly and there are opportunities for
other Council members who are concemed
to have staff attend but that is the
workshop where this kind of ideas need to
be placed and talked about.

I certainly will be glad to work
with the Councilman's office between now
and budget time to further refine how
these groups work together. But they’re
major efforts now by the advisory groups
that governs and reviews the proposals of
these groups to try to make sure that the
money is spread over all of the areas of the
city that are eligible. That organizations
that are worthy are included, that there is a
democratic process, that there is technical
assistance given to organizations to allow
them to compete more effectively. Those
kinds of things are ongoing and I would
encourage Council members to continue to
send their staff and to feed their ideas
through this process rather than Council
intervening with its own process.

The Chair:

Can I
organization?

ask who runs that

Mr. Udin:

It is out of-- it is a committee of
the Planning Department because the
monies are largely CDBG funds. The
Planning Department manages for the city
the entire CDBG grant, it's a subcommittee

within them, but the committee itself they
staff the committee. But the committee is
made up of a number of community-based
organizations and community
development corporations.

The Chair:

You're suggesting to go from 600
to 900 does that mean the rich get richer?

Mr. Ferlo:

The problem is there are a lot more
groups out there than we have the ability
to fund. There would be more groups I
assume applying for funding this time
because the pot is larger and some groups
had initial support. That's kind of the
implementation in planning and then they
grow to be more funded to the tune of 30
or 35 dollars a year. But many of those
groups now are in the pot money for the 30
or 35 thousand, so I don't know how we're
naturally going to fund all these groups. I
think we are creating some false
anticipation or hopes that we're going to
fund all these groups, we can't.

I appreciate Councilman Udin's
concern but at some point I think Council
needs to legislatively you know impose or
suggest its policy concems if indeed we
have a concern. I maybe alone on this
view, but I just think it has nothing to do
with the groups or the need that's out there.
That is great and the groups are worthy.
The issue is how do we take limited
dollars and make the most impact and is
there a way for some of these groups to
consolidate and work more effectively
especially when it comes to housing
intervening in the housing renovation and
tehab activities.

_———eeeeesE_e_e_e_—ce—e—eeeeeee
oe

The Chair:

1 will certainly be interested in
seeing how the mergers are working. |
believe we have been talking about this for
years and | haven't seen it although it
maybe happening. Consolidating a lot of
these groups because I hate to see some
groups getting who have been getting
35,000 go to 60, and other groups not get
anything.

Bills are now ready for final action.
Alt those in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.
The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1627:

Report of the Committee on Engineering
and Construction for May 5, 1999,

transmitting two resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.

834

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1541:

Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements with the Korean
War Veterans Association for costs
associated with the construction of the
Korean War Veterans Memorial to be
located in Roberto Clemente Park at a cost
not to exceed $40,500.00.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1542:

Resolution further amending
Resolution No. 976, effective January 1,
1996, as amended, entitled “Adopting and
approving the 1996 Capital Budget and the
1996 Community Development Block
Grant Program; and approving the 1996
through 2001 Capital Improvement
Program,” by reducing five (5) line items
in Engineering and Construction’s Budget
for an aggregate amount of $40,500.00 and
creating a new line item entitled “Korean
War Veterans Memorial” in the Mayor’s
Office Budget.

The Chair:

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg

Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Eight NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

The Chair:
Thank you. Under motions and
resolutions.
MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
Mr. Udin:

Just as a point of order.

There was a request made I believe
by Councilman Onorato several sessions
ago or a weeks ago requesting that any
negotiated collective bargaining
agreements that should have come before
Council prior to being signed and agreed
upon would be investigated. And I would
like to know what the result of that
investigation is? There was reference, I
believe, to a collective bargaining
agreement that was signed with some city
union, it may have been with white collar
workers, I am not sure. But it was
suggested that there was an agreement
signed that was not a result of collective or
arbitration but was negotiated and should
have come before Council.

Mr. Onorato:

We haven't received it. It should
come up through the normal legislation
process and be presented as legislation
through the appropriate committee. So it
hasn't been done as far as I know.

The Chair:

You want to send a request to
them.

Mr. Udin:
To the Solicitor.
The Chair:
To the solicitor, to update us.

Mr. Udin:
Yes.

The Chair:
Anything else?
Mr. Ferlo:

I know we have an upstairs judge
who has been very irate about the elevator
change. I would only tell that judge if he
wants to issue an injunction, could he
please issue it to the county government
who for the last 12 years that I have been
in this building, at least the last eight years
I have been in this building, has not had
three operating elevators on the county
side to the Ross Street entrance way. So if
he wants to intervene, I would ask him to
please contact the county and order them
to fix after a decade there are three back
elevators so that people can get up to six,
seven, eight and nine. Or even have those
three back on the Ross Street county side
be dedicated elevators to the six floor

SSS Oe

family division if that makes more sense.

But to blame us because we are
trying to better manage and fix up this
building now because he has to spend a
little more time getting up to his floor is
his problem. So if he wants to issue an
injunction, please tell him to take the
action against the county govemment who
has been totally remiss through two
administrations in not providing for health
and welfare and safety by totally shutting
down their three back elevators of Ross
Street. If they would fix and open their
elevators, the building would be a lot
better off and it would be safer.

So to that good judge, Judge Jaffey
actually and he's an old friend of mine, but
I would ask him to please intervene but
intervene in the right way. Don't take a
cheap shot at Council trying because we
are trying to expedite and make some
thyme or reason to the elevator flow.

Secondly, 1 do want to invite my
colleagues, we are breaking ground on this
coming Thursday with the Mayor at six
p.m. It has been a long struggle in
Garfield trying to get a new children's
playground. And we have a playground
that we are going to be building at the
corner of Broad and Evaline Street in
Garfield at 6 o'clock this coming
Thursday. You are all invited to come
down and say Hello to the kids. And I
have introduced a resolution asking that
we consider naming this playground the
Nelson Mandella Peace Park, which I will
talk about tomorrow. Thank you,
Mr. President.

The Chair:

My calls on the elevators, maybe

836

they were shocked to hear I thought that
was one of the best ideas I had heard in
Council for quite awhile. I have directed
them to meet with Guy Costa and exactly
the follow up you said. The three
elevators on the county side haven't
worked for years. So, I hope that will
amend their problems.

Mr. Hertzberg:

I don't want to -- I am not sure how
severe the problem is but I know no matter
what you do on Ross Street it won't help
the sixth floor. The sixth floor is the only
place where there are metal detectors in
the building. And so they are all funneled
up through the entrance on this side on the
Grant Street side.

Mr. Ferlo:

T understand, but if they had three
and if they wanted to dedicate them on the
Ross Street to family division on six they
could have the machinery moved to that
entranceway. It's up to the county to
intervene and provide some leadership to
the court system for proper flow of traffic
and security.

The Chair:
Plus one of ours still goes to nine.
Mr. Ferlo:

Well, we also gave them one back.
So, I don't see what he is complaining
about. And if he is complaining, he is
complaining to the wrong -- singing to the
wrong choir.

The Chair:

—E— lee

You're right. I would like to
tequest a Post Agenda Friday the 14th at
ten a.m. for discussion on the gun bill,
specifically gun safety guidelines be
televised.

MR. FERLO moved to adopt.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

I would like to announce we have a
Public Hearing Thursday at ten a.m.,
approval of conditional use on Wilkins
Avenue. Next Tuesday or our next
Tuesday meeting is Election Day we will
move our legislative meeting to Monday at
ten o'clock.

Also I would like to commend and
congratulate the PACT, the police and
community together function last
Saturday. They drew over 7,000 people to
the Three Rivers Parking lot. A special
thanks to Officers Frank Rende, who is the
President, Gene Grattan the Vice
President, Mr. Diven you were certainly
very instrumental in starting that. I want
to thank Sheriff Defazio and DA Zappala,
it was a wonderful day. And like I say
7,000 people showed up to meet our police
officers and I think it was certainly a step
in the right direction to thank all of you
who were there.

Mr. Diven:
I would like to point out it was on
Page B five of the region section. They do

something nice and they get the buried in
the back pages of the newspaper and

something bad happens it is front-page
news.

The Chair:

Again, Standing Committee
Meeting will be held Thursday. 1 didn't
realize that. Next week's meeting will be
held Thursday instead of Wednesday,
Standing Committee May 20th at 10 a.m.

MR. FERLO moved to adopt.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Again, I would encourage everyone
to get out and vote next Tuesday. Very,

very important election.

Can I have 2 motion to approve the
minutes?

MR. HERTZBERG moved to approve
the minutes.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adjourn
the meeting.

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.

And on the motion made by Mr.
Hertzberg, the meeting adjourned.

837

MUNICIPAL RECORD
a a eee
Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
a

May 17, 1999

No. 20

VOL. CXXXIUI
Municipal Record
ONE-HUNDRED
THIRTIETH COUNCIL
BOB O'CONNOR....... eevesesseasssones President
LINDA M. JOHNSON-WASLER ....City Clerk
JOHN R. MASCIO uessessssseee Deputy City Clerk
Pittsburgh, PA
Monday, May 17, 1999
PRESENT:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Hertzberg
Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin
Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald
(Pres't Pro Tem)
ABSENT:
Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. O’Connor
{Pres’t)
The Chair:
I want to announce that

Councilman Onorato will be running late.
He is attending his daughter’s preschool
graduation, which is extremely important,
but he knows his priorities. But he will be
here shortly. He wanted to make sure that
the public is aware he's not campaigning,

838

he's taking care of real business.

We will now have our pledge of
allegiance. We have with us Tanis
Wallace, who is twelve years old. She is
in the fifth grade at Beltzhoover
Elementary School. She is accompanied
by her Principal Laveme Anthony and
she's in Councilman Gene Ricciardi’s
District, District three.

Tanis Wallace:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.

The Chair:

Thank you. We will now go to
read and adopted resolutions.

PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Diven:

I would like to call up the members
of our EMS Bureau to recognize them for
this week as EMS Week.

First of all we would like to thank
you for the hard work that you have done
in the past to keep the City of Pittsburgh
safe. I know that it is timely there was
some negative reports by the EMS. We
did want to make sure that you guys knew
that Council in the City of Pittsburgh
appreciate the job you do every day. I
think a lot of people go to bed at night

—EEEeEEEeEEEEoO)oeEeee———

knowing that they're safe because we have
such a professional and dedicated EMS
force on call 24 hours a day and available.

So with that I will read the
proclamation that was presented.
MR. DIVEN PRESENTS:

No. 1628 WHEREAS, _ the

members of the Bureau of Emergency
Medical Services devote their lives to
saving the lives of others and;

WHEREAS, Emergency Medical
Teams consist of Paramedics, Emergency

Physicians, First Responders and
Telecommunications Officers and;
WHEREAS, the Fraternal

Association of Professional Paramedics
promotes the improvement of pre-hospital
medical care through practice, research
and community service and;

WHEREAS, the people of
Pittsburgh benefit daily from the
knowledge and skills of these highly
trained individuals and;

WHEREAS, this being the 24"
anniversary of the Pittsburgh Paramedics
in making tomorrows happen for our
residents and;

WHEREAS, the designation of
Emergency Medical Services Week will
serve to educate the people of Pittsburgh
regarding Emergency Medicat Services.

NOW THEREFORE BE iT
RESOLVED that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and
commend the good work of the Emergency
Medical Teams.

839

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby declare the week of May 17
through May 21, 1999, as "Emergency
Medical Services Week" in the City of
Pittsburgh.

MR. COHEN moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Diven:

With that, I would like to call up
Chief Kennedy to explain some of the
things going on and accept the
proclamation.

Chief Kennedy:

This is my 13th year accepting this
proclamation from Council and I would
like to thank every one of you for your
support especially at budget time since that
will be here again really quickly. And so I
would really like to thank you for your
support. I think based on some of the
events from last week, I would like to
point out that the paramedics, there are
162 that they answer approximately
60,000 calls a year, out of that they
transport approximately 40,000.

And I think being in the field of pre
hospital medicine there is a desire on the
administration's part and the field
paramedics to be perfect all the time, and
that's quite a task. But I think the amount
of complaints that your office would
receive about us I think are minor

compared to the number of calls that the
gentlemen and the women of the
paramedics answer each and every day.

So again, I] would like to thank you
on behalf of ali of the men and women of
the Bureau of Emergency Medical
Services for this proclamation today. And
I must mention that EMS Week is 25 years
old. President Ford designated this week
to be EMS Week 25 years ago and we
have been in existence 24, since 1975. So
next year will be another milestone for us.
I thank you again very much for the
proclamation.

Mr. Diven:

Thank you, Chief. At this time I
will call up the President of the Fraternal
Association of Professional Paramedics,
Mr. Mark Snyder, for some comments.

Mr. Snyder:

Thank you. J also would like to
accept this for the paramedics and men
and women who serve the city and the
citizens. We work six days on, two days
off and there are only 13 ambulances.

To give you some real quick facts,
there are more refuse drivers than there are
paramedics and in one shift a fire
department that is more than our whole
department. We work really hard for you
and we really love our job and really love
taking care of people. It’s taken its toll
and with the new EMT initiative hopefully
it will be an even better service that we
can provide the highest quality of service
continually and actually recognizing the
paramedics.

An interesting concept is when I

840

first started this job back 20 years ago,
computer processing and computers were 2
thing of the future well so were
paramedics. We were considered a luxury.
We are no longer a luxury, we are a
necessity. You might need the Fire
Department, you might need the Police
Department, but I guarantee you, you will
need EMS. Whether you are an older
person who might have a heart attack, or a
younger person falling off a playground
fun tool, it's a situation of EMS is part of
your lives more than you know it until you
need it. And it is so neat to go on calls
now as a paramedic and have some little
lady tell me she is grateful for me taking
her ten years ago with a heart attack and
she is doing really good and she looks
pretty sprite to me.

So thank you again and we
appreciate it the men and women who
actually provide the service. Thank you.

Mr. Diven:

I would also like to just point out
that the learning channel is actually
spending some time in the City of
Pittsburgh for a show that they have called
the Paramedics. Where they are taking ride
a longs with our medics and going with
them and documenting what they do
day-to-day. So I think that's a pretty big
honor for the City of Pittsburgh, because
of the national reputation that we have for
excellence in the field of Emergency
Medical Services.

So thank you for keeping that
tradition so high and for bringing in the
national exposure like the learning channel
to the City of Pittsburgh. So thank you.

Mr. Hertzberg:

ee
SS OOOO

Would the delegation that is
involved with West End Park, the
individuals from the Elliott, West End
Citizens Council and Camegie Library,
Partners and Parks please come forward.

This proclamation is all about a
city park called West End Park and it is a
park that has a lot of history to it but not
too many people know how to find it.
Now if you were on City Council back in
1994 and you were unfortunate enough to
drive up Walbridge Street, when I led
Council on that tour when the road was
rutted and pitted, at the very top of
Walbridge Street is where you find West
End Park. At the intersection of
Walbridge, Hershel and Kerr Street in the
West End.

We have a group of neighborhood
activists who are going to get involved in
doing something for this historic park. Let
me read the resolution because it tells you
some of the history of this wonderful park.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTS:

No. 1629 WHEREAS, West End
Park, is located in the 20" Ward of the
City of Pittsburgh, and was first dedicated
as a City Park in 1895; and

WHEREAS, West End Park is a
tustic jewel of a park, with 17 1/2 acres of
steep terrain laced with fieldstone
retaining walls unique among Pittsburgh’s
parks, and

WHEREAS, In the early years of
the park, it was known as one of the most
attractive and best planted of any of the
City's small parks largely due to Neil
McCallum, a knowledgeable landscape

841

gardener from London, who was foreman
of the park from 1908 until 1924; and

WHEREAS, at one time West End
Park contained a farmhouse, which housed
the foreman, an old picnic shelter
constructed in 1900, an octagonal
bandstand and new picnic shelter
constructed in 1913, a fish pond,
artistically arranged flower beds, a rock
garden and many winding pathways; and

WHEREAS, through the years,
West End Park was the center of many
community activities, including use of a
one-third mile track built shortly after
1900 by citizens of the community for
running their horses and sulkys for
amusement; and

WHEREAS, on Saturday, May 22,
1999, under the leadership of Keith
Cochran, who lives near the park, and the
direction of Dennis Meyer, of Partners in
Parks, a group of 30 West End citizens and
Pittsburgh Cares will spend the day
cleaning up the park; removing fallen trees
from the June 2, 1998 tornado, clearing the
overgrown trails, repairing the walls and
walkways.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council commends
the groups for their outstanding efforts,
and declares Saturday, May 22, 1999 West
End Park Clean-up Day in the City of
Pittsburgh.

MR. COHEN moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.

Which motion prevailed.

=S——aaleoe ee

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you very much. As you
heard in this proclamation we actually at
this point in 1908 were recruiting foremen
for our parks. This individual was a native
of London and | think at the time they
recruited him he was working in Canada,
and our Director of Parks went out and
recruited someone to be the foreman of
this park which was a beautiful park then.

It is not quite what it used to be, I
can tell you that from firsthand experience,
but it is still a beautiful park and a number
of individuals are here to try to bring it
back to what it once was.

I think we probably can. Matt
Hogue is here. Matt, Thank you. Matt is
in the 9th grade and he is a resident of
Elliott and he is committed to helping out.
Norene Beatty, who is the President of the
Elliott West End Citizens Council is here.
Myrna Antonio-Hall of Partners and Parks,
thank you, Myma. Dennis Meyer, Partners
and Parks and Keith Cochran who really
got the ball rolling on this, he lives near
Bion Curr Street. Thank you, Keith.
Anita Rekasie, who is new at the Camegie
Library, and the Carnegie Library houses
all the historical memorabilia on this park
and they were a big help in researching
some of the history.

Noreen, would you like to say a
few words?

Ms. Beatty:

First, I would like to thank City
Council for recognizing the West End
Park. Just a little bit more about the West
End Park. It has been the heart of our
community for many years. We had our

annual Fourth of July celebration there and
everyone brought their picnic baskets and
we had entertainment. But as people
become more accustomed to traveling
outside the city that went by the way side
with the thinness of the West End board of
trade.

But it still is one of the busiest
little parks in the city, our new pavilion
that the city built there is rented, if you
want it you get in line very early to get it.
It is a very nice facility and we thank the
city for it.

The bandstand could use a little bit
of repairs and we hope we can see to that.
It is just a great place and we hope that
sometime you will all take time to come
and visit it. We are very proud of it and
we thank you for refurbishing it and also
the playground last summer, which hadn't
been refurbished in over 40 years.

So I think today I am here more to
say thank -you than anything else for the
community. Thanks.

The Chair:
Thank you.

MR. UDIN AND MS. MCDONALD
PRESENT:

No. 1630 WHEREAS, on
Saturday, May 15, 1999, Dr. Jerome
Taylor will be honored by his colleagues,
friends, and family for three decades of
service to children and families,
particularly African Americans: and the
poor, who face the steepest odds in our
society; and

842

WHEREAS, Dr. Taylor has
invented and-through the University of
Pittsburgh Institute for the Black Family
and the Center for Family Excellence, Inc.-
has implemented a holistic approach to
values-based parenting and education that
grew out of the expressed needs and
desires of the families he serves; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Taylor's "Values
for Life’ model has been successfully
infused into prevention, family
preservation, family reunification, child
care, and Head Start programs throughout
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and has
been recognized by the Commonwealth as
an exemplary service; and

WHEREAS, "Values for Life" is
now incorporated into the curriculum of
McKelvy School, where the principal,
teachers, parents, and community residents
are creating "The Village at McKelvy";
and

WHEREAS, Dr. Taylor, who
received the Ph.D. degree in clinical
psychology from Indiana University and
completed a post-doctoral fellowship in
child and adolescent psychology at the
Menninger Clinic, has made significant
contributions to the professional literature
through his own writing and as consulting
editor and reviewer for scholarly journals,
and has guided scores of students through
their studies and research for master and
doctoral degrees; and

WHEREAS, in all of his
endeavors, Dr. Taylor has succeeded in
mobilizing all of us-in government,
academia, private philanthropy, and the
church-to strengthen families and help
young children grow into adults who are
loving and respectful of others and of

843

themselves, who are committed to
learning, and who are self-confident, self-
persistent, and self-reliant.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, the Council of the City of
Pittsburgh joins the community in
honoring Dr. Jerome Taylor for the many
ways in which he has helped to make
Pittsburgh the "village" it takes to raise a
child.

MR. UDIN moved to adopt the resolution.

MR. HERTZBERG seconded the
motion.

Which motion prevailed.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTS:

No. 1631 WHEREAS, St. James
A.M.E. Church, located in East Liberty
will celebrate their Annual Women’s Day
on Sunday, May 16, 1999 during their
Worship Services; and

WHEREAS, this years theme is
“Building Bridges with Jesus Through
Prayer and Praise with Power”. This story
tells of a woman with a physical infirmity
who was bent, twisted and tire from her
condition. In the study she is likened to a
tireless mother, housewife, superwoman
and career woman of today. She sought
out Jesus one Sunday and was healed and
liberated from her condition; and

WHEREAS, the Women’s Day
guest speaker will be Sister Edith
Campbell. Sister Campbell is a native of
Pittsburgh, who was raised in Sixth Mount
Zion Church. Sister Campbell is a
nationally known speaker, excellent
musician, soloist and a recently retired
educator; and

lee eee

WHEREAS, included in the day of
worship will be a fellowship reception and
an Inspirational Concert at 4:00 p.m. under
the direction of Mrs. O’Labrice Casson
Beckom; and

WHEREAS, this years
chairpersons are Mrs. Vivian M. Lane and
Mrs. Marsha J. Washington.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
the Women of St. James A.M.E. Church
for another enlightened year of worship
through the message “Building Bridges
with Jesus Through Prayer and Praise with
Power”.

Also,

No. 1632 WHEREAS, on
Saturday, May 15, 1999 the East Liberty
Presbyterian Church will host the UMO
Jazz Orchestra of Finland in concert, a
leading European jazz orchestra; and

WHEREAS, the UMO Jazz
Orchestra was formed in 1975 by a group
of Finnish jazz musicians. UMO operated
for several years as a part-time big band in
its hometown of Helsinki until it was put
on a professional footing in 1984; and

WHEREAS, today UMO is
acknowledged as one of leading big bands
in Europe, and the outfit has made a great
contribution to the promotion of Finnish
music both home and abroad; and

WHEREAS, the UMO members
represent the cream of the country’s jazz
musicians and the orchestra provides
upcoming Finnish artist with a permanent

844

hands-on academy for jazz and light
music.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognizes and commends
East Liberty Presbyterian Church and
UMO Jazz Orchestra for expanding the
musical horizons in the City of Pittsburgh.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council in the City of Pittsburgh
recognizes and declares Saturday, May 15,
1999 as “UMO Jazz Orchestra Day” in the
City of Pittsburgh.

Also,

No. 1633 WHEREAS, on May 15,
1999, the Pittsburgh Chapter of the
National Black MBA Association will host
its Annual Scholarship and Awards
Banquet at the Manchester Craftsman’s
Guild; and

WHEREAS, the guest speaker this
year will be Donald Marbury. Mr.
Marbury is a former WQED television
personality, a world traveler, and a former
executive with the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting. As a former journalist and
now a Master of Divinity student, Mr.
Marbury brings a unique perspective; and

WHEREAS, this year’s
Community Service Award recipients are
Reverend Jason A. Barr, Jr., Pastor of
Macedonia Baptist Church and Dr. James
and Pamela Johnson of the Afro-American
Music Institute; and

WHEREAS, this year’s Female
Entrepreneurs Award recipient will be
Weida Tucker of W.G. Tucker and
Associates and the Male Entrepreneurs
Award recipients will be J.T. Thomas and

Larry Brown, owners and operators of
Applebee's Restaurant; and

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council in the City
of Pittsburgh recognize and commend the
National Black MBA _ Association,
Incorporation, Pittsburgh Chapter for their
outstanding community involvement and
for giving our youth a brighter tomorrow.

MR. COHEN moved
resolution.

to adopt the

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

That completes our read and
adopted, we will now open the floor for
public comments. Is there anyone in the
audience who would like to speak to
Council? You have three minutes to
testify. Please state your name and address
for the record.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ms. Brown:

Yvonne F, Brown. I live at 2633
Brackenridge Street that's in the Hill
District.

The man has gone behind the
dollar. The poor students have been
denied their constitutional rights by the
Pittsburgh Public School system under the
direction of Ronald Suber. Because of
that, as a parent I am telling all the parents
we must get out and vote for Mark
Brentley. Ron Suber and his six -- there
are Ron Suber and six white women that

have continuously = denied ~— equal
opportunity to our children. Now I have
nothing against the six white women but
these six seem to have something against
the poor students, which are 50 to 60%
black children and the majority are poor.

I come here before you even
though I feel that a lot of times the Council
members different Council members are
very abusive towards me. But I feel that
the creator has instilled it in me that I
come before you and remind you that God
made us all in his image even though some
may be of different colors. You must
remember that there has been a gross
injustice inflicted upon the children, the
youth, the community members and
parents of the poor. The parents are not
given equal opportunity by the media to be
reported, to give their concems. Be it TV
reporters Andy Sheehan, Darieth Chisolm,
the Tribune Review, heavy set white
woman that is usually in the chamber, they
are not by far the only reporters that have
tefused to allow the spoken or written or
video tape message to be heard or seen.

I still have questions about how the
City County meetings are being televised
improperly. The Pittsburgh public needs
to know that black contractors are being
discriminated against by a white out of
town company that has been granted the
right to do all constructions here in this
City of Pittsburgh for the Housing
Authority. I am only beginning to find out
about these contracts but how many more
have been denied the opportunity for
gainful employment.

I come today because the children
at South Votech High School asked me to
speak to them. The board has made the
decision to put $100,000 turf behind the

ee eee
eee

school and they are trying to tear this one
down. We as parents in the community
are saying make South Votech a historical
site.

Also the board has continually
discriminated against the poor children.
Let's use the example of the woman
Margaret Milliones did not have a music
instructor yet Frick with international was
given three. What about when they built
the school, $2.5 million for all white
children except five, and our children in
Homewood were cold. Children we --
parents we must come out in full force.
Thank you.

The Chair:

Is there anyone else who would
like to speak to Council? You have three
minutes. Ifnot, thank you.

We will now move to presentation
of papers.

PRESENTATION OF PAPERS
MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:

No. 1634 An Ordinance amending
the Pittsburgh Code, Chapter 161:
Contracts, Section 161.21, Acquisition and
Disposal of Animals and Plants at the Zoo,
Aviary and Phipps Conservatory, to delete
reference to the acquisition and disposal of
Animals and Plants at the Zoo, Aviary, and
Phipps Conservatory and to permit the
Director of the Department of Public
Safety to purchase canines and horses and
to establish rules and regulations for such
acquisition and disposal of police animals.

MR. DIVEN moved to suspend Rule 8 by
providing for consideration of the bill until
or after the 8th calendar day following the

846

meeting in which the bill was introduced
so the bill will be on the agenda this
Thursday.

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Also,

No. 1635 Resolution providing for
a Contract or Contracts or Agreements or
Agreements; or the use of existing
Contracts or Agreements for the purchase
of supplies, equipment and services for the
Bureau of Police at a cost not to exceed
$200,000.00.
Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Public Safety Services.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:

No. 1636 Resolution further
amending Resolution No. 140 effective
March 18, 1999, entitled “providing for a
Contract or Contracts, or the use of
existing Contracts for street resurfacing
programs to include but not limited to ultra
thin hot mix asphalt, hot mix asphalt,
crack sealing, sawing and sealing, nova
chip, flexible pavement, asphalt milling,
truck rental, brick and blockstone repairs,
handicap ramps, concrete slab replacement
at various locations throughout the City of
Pittsburgh, at a cost not to exceed Six
Mili Fis + 1
€$6,045,000-00) Four Million Eight
Hundred Fifteen Thousand
($4.815.000.00), chargeable to and payable
from Fund 5100, Org, 400000, Sub-Class
PGHPR, Project 2239000, Budget Year
1999, Citywide Resurfacing, Department
of Public Works and Two Million Dollars
($2.000,000.00) from the General Fund,
Fund 1000, Budget year 1999.

a! SSS

No. 1637 Resolution further
amending Resolution No. 141 effective
March 18, 1999, entitled, “providing for a
Contract or Contracts, or the use of
existing Contracts for street resurfacing
programs to include but not limited to ultra
thin hot mix asphalt, hot mix asphalt,
crack sealing, sawing and sealing, nova
chip, flexible pavement, asphalt milling,
truck rental, brick and blockstone repairs,
handicap ramps, concrete slab replacement
in CD areas throughout the City of
Pittsburgh, at a cost not to exceed Ewe
Be i Sj Hundred 9 _
{52:964,603)—DeHars Two Million One

Hundred Sixty One Thousand, Six
Hundred Three 2.16 1,603.00),

chargeable to and payable from Fund
2610, Org. 400000, Sub-Class C1999,
Project 2239000, Budget Year 1999,
Citywide Resurfacing, Department of
Public Works.

No. 1638 Resolution Providing for
a Contract or Contracts, or the use of
existing Contracts for renovation and
rehabilitation of war memorials at various
locations throughout the City of
Pittsburgh, at a cost not to exceed Sixty
Nine Thousand ($69,000.00) Dollars,
chargeable to and payable from Fund
5100, Org. 400000, Sub-Class PGHPR,
Project Number 2238450, Budget Year
1999, Department of Public Works.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Public Works, Water &
Environmental Services.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to suspend
Rule 8 by providing for consideration of
the bills only until or after the 8th calendar
day following the meeting in which the

847

bills were introduced so the bills will be
on the agenda this Thursday.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

No. 1639 Resolution Amending
Resolution No. 29, effective 2/7/97 as
amended by Resolution No. 106, effective
3/21/97, as amended by Resolution No.
301 effective 6/6/97, as amended by
Resolution No. 503, effective 8/11/97, as
amended by Resolution No. 643, effective
10/24/97, as amended by Resolution No.
303 effective 6/12/98, entitled: “Providing
for the filing of a Community
Development statement by the City of
Pittsburgh with the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development for a
grant in connection with the 1997
Community Development Block Grant
Program; providing for the execution of
grant contracts and for the filing of other
data providing for required assurances;
providing for execution of payment
vouchers on letter of credit and for
certification of authorized signature; the
deposit of the funds in a bank account and
providing for the payment of expenses
within categories” so as to reprogram
funds_in_ City Council, at a total of
$22,323.000.00.

No. 1640 Resolution Amending
Resolution No. 297 effective June 12,
1998 entitled: Providing for an Agreement
or Agreements with various community

organizations for operational/
administrative expenses, maintenance,
purchase of equipment; and/or

rehabilitation of neighborhood facilities;
and for administrative/operational costs,

maintenance, purchase of equipment,
and@/or rehabilitation of neighborhood
facilities of various departmental
programs/projects for the benefit of
residents of the City of Pittsburgh, at a
cost not to exceed $525,545.00, chargeable
to and payable from the 1998 Community
Development Block Grant Program,

Mayor’s Office, _so_as to delete a project
{Korean's War Veterans Monument) and

Block Grant Program; providing for the
execution of grant contracts and for the
filing of other data providing for required
assurances; providing for execution of
payment vouchers on letter of credit and
for certification of authorized signature;
the deposit of the funds in a bank account
and providing for the payment of expenses

within categories”, so_as reprogram funds
in_the Mavor’s Office, at a total of

adding a project (Bloomfield Preservation

$21.181.000.00.

& Hentage Society).

No, 1641 Resolution Amending
Resolution No. 295 effective June 6, 1997,
as amended by Resolution No. 669
effective October 31, 1997 entitled:
“Resolution providing for an Agreement
or Agreements with various community
organizations for
operational/administrative expenses,
maintenance, purchase of equipment;
and/or rehabilitation of neighborhood
facilities for the benefit of residents of the
City of Pittsburgh, at a cost not to exceed
$1,105,350.00, chargeable to and payable
from the 1997 Community Development
Block Grant Program” so_as to reduce
project_ Northside _ Public __ Space
Improvements (-$15,000) and add project
Bloomfield Preservation _and__Heritage

Council (+$15,000.00)

No.1642 Resolution Amending
Resolution No, 291 effective June 1, 1998
as amended by Resolution No. 362,
effective June 25, 1998 and Resolution
No. 453 effective August 19, 1998 and
Resolution No. 8 effective January 28,
1999, entitled “Providing for the filing of
a Community Development statement by
the City of Pittsburgh with the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban
Development for a grant in connection
with the 1998 Community Development

848

Which were read and referred to the

Committee on Housing, Economic
Development & Promotion.
MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

No. 1643 An Ordinance Amending
the Pittsburgh Code, Title Nine, Zoning,
Article II], Chapter 902, Section 902.03.A
Zoning District Map Nos. 12 and 17 by
changing from “R2” (“RT-2) Two Family
Residence District and “R3” (“RM-3")
Multiple Family Residence District to
“RP” Residential to Planned Unit
Development District all that certain
property bounded by Murray Avenue,
Forbes Avenue, Lot 304 Block 86-F in the
Allegheny County block and Lot System,
Lot 158 and 201, Block 86-G in the
aforesaid system, 14° Ward.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Planning, Zoning & Land
Use.

MR. HERTZBERG seconded the

SSeS

meeting.
Which motion prevailed.
MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

No. 1644 Resolution Authorizing
the issuance of a warrant in favor of the
Sheraton Hotel Station Square in an
amount not to exceed Six Thousand Eight
Hundred Twenty-six Dollars and Thirty
Cents ($6,826.30) for the Citiparks Senior
Interests Program Volunteer Recognition
Gala; and providing for the payment
thereof.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

No. 1645 Resolution authorizing
the City of Pittsburgh to issue a quit claim
deed for property in the 6" Ward of the
City of Pittsburgh, designated as Block 48
R, Lot 25, to Exxon Corporation for the
sum of $70,000.00.

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

The Chair:

That completes our presentation of
papers.

Move to unfinished business. Is
there any unfinished business to come in
front of Council?

We will now move to Committee
Chair Reports. My understanding and I
need confirmation from Councilman Ferlo
and Councilman Udin that there will not
be Chair Reports for this meeting?

849

Mr. Udin:
Right.
The Chair:

Thank you, that will be scheduled
at another time. We will now move to
Reports of committees.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MR. UDIN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1646:

Report of the Committee on Finance and
Budget for May 12, 1999, transmitting
sundry of resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No, 1582:

Resolution providing for a contract
or contracts for professional services with
Grant Street Advisors, Inc. to provide
financial advisory services for the years
1999, 2000 and 2001, at an annual cost not
to exceed $250,000, an aggregate amount
not to exceed $750,000, chargeable to and
payable from Account 583000, Fund 5100,
Organization 106000, sub-class PGHPR,
BY 1999, Project # 2209990.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1583:

Resolution providing for
conveyance by the City of certain property,

—— eee

under Act No. 171 of 1984, “Second Class
City Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”
effective December 11, 1984, having been
placed for sale to adjoining property
owners in conjunction with the City of
Pittsburgh/City Source Associates
Sideyard Program.

(A) 120 N. Pacific Avenue, 10"
Ward, Block SOL, Lot 293, being sold to
Quang Vo. Vacant lot containing an area
of 1,039 sq. ft, $100.00. Intended Use:
Additional yard space. (Council District
7).

(B) 706 N. St. Clair Street, 11"
Ward, Block 83F, Lot 271, being sold to
Charles Fedel. Vacant lot containing an
area of 3,296 sq. ft, $100.00. Intended
Use: Additional yard space. (Council
District 7).

(C) 536 Susquehanna Street, 13
Ward, Block 174N, Lot 145, being sold to
Alonzo T. Wilson. Vacant lot containing
an area of 2,453 sq. ft, $100.00. Intended
Use: Additional yard space. (Council
District 9).

(D) 966 Manton Avenue, 18"
Ward, Block 14C, Lot 382, being sold to
Laurette DeBold. Vacant lot containing an
area of 1,888 sq. ft, $100.00. Intended

Use: Additional yard space. (Council
District 3).
(E) 1702 Hunnell Street, 24"

Ward, Block 47P, Lot 243, being sold to P.
Phillip & Margaret Bollenbacher. Vacant
lot containing an area of 2,409 sq. fi,
$100.00. Intended Use: Additional yard
space. (Council District 1).

(F) 1830 % Viruth Street, 27°
Ward, Block 114L, Lot 288, being sold to

850

Jeffrey R. & Suzanne P. Knauss. Vacant
lot containing an area of 735 sq. ft.,
$100.00. Intended Use: Additional yard
space. (Council District 1).

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1584:

Resolution providing for the filing
of a petition or petitions for the sale of
certain property or properties, known as
Lien Excluded Properties acquired at tax
sales, in accordance with Act No. 171 of
1984, “Second Class City Treasurer Sale
and Collection Act’, effective December
11, 1984.

(A) 502 Jacksonia Street, 25"
Ward, Block 23J, Lot 67, being sold to
PHASE. Two story brick house situated
on a lot containing an area of 1,760 sq. ft.,
$1,000.00 + Costs. Intended Use: Part of
Alpine II project. Council District 6.

(B) 2148 Perrysville Avenue, 25”
Ward, Block 46P, Lot 162, being sold to
PHASE. Two story frame house situated
on a lot containing an area of 3,182 sq. ft.,
$1,000.00 + Costs. Intended Use: Future
development. Council District 1.

(C) 1718 Columbia Place, 25%
Ward, Block 23E, Lot 344, being sold to
PHASE. Vacant lot containing an area of
900 sq. ft., $100.00 + Costs. Intended
Use: Rear yard to 1721 Buena Vista Street
Project. Council District 6.
Which was read.

The Chair:

You have heard the reading and

a, eee

title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Udin:

Regarding Bill 1582, this is the
legislation for the Grant Street advice that
the city's financial advisors -- there was
certain information that was requested
from the Finance Department, which has
not been fully received. So in addition to
what the Council expected the excerpt of
the contract that had the scope of services
with the language defining the scope of
services. But instead we got some kind of
list of options of scope of services, which
is very confusing at least to the Chairman
of the Finance Committee.

And so in order to avoid defeat of
this legislation, I move for recommittal of
Bill 1582.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
The Chair:

Any discussion on the
recommittal?
All in favor?

Which motion prevailed.
Bill is now recommitted.
The Chair:

Any other discussion on any of the
remaining bills? If not, the bills are now
ready for final action. All in favor of the
passage of the bills vote any when your
names are called; all those opposed vote
no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin
Ms. McDonald
(Pres't Pro Tem)
AYES Seven NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1647:

Report of the Committee on Public Works,
Water and Environmental Services for
May 12, 1999, transmitting one resolution
to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1545:

Resolution granting unto Shah
Chinulal Mafatlal, 5165 Butler Street,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15201, their
successors and assigns, an encroachment
to construct, maintain and use at their own
cost and expense, a handicap ramp on a
portion of the sidewalk area of 5165 Butler
Street in the 10" Ward, 7 Council District
of the City of Pittsburgh.

Which was read.

The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bill, is there any discussion on
the bill? If not, the bill is now ready for
final action. All in favor of the passage of
the bill vote aye when your names are
called; all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin
Ms. McDonald
(Pres't Pro Tem)
AYES Seven NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1648:

Report of the Committee on Housing,
Economic Development and Promotion
for May 12, 1999, transmitting one
resolution to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 1580:

Resolution providing for the
execution of a Cooperation Agreement or

852

Agreements with the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh for
the performance of certain work in
connection with the 1999-2000
Community Development Block Grant
Program, and providing for the payment of
the cost thereof, not to exceed
$8,401,263.00. (Council Districts: All). --
-(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD &
MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bill, is there any discussion on
the bill?

If not, the bill is now ready for
final action. All those in favor of the
passage of the bill vote aye when their
name is called; all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin
Ms. McDonald
(Pres't Pro Tem)
AYES Seven NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

SSE ECE

Bill No. 1649:

Report of the Committee on Parks,
Recreation and Youth Policy for May 12,
1999, transmitting one resolution to
Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1606:

Resolution authorizing the Mayor
and Director of Parks and Recreation to
name the Playground at Broad and Evaline
Streets in Garfield, constructed at Block
and Lot Numbers 50-L-184 and 50-L-187
in the 10" Ward, to be the “Nelson
Mandela Peace Park”. (SPONSORED
BY MR. FERLO).

Which was read.
The Chair:

Clerk, please cal the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin
Ms. McDonald
(Pres't Pro Tem)

AYES Seven NOES None
Bills have received the legally
tequired number of votes and have passed

finally.
MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1650:

Report of the Committee on Public Safety
Services for May 12, 1999, transmitting
one resolution to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1577:

Resolution providing for a
Contract or Contracts; or Agreement or
Agreements, or the use of existing
Contracts or Agreements for the purchase
of a document imaging system for the
City-County Integrated Identification
Program, Department of Public Safety, at a
cost not to exceed $85,000.00.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bill, is there any discussion on
the bill? If not, bill is now ready for final
action. All those in favor of the passage of
the bill vote aye when your names are
called; all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin
Ms. McDonald
{Pres't Pro Tem)
AYES Seven NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

The Chair:

That completes our reports of
committees. Now move to motions and
resolutions. Any discussion?

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

Ihave something. I have a couple
of things. One is there will be a Post
Agenda meeting this Thursday, May 20°,
at two o'clock p.m.. It is requested and will
be Chaired by Councilman Sala Udin,
Chair of the Committee on Finance, for
discussion of the City's Comprehensive
Annual Financial Report for 1998 often
times referred to as the CAFR.

The Standing Committee Meeting
which is typically held on Wednesday will
be held Thursday, May 20", at ten o'clock
a.m.

I just want to while I got the
podium, I wanted to announce an initiative
that I will be sponsoring in my Council
District and I am hoping that one day that I
will be able to join with others that maybe
a group can sponsor this. But it is called
Winners Make a Difference and it is to try
to mobilize the African American votes in

854

our community which typically has a
Jower voter tum out.

What I am doing is I am going to
raffle off prizes for voters who actually get
to the polls in the district that has the
greatest percent increase in voter tum out
in African American communities from
the last primary election. So we will
compare this one to the last one. Whoever
has the greatest percent that district will be
the -- those voters will be issued raffle
tickets. And I am going to ask all the
winning candidates to help support this
initiative by donating prizes, in kind
support, financial support. We will have a
reception some time in June for all the
winning candidates. It will be more like a
tally, but it will be the district, the African
American District or the low turn out
district that has greatest percent increase.

I am hoping maybe it can double if
someone feels there is an incentive maybe
they will drag a neighbor with them or
drag their son with them that always sits
there, he is registered to vote but he
doesn't get out or she doesn't get out to
drag him with them hoping that maybe
they will be able to benefit. And there is
going to be some I would say nicer quality
prizes and this will start now.

So I am hoping everyone gets out
to vote. I urge everyone to vote.
Tomorrow is the primary, polls open at 7
o'clock a.m. They do not close until 8
o'clock p.m. I urge you to get out and vote.
Is there any discussion on that?

Mr. Udin:
Not on that. But just to expand it if

I may. I want to congratulate
Councilwoman McDonald in urging the

e6=asaq0aEe6e

voters in her district to turn out. 1 think
that some of the negative advertising in
this campaign has sickened most
Pittsburghers that I talk to. I think that the
people who are behind the negativism are
hoping that they will discourage people
from tuming out to vote. I think that they
think they can win with a lower voter
turnout because people will be so sickened
and disgusted with the negativism. But I
hope that it will inspire people to rise
above the negativism and send a message
to the people who are putting out this kind
of gruesome negative advertising. I hope
it will inspire them to go to the polls with
even stronger commitment and veracity to
vote against those who put out that kind of
smear tactic, mud slinging, literature at a
time right before the election. When it is
too late for anyone to respond with the
truth and with the facts.

This kind of politics is much
beneath the Pittsburgh voters throughout
the city and I hope that people throughout
the city will tum out to send a message to
the negative mud slingers. Thank you.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Yes. Thank you. I am very
pleased that Councilman Udin mentioned
about negative advertising. For example, I
have been very fortunate I have nun several
campaigns, helped several candidates and
never -- have always stayed very positive.
But to really compound the problem and
especially as a resident of Southside is this
targeting negative campaigning on behalf
of some of the candidates. And what I
mean by that is if I talk to my dear friends
in Beechview and Brookline or Squirrel
Hill they have not received some of the
garbage that my district has had to read
and put up with. They have not received

the garbage that the Southside and my
Hilltop communities of Knoxville and
Belizhoover and Arlington and other
communities have received. And that's
what is very insulting.

What is very insulting is that how
does a _ candidate pick certain
neighborhoods to receive this gruesome
garbage? Do they look at the income
level? Do they look at education levels?
Formal education? My parents have never
received formal education in the United
States of America only some grade school
in Italy. But I think my parents were very
bright people and were able to articulate
their views both through entrepreneurship
and hard working citizens in this great
country.

So it is an insult to my district to
receive such = gruesome _ negative
campaigning by candidate, Chairman of
the Board Mike Dawida slash Mr.
Cranmer. I find that very, very upsetting
and as an insult to the Southside, to
Arlington, to Beltzhoover, to South
Oakland, to Knoxville, to Saint Claire
Village, to Arlington Heights and to my
other neighbors. That is what is insulting.
The targeting negative advertising. Thank
you.

Mr. Ferlo:

1 obviously join the choir here a
little bit because 1 am very disappointed in
the negative advertisement that I saw in
the last week especially. It seems to
appear at least on the obvious that
Commissioner Dawida has chosen rather
to talk about neither about his own track
record good or bad, about his hopes for the
future or the region the county, talk about
innovative ways to make government more

SS
sss 8 80S

efficient or deal with a hundred issues that
J can think of that many of us want to hear
from our next County Executive. Rather I
think it's muddled down in the last week to
be a very negative campaign.

You would think that Mike Dawida
was running against Dr. Frankenstein to
listen to some of the advertisements and
the commercials. It is very disappointing
and as usual big moneys come into this
campaign, anybody who doesn't have any
understanding about Commissioner
Dawida's ability to raise money, he can
raise a lot of money because he is dulling
out contract after contract in the last two
years. And if it wasn't for that he probably
could never even raise some of the money
that he's raised.

He is not raising it from grassroots
people because he's basically raising it --
because he has the envious position of
being able to offer all kinds of professional
service contracts, you name it. He has
initiated one contract after another even in
an expeditious way just to do fundraising.
It would be all right to do fundraising to
talk about the region, the county, what his
track record is, it seems like 80 percent of
the money is gone into negative
advertisement against Dr. Wecht.

I know Dr. Wecht. I have known
him for 25 years. He is a very decent
person, he is a good man. He's a qualified
professional, however you feel about
whether he should be the County
Executive or not, | am very strongly in
favor of Dr. Wecht raising to the position
of County Executive. I think it bodes well
for the next term and for the first term of
our new County Executive.

I am very disappointed in Cranmer

and Dawida and that whole gang there.
Time doesn't permit me to talk about the
last four years they have been in office.
But I hope we make a change and I hope
people get out to vote tomorrow.

Now the ballot is a little bit long
because of all the judicial candidates, the
County Council candidates deserve an
opportunity to be given a vote, we're about
to elect a new colleague here on City
Counci! from Council District One on the
North Side. As we know our colleague
hopefully will go on to be County
Controller as I am sure he will.

So however people feel on the
North Side it is their own business but I
just hope that however they feel about the
candidate, I believe they have three
prominent candidates running including
the endorsed democrat. I just hope that the
North Side residents get out and vote and
send some message to this Council that
they have sent us a colleague who has
some grassroots and voter support in those
various wards and districts that make up
Council District One.

I think it is very important that they
get out and support but as I stated last
week. There is always a tendency when
the curtain closes for people to get nervous
or feel like they have to vote very quickly.
So I would ask you now just one time
when you get into the booth tomorrow and
that curtain closes, I know it's
physiologically it starts working on you
that you feel like it seems like one minute
is an hour in the booth, but just take your
time and go through the names. Obviously
you have a lot of names on the endorsed
slate card which I hope you will support.
But there are others that are mmning as
write-ins and it is a very difficult thing for

ey
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people to do also.

So I would ask that people please
take their time. I mean it takes all of three
or four minutes if you have to stay five
minutes in the booth, you have to stay five
minutes in the booth. It is not -- it is not
the most terrible thing that can happen to
you.

And from my Council District, my
name is on the ballot on the bottom line.
So don't forget me also.

The Chair:
Shameless Jimmy.
Mr. Diven:

I just want to congratulate you on
Tunning such a quick and professional
meeting.

The Chair:

You like that quick. Thank you
very much. And it's going to be raining
tomorrow that's what the forecast says. It
doesn't matter, it has not hurt anyone if
you have to go to work, any where else
and if you have a concert you are not going
to let rain stop you, do not let the rain stop
you from getting out to the polls and
voting. Again thank you.

Mr. Ferlo:

I hope it rains on Dawida's parade
tomorrow.

The Chair:

I need a motion to excuse the
absent members.

857

MR. UDIN moved to excuse the absent
members.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adjoum
the meeting.

MR, UDIN seconded the motion.

And on the motion made by Mr.
Hertzberg, the meeting adjourned.

MUNICIPAL RECORD

Proceedings of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
eee

VOL. CXXXHI May 25, 1999 No. 21
is a Cub Scout, Pack 165. He's
accompanied by his parents, Dan and
Debbie. You want to lead us?
Municipal Record
Daniel Romanello:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of
DNENUNDEED sees Be lich nll cs uae
Cc nae hiee Sar Shs
THIRTIETH COUNCIL under God indivisible with liberty and
BOB O'CONNOR... President justice for all.
LINDA M. JOHNSON-WASLER ....City Clerk
JOHN R. MASCIO sevesccsssneee Deputy City Clerk The Chair:

Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday, May 25, 1999

PRESENT:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Onorato
Mr. Diven Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Udin

Mr. Hertzberg Mr. O’Connor
Ms. McDonald (Pres't)

The Chair:

Ms. McDonald will not make it
today she has a court session and she will
be absent today.

All please rise for the pledge of
allegiance and remain standing for a
moment of silent prayer for peace and
hope throughout the world.

We have a very special guest,
Daniel Romanello. He is eight years old in
the third grade at Beechwood School. He

Thank you, Dan. And he is in
Councilman Michael Diven's District.

Councilman, you want to come up
and present a flag.

We have many special guests in the
audience.

PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Ferlo:

I would ask our representatives
from the AFGE Locals and the others from
the veterans group to please come forward.
Members of Council, I would like to read
the following resolution in anticipation of
the Memorial Day weekend.

MR. FERLO PRESENTS:

No. 1651 WHEREAS, fiscal year
2000 represents the fourth consecutive
year in which the Federal budget has
included no increase in funding for the

ee
aaaaeaeaeaEeasxsuw7xT[—+TmN_—hWlWlHWHWHWwVwjS—————

Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system;
and

WHEREAS, this __ irresponsible
omission on the part of our Congressional
Jawmakers comes at a time when health
care costs are rising at an increasingly
dramatic and dangerous rate; and

WHEREAS, four of the top
veterans advocacy groups, the Disabled
American Veterans (DAV), the AMVETS,
the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, have concluded
that in order to meet rising costs, make a
strong commitment to ensuring quality
care for our nation’s war heroes, and to
prevent health care facility closures and
further cuts in care the current medical
budget must be increased by at least 3
billion dollars; and

WHEREAS, local chapters of the
DAV along with representatives of the
American Federation of Goverment
Employees (Locals 2028 and 3344) and
many other veterans service organizations
will stage a rally on Sunday, May 30" at
1:00 PM at the University Drive VA
Hospital in Oakland to protest Congress’
lack of action and commitment with regard
to this issue and to alert lawmakers of their
concerns;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City Council of
Pittsburgh does hereby support the May
30" rally and sincerely hopes that it will be
just a single part of a much larger effort to
ensure that health care services for
American veterans be made a top priority
by our nation’s lawmakers.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Council will also send a signed
copy of this proclamation to all members

859

of the House of Representatives and the
U.S. Senate representing Pennsylvania so
that they may all be made aware of the
importance of this extremely pressing
issue.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you very much. We have a
number of representatives here both from
Loca] 2028, thirty-three forty-four of the
American Federation of Government
Employees. The AFGE is the long
established union nationally that represents
many government workers especially those
that do the hard work day in and day out.
The people who care for the people that
we care about and these are nurses and
dietary workers and people that really put
out all types of direct health care services
and really provide the continuing care for
the veterans and the people that we care
about. And both locals here are part of a
national university, along with veteran
service organizing focusing in on this
Sunday to really draw attention to
egregious situation.

1 do have to personally note that
when you look at the rising healthcare
costs, which at least for the last decade
have greatly outpaced the traditional rate
of inflation in every other sector of the
American economy, and then you see
basically a federal budget that has
remained stagnate, you really are talking
about upwards of 15 to 20 percent or
greater significant cuts in the ability of the

ee
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Veterans Affairs Hospital system to be
Maintained. Inflation alone not only in
utilities and just basic things but
medically, equipment and _ technology,
prescription drugs, pharmaceuticals, you
name it.

I think it’s criminal that this
weekend, this coming Monday in
particular on Memorial Day we will have
local, municipal, state wide, federal
politicians that will make some wonderful
speeches on Memorial Day about the
ultimate sacrifice that veterans have made
in wars memorable. But at the same time
some of those same lawmakers have not
put their money where their mouth is.
They need to go back to Washington and
fully fund at an appreciable level
(inaudible) the kind of commitment that
this country not only morally should make
but financially is capable of making. If we
are not going to reinvest in the veterans
health care system at a time when we have
a surplus in our federal economy, when
will we ever do it?

But really this important event
Sunday is part of a national effort. I am
sure the local Pittsburgh rally will be the
most spirited. I hope so J will be there and
Tam asking my colleagues if they have the
time on Sunday and their schedule permits
to please join us. I hope Congressman
Ron Klink is there. I know he's talking
about running against Santorum. This
needs to become a political issue.

I am going to be the first one we
have a big parade through Lawrenceville
and Bloomfield on Monday for Memorial
Day. I want to be the first one to make
sure that all the constituents know about
what is happening in our nation’s health
care facilities that are treating our veterans

860

and their family members.

So I want to welcome our guests
here this moming the union officials that
are here. We have Bob Bonners an old
friend of mine who is the Executive Vice
President with the AFGE Local 2028, and
he is a nurse himself. Craig Strauss is here
from Disabled American Veterans
Organization. Greg Erosenko, is the Chief
Steward up at the AFGE 3344. Colleen
Evans, she is the Chief Steward from PSU,
that is the Professional Staff Union. Also
members of Local 3344, and Mary Anne
Meade, Executive Vice-President of the
Staff Union, Local 3344. AFGE is also
part of the National AFL-CIO system.

So I am pleased that they are here
today. I wanted to turn it over to them to
maybe say a few words and talk about
what will happen hopefully this coming
Sunday.

Mr. Bonner:

As Jimmy has said as health care
providers we have seen first hand the
effects of the flat line budget. We see
waiting times increased, veterans being
denied service, being denied admission. I
think it is a sad commentary in these times
of budget surplus and in times when we
can fund everything from Star Wars to
bike trails that we can't adequately fund
the health care that veterans have eamed
and that they were promised.

I just urge everyone to participate
in the rally to support those who made the
ultimate sacrifice by insuring adequate
funding for the health care system that
veterans deserve.

Mr. Stevens:

a
Sa=— eee

As a member of the Disabled
American Veterans we really need your
support out there to show that the VA can
continue to provide the life giving care to
our nation’s veterans only if the adequate
appropriations are provided.

So again we urge your support out
there and we hope to see you out there.

Mr. Erosenko:

Hi, again my name is Gregg
Erosenko, obviously from 3344. I would
like to thank the distinguished members of
Council for allowing us to come and talk
to you.

The real issue is that with the
weekend coming up and as Mr. Ferlo most
eloquently spoke on, is that here we are,
we are going to be honoring our nation's
fallen heroes. I think that that's a
wonderful thing and something that should
be done, but we can best honor our
veterans by honoring our living.

If you look at our World War I
vets, our Korean vets, and I am part of the
Vietnam era vets, we were all promised
that this system would be there for us.
And at the same time Congress is saying
we need less health care dollars to take
care of our veterans. We need more. You
actually think about it, most of our
veterans from the World War II are
anywhere from their late 70’s to mid 80's.
Our Korean veterans the same. They’re in
their probably late 60's, mid to late 60's to
their mid 70's. And even us now the
Vietnam vets, I am one of the younger
ones, ] am in my late 40's but we are up to
our 60's.

861

We need the health care system to
be there. Without the public's support of
all the citizenry, without public support
and we do thank you again for this City
Council, the VA won't be there for us. I
think that's a tragedy. We were there when
our nation called for us; a lot of us like
myself were drafted. We had no choice in
the matter and we went and served and we
served well. I think we do our country
well by honoring our veterans who need
our help.

Thank you for your support, please
try to be out there on May 30. Have a
great day.

Mr. Ferlo:

Again the rally is this coming
Sunday at one o'clock in the Oakland
Veterans Administration - Hospital
University Drive, at the top of the Hill. I
am asking the public, our meeting is cable
cast this moming and will be replayed at
seven and on also on Saturday. I see a
number of people in the audience, I see
John May a Vietnam era veteran himself
and maybe some of the other groups that
are here today would also come out and
support, a number of labor organizations
are in chambers today also. I would ask
that they show some solidarity and support
for this issue.

There is a popular theme on
Memorial Day about some gave all and ail
gave some. Well I think this is a time
really that we call upon the Congress to
provide a more reasonable level of funding
to ensure a continued quality of care for
our nation’s veterans and their family
members. I also point out and it is
somewhat tragic in my own view, that a
week ago some 160 democrats voted to

TS EOnOOO&_OOOSN

commit over $5 billion in a technology
that ] thought we won that battle under the
Reagan era and that was this so-called Star
Wars funding. This is a strategy that has
been referred to as mutually assured
destruction or better known by the
acronym of MAD. If we are going to be
concerned about nuclear weapons we
should be concerned about what the
administration has done with the Chinese.
We should be concerned about the Russian
Mafia that is right now probably selling a
lot of tactical nuclear weapons.

I suggest for a little bit less money
they can hire and beef up security forces
that will begin to track what is happening
to arsenal nuclear weaponry. I would
suggest that Congress, that's a higher
priority right now for military expenditure
than a failed absurd technology that is
based on a premise that we can actually
win a nuclear war. That's what Star Wars
is all about. It is a waste of human capital
and financial capital of billions of dollars.
Those are billions of dollars that we need
not only in the Veterans Hospital System,
but we have every bridge and road in the
City of Pittsburgh falling apart. It would
be nice once in a while just to get a big
check in the mail from the Feds for a
change so we can begin to fix the
crumbling infrastructure of this country.

So enough preaching. We will do
some more on Sunday. We want to thank
all of them for coming down and again I
want to call on the public to please come
down and support this cause on Sunday at
one o'clock in Oakland at the VA Hospital.
Thank you.

The Chair:

I want to thank you for the

862

outstanding work you do. I have visited
all of your facilities and the outstanding
care you give our veterans. We hope we
can -- we must continue.

Mr. Ferlo:

Bob Bonner is Jim Bonner's dad,

our intem for the summer. All my
colleagues know Jimmy Bonner.
Mr. Hertzberg:

Would the individuals with

Baskets for Babies please come forward. I
think everyone here has probably seen on
the news or read in the newspaper reports
about young mothers who become
pregnant. They're not married, they're
embarrassed, they hide their pregnancy
from everyone, their family and they end
up secretly giving birth to a child and also
trying to hide that. And in some cases the
infants have died and in some cases they
have been seriously injured.

We have with me some individuals
who are trying to do something about that
situation. And I am not going to steal all
their thunder. I think they will explain
their network to you. So let me read the
tesolution for baskets for babies.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTS:

No. 1652 WHEREAS, Baskets for
Babies originated on April 13, 1999 when
Gigi Kelly, upon hearing of another
abandoned baby being found, could no
longer watch the news about these babies,
and decided she must do something; and

WHEREAS, the reason Baskets for
Babies exists today, is to prevent this from
ever happening again and to let the parents

EeESESES=—=—=n eee

of these babies know there are people who
care about them and their babies who will
help them in any way they can with "NO
QUESTIONS ASKED"; and

WHEREAS, Baskets for Babies
began with one family recruiting 30 family
members and friends, then the story was
aired on the local TV stations and
appeared in the newspapers, people from
all sections of Pittsburgh and the
surrounding communities responded and
within two weeks Baskets for Babies
ballooned to over 300 participants; and

WHEREAS, Baskets for Babies
has grown so rapidly, that "team" leaders
have been recruited to coordinate their
areas and get the message to their
respective neighborhoods and
communities so everyone knows that help
is available; and

WHEREAS, with the help of the
Pittsburgh Fire Fighters Local#1 Ladies
Auxiliary, baskets will soon be placed in
all 35 Pittsburgh firehouses, and the
program also has the support of the
Pittsburgh Police; and

WHEREAS, all those involved in
the Baskets for Babies network are
volunteers who donate their time and
effort to help save infants from
abandonment, injury or death;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh commends Baskets for
Babies for assisting young mothers and
infants in the Pittsburgh Area.

MR. ONORATO moved to adopt the
resolution.

863

MR. COHEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Hertzberg:

We are joined today by Gigi Kelly
who I mentioned in the resolution who is
teally the leader of this whole movement
and a lot of family. Also Gwen Elliott the
Commander in our Police Department is
here, Wayne Kelly who is Gigi’s father- in-
law, MaryBeth Gasier, who is Gigi's sister-
in-law, Lynn Markovic, who is the team
leader from Robinson and Ann Kelly who
is Gigi's sister-in-law. Carol Keller who is
a team leader in West Mifflin and Rhonda
Latnera who is a neighbor of Gigi Kelly's.

Also I want to welcome ABC
World News Tonight to City Council
Chamber. They come from New York
they're doing a program on Baskets for
Babies, Alissa Rubin is here who is
involved in the production and later Juju
Chang will be here to interview some of
the people that are involved. So we're
getting some recognition on a nation wide
basis for this excelient program. And I
have been happy to participate together
with my wife. We have a basket. I am not
going to go into any more detail. I am
going to let Gigi Kelly explain what it is
all about.

Ms. Kelly:

Thank you all. Pardon my tears,
but this is so important to me, and people
in the community have really risen to the
challenge. You hear about bad news all
the time and people actually are tired of
tuming on the television and seeing the
terrible things on the news. And I am here
today to let you know that the day I started

=SeS6eoeC0—60R0—0@@0—— eee

this on April 13th, I had 30 friends and 30
family members and that's all we were.
And I called the news and I said we are
going to change something. We are going
to make a difference.

As of today we are up to 440
baskets in six weeks. We have contacts
now in Harrisburg we are getting ready to
start out there. We have people in West
Virginia that have called, ABC News has
called and they are here today because
humanity people are ready to make a
change, we're ready to open our front
doors, come out onto our porches and look
at what is going on in our world. We have
to start with these babies. These babies
are our hope. They have to stop being
hurt. We could go so many places from
here and all we are right now is plainly,
simply an alternative to certain death.

We are there for the girls who are
denying their pregnancies for whatever
Treason. We are there for the girls who
don't go to Mom's House or the pregnancy
care centers, or don't seek out adoption
services, We are there for the girl that at
midnight finds herself with a newborn
baby that she doesn't want and we are
asking her this is her opportunity. No
Matter what choices she has made in her
life this is your chance to make the right
decision. Find us, find a basket, put the
baby in the basket, knock on the door and
go away. This is not about the mother.
This is about the life of an innocent baby
that needs to be saved.

There are more people out there
that want this baby than don't want this
baby. I and Baskets for Babies will not
ask any questions of this woman. We are
telling her to go away, to hide. We want
her to take responsibility to at least make

864

sure someone comes to the door.

Right now all of our volunteers
they get the same set of instructions with
every volunteer that calls in we go over a
set of instructions on what they’re
supposed to do. We're asking them now to
take their baskets in if they are going to be
away from their baskets for five hours or
more. Because we don't want newboms
laying in these baskets without being
attended to.

The Pittsburgh Fire Department its
currently getting work through their legal
department hopefully we are going to have
baskets in all of their city firehouses. We
are also -- the paramedics are interested
and they are looking into having baskets in
all the paramedic stations that are outlying
of the firehouses.

We have separated Allegheny
County into 13 different sections. Because
we have had so many people that I couldn't
keep up with it and in each of those
sections we have volunteers and these
people are so committed. These are full
time mom's, part time jobs and they find
the time for this. We're here today in City
Council to ask and for the support of the
Council, which they have given us to go
out to your constituents who look to you
for guidance and support. We have flyers
that we are passing out on a neighborhood
level. The ladies and the volunteers are
going to their churches, to their retailers
the important thing about this information
is it has to get out there so these girls know
where we are. If they don't know where
these baskets are, we serve no purpose.

We have a few groups that have
really been helping us without questions.
The Right Aid drugstores they have our
basket list posted in their stores. These

Eee

lists have the county, the area, and the
address. They don't have names and
address of our volunteers. These are there
for the girls to see. Our ideal goal is to
have these flyers or at least some sort of
this information in all the middle schools
and high school bathrooms in every school
in the county, in the state. This problem
isn't delineated by race, it is not delineated
by income, it is not delineated by where
you live. This is a problem that we all
have to deal with. These are babies that
are dying because no one is paying
attention.

We -have gotten a lot of support
from Mom's House who has _ three
maternity centers in our area. MUSA, its a
Methodists union of social agencies, they
have done wonderful things for us.
UPMC, Magee Hospital and Pam Dodge
have helped us we're only six weeks old,
we're in the process of trying to get a little
more organized because it's getting even
bigger on a daily basis, We just want to
stress that this is not an alternative to
anything else. The ideal way to have a
baby is in the hospital and if you don't
want the baby to put it up for adoption, but
this is — the only alternative to this is to be
laying beside a cold river or in a garbage
bag in a garbage truck. Here we have
baskets with blankets in and it’s as plain
and simple as if you can't take care of this
baby, put it on our doorstep. We do ask
that they get the babies in those baskets as
fast as possible, because time is vital to
their survival.

These babies are high risk, they are
usually from young mothers who had no
prenatal care. You have to get these
babies in these baskets. So we would
appreciate any support if you can get us
into school districts, if you have any social

agencies you are attached to, our phone is
(412)655-8265. Please call us, we need to
get the word out there to save these babies.
And that's all I have to say.

Ms. Elliott:

To members of Council, Mr.
President, we appreciate you having us
here today. I was away when this started
and J got a call as soon as I got back home
from Gigi and it I did my heart good
because before I left we had three babies in
this area die in one week.

We had very tragic circumstances
after I came back where we found a little
baby that had been abandoned in our
housing community. So I have committed
to helping this group expand and do what
we need to do. So besides a grassroots
help, if any one is listening here, I think
we need some corporate sponsorship so
that we also have some public places
besides fire stations and medic stations
where we can make these baskets available
to women. And I think as they grow that
they will be surprised that the services that
they're going to end up providing to our
society. So I just thank them and I think
we should all give them a hardy round of
applause,

Ms. Gasier:

Iam Mary Beth Gasier, I am Gigi's
sister-in-law. I just want to say that in
addition to perhaps saving some babies
lives, the baskets on the doorsteps are also
symbols of hope, young people today,
people in general in our nation have gotten
the idea that life is disposable. With the
baskets on every porch I believe that
young people and all of us will begin to
see that life again is sacred and valued.

eee

Thank you.
The Chair:

Gwen, Gigi and MaryBeth, I
certainly want to thank you for this. I
think what you said at the end MaryBeth,
you are sending a strong message the
symbol of the basket is there are other
alternatives. As you remember a little
over two years ago a baby was left in
Hazelwood in my community only in the
back of the church. Had this basket been
in the front when that mother on a freezing
cold night before Christmas left it in the
back and we didn't find it in time. I know
it really brought the Hazelwood
community together and we still honor the
baby’s life and tragic death. Bet it really
brought us together. Baby Joseph, we still
remember the baby at annual ceremonies.

But I think the key things you are
sending a message, there is so much help
out there and we can be watching each
other. If you see a mother who may be in
danger and not getting the healthcare, we
should be helping that person. There is so
much help out there. It really does more
than just that one hopefully it is never used
but the message is out there. I really want
to thank all of you for what you are doing.
It a tremendous effort. Gwen, especially
you, you are involved with so many great,
great projects.

Jane you want to come up for one
minute. The Quinn family just for 30
seconds, I want to introduce you to our --
we don't have a proclamation but we have
a special guest, Councilwoman Mary
O'Neil Baker, the Councilwoman from
Norther Ireland is here with her husband
Emmett and she is a cousin of Jane Quinn.
I just want to welcome you to Council

866

Chambers and we have a flag of our city
and our country for you. Let's give Mary a
warm Pittsburgh welcome.

Sarah Dixon, is Sarah here? We
have Sarah Dixon who is the President of
the Glen Hazel Citizens Association and
youths from our Building Bridges
Programs. Thank you very much for
coming down.

MR. O'CONNOR’ AND ALL
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT:

No. 1653 WHEREAS, the Glen
Hazel Citizens Association, Sarah Dixon
and Richard Garland created the "Bridge
To The Future" program designed to create
jobs, provide job training, develop youth
leadership and to build community pride;
and,

WHEREAS, the "Bridges To The
Future" program assists those youth,
interested in one of the seven career
opportunities offered by providing training
and experience in the trade of their choice;
and,

WHEREAS, the "Bridges To The
Future” program is comprised of four work
sites as a direct result of the collaboration
involved with this proposal between Glen
Hazel Citizens Association, John Kane
Hospital, The Glen Hazel Resident
Management Corporation, The HOPE
Center and the Glen Hazel Senior Citizens
Council; and,

WHEREAS, the following students
have completed the "Bridges To The
Future" program:

Tionna Simmon
Aster Flaig

———————————
aeaeGqyEC_5“5seaqol>h=aeee—a———r———

Andrea Jones
Bridgett Dixon

WHEREAS, the following students
are in training:

Kean Black
Cherish Harbor
Michael Murray

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh does hereby congratulate the
Glen Hazel Citizens Association for their
ongoing dedication to the success of the
youth of the area; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that
the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does
hereby declare May 25, 1999, "Bridge To
The Future Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.

MR. COHEN moved to adopt the
resolution.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:

Sarah you are active in so many
things I can't keep up with you. But you
want to explain this and introduce our
youth.

Ms. Dixon:

Bridges to the Future Program
works with -- we train our children how to
enter the work world and the things that
are important in the world of work because
the world of work is very competitive. We
train them how to do their own resume.
We train how important it is to have an

867

interview, what is important in an
interview, how do deal with policies and
procedures in the work world. How to
treat their employers. The employees
politeness to be polite. And as a result of
this, we have out of this we have gotten
three jobs for our children. We have
gotten two in Kane Hospital and we have
one at Squirrel Hill Manor. These girls are
working there permanently, they're steady
jobs. Bridget, you want to say something?
She works at Kane Hospital.

Bridget Dickson:

My name is Bridget Dickson. I am
a recreational therapist at Kane Hospital.
And I just want to say thank you for this
time and I want to thank you for my
grandma.

The Chair:

We have one to be read into the
record.

MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTS:

No. 1654 WHEREAS, the need for
housing for the elderly is overwhelming in
the City's ten southwestern neighborhoods;
and

WHEREAS, in these
neighborhoods, according to the 1990
census data, 23% of the residents are over
62 years of age and 54% of the households
fall into the low to moderate income
category as defined by the federal
Department of Housing and Urban
Development; and

WHEREAS, currently only one
senior housing project with 72 units and
one recently constructed 44 unit building

ooo

serve this large elderly community living
in the southwestern area of the City; and

WHEREAS, the proposed
Westlake Apartments elderly housing
project at Lorenz Avenue and Crucible
Street in the 20" Ward, which is being
sponsored by the West End-Elliott Joint
Project, Inc. in cooperation with ACTION-
Housing, Inc. and the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh,

would add 28 more units of housing for.

low to moderate income elderly citizens to
serve the City's southwestern
neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, plans for the proposed
Westlake Apartments elderly housing
project include the demolition of Westlake
School, a dilapidated structure that is
contributing to urban blight; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City
of Pittsburgh strongly recommends this
elderly housing project to the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of the City of
Pittsburgh for approval as a 202 HUD
Elderly Housing Project.

MR. FERLO moved
resolution.

to adopt the

MR. DIVEN seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Mr. Ferlo:
Is that a non-binding resolution?
Every time we have approved a
202 it has been by a formal legal

resolution not a non-binding resolution. I
wanted a clarification.

868

The Chair:
‘You want to hold it for next week.
Mr. Hertzberg:

We approved this two years ago. It
is just actually a renewal of something we
approved before by City Council. It's a
potential Senior Citizens Facility in the
Elliott neighborhood of the City of
Pittsburgh where there is currently a
dilapidated school known as Westlake
School, at the comer of Lorenze Avenue
and Crucible Street. It is really an eye sore
situation in our West End Elliot Joint
Project, which just completed another
senior citizens 202 project has been
working away at this thing and kind of
needs to re-up everything and bring it
current. Because it's been a couple years
they have had some problems in the
procedures.

So that is what that is there for.
We can bring someone in from the West
End Elliott Joint Projection and action
housing if that's the will.

Mr. Ferlo:

I am clearly in favor of it. I voted
for it in the past. I thought we did it by
way of a resolution as opposed to a
non-binding proclamation. But I will be
supportive either way.

Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you.
The Chair:

Thank you. We will now allow

S=——eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

public comments. Three minutes anyone
wishing to address Council, please step to
the podium and give your name and
address for the record and you have three
minutes to address Council.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ms. Brown:

My name is Yvonne F. Brown, I
live at 2633 Brackenridge Street, that is in
the Hill District. - Again, I state that J am
an advocate for children youth and family.
Each time I come here to the City Council
Chambers I come to bring the concems
that the community as a whole takes
seriously.

After a meeting I spoke with the
cameraman about how my messages are
received. I questioned if as 1 the
messenger could I be tuming the powers
that be off. The cameraman stated that
and I will paraphrase that you keep coming
down here with that negative talk about
the police. 1 have been in different
neighborhoods where they stop when you
stop at a stoplight and 15 people surround
you at your car trying to get you to buy
drugs. You have prostitution. I tried to
explain that there are many people that do
not participate in this illegal activity.
What about my 15-year-old daughter who
was trying to get the policeman to take her
home after she had been attacked? For
him to say I ain't taking you no where.
She only had on one boot and it was the
wintertime. What about the citizens that
are standing at the bus stop waiting to go
to work and ordered to move from across
the street by the police and are told if they
don't go they go to jail. What about the
black contractor who I was here when he
said that City Council had given him an
accommodation. Yet he had been denied

869

the bid for a job with the Housing
Authority because that job had been given
to the out of town company that's going to
be these stadiums.

It appears that the majority of the
people agree with this mine set. Be it Bea
your clerk that works here or even Linda
Johnson your mail clerk, your main clerk,
Linda herself even though Bea was very
unprofessional stated that she stands
behind her staff although she was, Bea,
very ignorant and arrogant with her
attitude towards me. Only when I was just
trying to ask as a citizen asking for
direction and information.

I bring this to light because here in
this Pittsburgh, in your Pittsburgh Post
Gazette if you look under Tales From the
Trails it says in here that except that
Murphy and his older daughter Shannon,
26 wanted to ride the whole way from
downtown Pittsburgh to Georgetown and
Washington DC. Now my understanding
and I stand to be corrected that $400,000
were spent for this cement road. Where
does it go? Where does it come from?
We don't even know how to get there, the
poor people? But yet you still will not
give any money for the poor children to be
able to go to the swimming pools free. If
the -- if it is not completed, that road is not
completed, because I heard somebody
come back here and asking for more
money, tell the Mayor and his daughter to
pay for the rest. We the poor people are
protesting $400,000 for a cement road.
That she Shannon herself could not even
tide. Thank you.

Ms. Erquhart:

Good morning, City Council. Iam
Dorothy Erquhart and I live in East

SS 8 _SS

Liberty, 5811 Penn Circle North. If
everyone here had looked at TV you have
seen my house. I am one of the elders in
this city and no one is paying attention. I
think that City Council and the Mayor's
Office I don't think I know there is a lot of
discrimination going on here. There is a
lot of racism going on.

My house, me being an elderly
person and seeing the condition of my
house and no one at City Council has
come by to see what is wrong. I am
paying the Urban Redevelopment right
now, they were in charge of my house.
They were in charge of the money and the
contractors. I am paying since 1991 my
house is inhabitable to live in. But I fix it
enough for me to stay in. Because I have
to pay each month for my house as you do
when you go to buy the house and make it
ahome. Well I have paid since 1991 over
$50,000 for mortgage and remodeling.
Now I need help and I need City Council
to come and see what is happening. It is
discrimination because I figure and I know
that if I had been white it would not be
happening. Somebody would have come
and straightened out the mess. Because
you know Urban Redevelopment is not
perfect. They have made a mistake and a
big mistake someone from City Council
come and see what has happened out there.

I should not be living in a house
that is too cold. I am 67 I have to carry
kerosene. I should not be living in a house
that I have to do that when I am paying
mortgage and renovation. So I am saying
City Council I am a black woman and it is
time that somebody came out there to see
what is happening to me. | am a taxpayer
and I am one of the elderly and I am on
retirement and all of my money is being
paid out to try to keep the roof over my

870

head. And] am asking you to come down
and come out to East Liberty and see what
is happening in the black area. There are
too many people that are getting frauded
and so it is time for somebody down here
to look into what is happening with Urban
Redevelopment. And I have the papers to
show it and I have also the house to show
that I have been discriminated against.
And I am asking you to come down.

It is time for you too look out and
see what is happening in the black
community. Thank you.

Ms. Portman:

Good moming Pittsburgh City
Council on this beautiful May 25, chilly
but beautiful. Some place special. My
purpose for coming is that I was very
disappointed to read that City Council
preliminarily voted in support of new
coined words, domestic partnership
legislation. This is unjust legislation; this
is an attack on marriage. I am asking City
Council to defend the marriage bond. We
can't improve on Gods ways. He gave us
marriage from the beginning and the Holy
Scripture condemns homosexual
relationships. We're not to fund domestic
partnerships.

This is not a spouse, again this is
an attack on marriage. This is an
unworthy legislation it's unjust. I am
saying again, defend the marriage bonds,
spousal benefits are husband and wife,
man and woman in mariage. The
domestic -- the person who works for the
city, the individual person justly would
receive his or her health benefits, just
health benefits for that individual. Those
who are married the spouse gets spousal
benefits, there is an attempt to a cross the

a
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country to approve this kind of unjust
legislation. Again I ask you to defend the
marriage bond. This is not marriage; this
is an unjust proposal. This is bad
legislation - B-A-D. Bad legislation.

Again Holy Scripture tells us this
kind of relationship is against God’s law.
We pledge the allegiance to the flag a
nation under God, this assembly under
God. Do not attack God’s laws by
supporting unjust bad legislation. The
domestic partnership by any other name --
bad.

You have an opportunity City
Council to stand tall and again defend the
marriage bond. We talk about
neighborhoods, family life this is what it’s
all about, marriage, family life. Not to
introduce into this city support for an evil
relationship. Pray for every one us poor
sinners need god's mercy everyone. Pass
good legislation not bad. Reject domestic
partnership proposals. Thank you very
much.

Mr. Julobear: (phonetic)

Good moming I am Sam Jutobear,
resident of Pittsburgh on 505 Herron
Avenue. Also co-convener of the
Pittsburgh Black Radical Congress and the
Pittsburgh Black Radical Congress
supports Pittsburgh Works, jobs, residence
ordinance. One thing I wanted to talk
about is how important it is for our
citizens to have jobs. There is such a
talent drain from the city in terms of
people leaving Pittsburgh. One thing to
bring people and strengthens the tax base
here in this city is jobs. You can bring all
the stadiums in here you want. You can
do all the other things you want, but unless
there are jobs people won't come. People

871

go where the jobs are.

We support Pittsburgh Works and
we would like to say that Pittsburgh
Works has been a very controversial piece
of legislation. When poor people, and I
would like to also congratulate
Councilman Sala Udin for his foresight to
Propose Pittsburgh Works knowing the
importance of jobs when people can't get
jobs then they seek other means of getting
money and the things that they need. Well
one thing about Pittsburgh Works is that it
gives us the opportunities to leverage for
jobs. Poor people always have to work up
hill to the bottom to get what we need.

We also would like to say that the
bill has been modified in many ways. We
would oppose any measures or any
amendments that would weaken the bill.
The bill should stand as it has been
proposed by Councilman Sala Udin so that
it can realize it's full impact, so that we
can have the kind of employment
opportunities that we need to feed our
children, to cloth ourselves, to have
housing, to educate ourselves.

Pittsburgh Works as proposed by
Councilman Sala Udin should stand any
amendments to weaken it we definitely
oppose. Thank you very much for your
time.

Mr. Mays:

Good moming, members of
Council, my name is John Mays, Activist,
Democratic Committee Person of 11th
Ward 18 district, East Liberty. Taxpayer,
concemed citizen. I stand before you here
and I am directing this mainly at
Councilman Jim Ferlo you are the 11th
Ward Chairperson of my Ward. I add on

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to what has already been said. Pittsburgh
Works needs to be. Why? Because this
summer is going to be hell. No jobs for
our youth, no jobs for people even in my
age group. They're leaving here at an
alarming rate.

Anyone here is thinking that
Pittsburgh is number one for folks coming
back home, you’re fooling yourself. We
want jobs, African American Workers
Union whatever that is in terms of people
of color we want to be included and we
intend to do so whether you like it or not.
Enough is enough. We're going to be
included, our public money is going to be
invested in these $15 billion construction
and yet you're going to leave us out. When
I was in college or in high school they
called that legalized thievery anyone here
know what that means? That's just what
you're doing if you don't support
Pittsburgh Works.

Councilman Ferlo, you must take
the leadership role if you want to go into
the next millenium keeping up with the
Jones on athletic stadiums. You must
support the Pittsburgh Works ordinance
bill. Thank you.

And those who were fortunate to
win in last Tuesdays Pennsylvania
Primary, excuse me, I am going to salute
you for your victory but the work has just
begun and we the grassroots will be
included we’re going to fight to the very
end so help us God. Thank you.

Mr. Malia: (phonetic)
My name is Ellis Malia (phonetic),
I live at 2700 Center Avenue. And J am

the Labor Chairman of the Black Radical
Congress. We have seen too much of this

other people working and we're not
working. There is a lot of rumbling in the
city, a lot of rumbling in the thing, but it
hasn't become united and it hasn't become
organized. If this keeps on continuing to
see other people working, people coming
in from out of town it's going to change.
The people aren't going to be begging,
they're not going to asking, they're going to
be working. And also I have been to this
Mrs. Dee's house and it is atrocious the
way it is. But I am saying that when you
are not going to build everything
peacefully, we are not going to build
everything on time, if everybody is not
included and this bill has been watered
down, it’s been watered down enough.
And the bill itself is just one phase, one
legal phase that we must have. And the
watering down can't continue and we
intend to work as anybody works. Thank
you.

Mr. Perry:

Good moming my name is John
Perry, I live at 6426 Howe Street. I teach
Constitutional Law at the University of
Pittsburgh School of Law. I have been
asked to discuss constitutional issues
relating to the current version of Pittsburgh
Works.

T should start with a caution for
you. Those of you who are attomeys know
that we when we talk about law we deal in
probabilities not in certainties. That said
however, I believe that Pittsburgh Works
is tailored to the requirements of the
constitution. There are two constitutional
provisions that govern residency
requirements for employment. The first is
the privileges and immunities clause of
Article Four; this clause applies only to
actions taken against out of state residents.

_————
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That is the privileges and immunities
clause applies here only if Pittsburgh
Works discriminates against citizens of
other states. Pennsylvania residents don't
have any privileges and immunity rights
against the City of Pittsburgh.

The Supreme Court in the Candid
Case (phonetic) and third circuit in the
(inaudible) Salem Blue-collar Workers
cases, stress this point again and again.
Because Pittsburgh Works exempts out of
state workers from the residency
requirement there is no, I repeat, there is
no Article Four privileges and immunities
issue, none.

The other constitutional provision
is the commerce clause of Article One,
which restricts state interference with
commerce. But this restriction does not
apply when a state is a market participant.
That is when a state or local government is
participating in a market by buying or
selling goods or services. And in the
White case, the Supreme Court declared
that residency requirements for projects
funded in whole and importantly in part
with city dollars are __ perfectly
constitutional under the commerce clause.

The White case also makes clear
that it is constitutional for a city to restrict
residency when using federal funds that
allow for those kinds of restrictions. So
the remaining questions are simply these,
what to do with federal or state dollars that
are silent on this issue? And what to do in
private dollars provide a significant part of
the funding? The case law gives us an
answer. What counts is whether the city is
a market participant not where it gets the
money. If I have money to spend, it
doesn't matter if get it from my paycheck,
from the bank, from the government or,

my friends I can spend it how I want. The
City of Pittsburgh is in the same position.
The state and federal governments are free
to forbid Pittsburgh from imposing
residency restrictions but if they don't
Pittsburgh is free to spend its money from
whatever source derived, however it
wants.

If the state or federal goverment
don't like it, they can place restrictions on
it. If private parties don't like it, they can
tefuse to deal with the city or they can
negotiate for better terms. But until that
happens, Pittsburgh is constitutionally
free.

If I could make one more point.
The Chair:

Please summarize.
Mr. Perry:

United States Court of appeals for
the third circuit which covers Pennsylvania
has embraced this same idea and said that
what counts is whether or not you are a
market participant not where you get your
money. The bottom line is that when
Pittsburgh participates in the market it can
participate, it can spend its money how it
wishes and impose conditions. The issues
before this Council therefore are not
constitutional. There is no constitutional
problem with Pittsburgh Works, the only
issues are political and economic.

Mr. Raheem: (phonetic)
Good moming. My name is
(inaudible) Raheem (phonetic) I am from

the North Side of Pittsburgh. I represent
the National Council for Urban Peace and

Justice. And I would like to thank the
gentleman before me for his comments
regarding the constitutionality of
Pittsburgh Works.

I had some questions about it.
Being a long time community activist my
position was just because it is legal, just
because it is constitutional doesn't
necessarily make it right. And if indeed
there were some questions about the
constitutionality of Pittsburgh Works it
indeed should have been challenged and it
still needs to be challenged.

We believe from the National
Council from Urban Peace and Justice that
all of us have a God given right to
meaningful work. We believe that here
within the City of Pittsburgh because of
the long history of abuse, when it comes to
the under -- you know employment and
lack of employment within the black
community that Pittsburgh Works is a
timely piece of legislation. We also want
to implore Pittsburgh City Council to look
at two other areas. Besides making sure
that folks get jobs, we want you to
consider that contractors, minority
contractors have an opportunity to
participate in the expansion of the David
Lawrence Convention Center as well as
the building of the two new stadiums. We
also want you to further consider that
black vendors or minority vendors have an
opportunity to open up shops and
businesses once the two stadiums have
been completed.

We think this too is in the spirit of
what Pittsburgh Works truly represents.
We once again on behalf of the National
Council for Urban Peace and Justice we
support the original piece of legislation as
it was proposed by Councilman Sala Udin,

874

we hope it stands strong. We hope it
stands firm, and we will do everything
within our power to make sure that it does.
Thank you.

The Chair:
In the future --
Mr. English:

My name is Gary English, 1504
Fairmont Street, highest property tax
community in the Allegheny County. I
just left the Pittsburgh Auditorium
Authority meeting where I looked at
several contracts and the common theme
here today which I had not planned on
speaking is about jobs. And also to
address that to the minorities I have looked
at several of the contracts that were
approved today at the Public Auditorium
Authority for the stadiums. Slaba Morgan
Hallowell (phonetic), Richard Getalink
(phonetic), Castbaker Corporation
(phonetic), Huber Hunt Nickels, Massaro
Construction Corporation, Raphael
Vignoly Architects, Advance Technology
Systems, Christine Davis Consultants. A
lot of money was handed out today at the
Public Auditorium Authority. It's a shame
that the people behind me were not there
rallying for the same cause.

Councilman Cohen, you know that
they have been absent when it comes to
giving an equal access to minority and
women in business and it is funny that it’s
being spoken today.

I haven't had a chance to review
today's agenda with the proposal Sala Udin
has brought forth, but it seems like there
has been a pattern of discrimination that
has taken place giving equal opportunity

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using public funds, I would like to see that
change.

I do want to change strides for a
moment on a totally different subject. A
few weeks ago 1 spoke here. I spoke about
a law that was passed by Council that
would deny our rights of free speech and
campaign signage. And although I don't
agree with it, we have to abide by it. I saw
signs of Councilman Onorato all over
Allegheny County in the City of
Pittsburgh. Councilman Onorato have you
picked up your signs yet?

Mr. Onorato:

I will be more than happy to talk to
you after the meeting.

Mr. English:

Councilman Onorato were you
fined for putting these signs on public
rights of way in the City of Pittsburgh or
did you receive special protection as a
Councilman from the City of Pittsburgh?

The Chair:
This is not a debate. We will listen
to your comments please.

Mr. English:

J think I have made my points clear
and thank you for my three minutes.
Thank you very much.

Mr. Bell:

Hello my name is William Bell. [I
live at 2304 Center Avenue. I am a board
member of the Coalition of Black Trade
Unionists. We would like it to go on
record that, Sala Udin, we feel this is a

875

good bill that you have and we would like
City Council to vote in favor of the bill.
Thank you.

The Chair:

Any more speakers? These public
comments are directed for Council for
your comments to Council and or the
Mayor. J] would ask anyone who addresses
us to whether you agree or disagree with
us to please keep our families and the
Mayor's family out of your comments. I
don't think that is necessary. We will now
move to presentation of papers.

PRESENTATION OF PAPERS
MR. FERLO PRESENTED:

No. 1655 Resolution providing for
the filing of a petition or petitions for the
sale of property located at 5805 Bryant
Street, acquired at tax sales in accordance
with Act No. 171 of 1984, “Second Class
City Treasurer Sale and Collection Act”,
effective December 11, 1984.
(SPONSORED BY MR. FERLO)

Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. FERLO moved to suspend Rule 8 by
providing for consideration of the bills
only until or after the 8th calendar day

following in which the bills were
introduced so the bills will be on the
agenda this Wednesday.

MR. HERTZBERG seconded the
motion.

Which motion prevailed.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:

SES
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No. 1656 Resolution providing for
an Agreement or Agreements with
Miryam's, Northside Common Ministries

and the William and Mildred Orr
Compassionate Care Center for
administrative, operating and/or

renovation costs for the shelters under the
State Emergency Shelter Grants Program,
at a cost not to exceed $80,000.00,
chargeable to and payable from S.E.S.G.P.
Account No. 566100-2640-110000-S1999-
G225014-1999.

Which was read and referred to the

Committee on Housing, Economic
Development & Promotion.
MR. RICCIARDI PRESENTED:

No. 1657 Resolution providing for
the transfer of the amount of Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) from
Code 45, Health/Life Insurance-Municipal
Employees, Non-Departmental Personnel,
Account 571100, Fund 1000, Organization
999300, Subclass 040, Budget Year 1999
to the Special Summer Food Service
Program Trust Fund in the Department of
Parks and Recreation, Account 581140,
Fund 2855, Organization 521220,
Subclass 600, Budget Year 1999.

MR. HERTZBERG
motion.

seconded the

Which motion prevailed.

Also,

No. 1658 Resolution authorizing
the transfer of Twelve Thousand
($12,000.00) Dollars from account

593100, fund 1000, organization 500000,
subclass 300, budget year 1999 to the
Special Parks Programs Trust fund,
account 593100, fund 7314, organization
500000, subclass 600, budget year 1999 all
in the Department of Parks and
Recreation.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

No. 1659 Resolution Amending
Resolution No. 216, effective 4-20-99
entitled, "Resolution providing for an
Agreement or Agreements with various
community organizations for operational/
administrative expenses, maintenance,
purchase of equipment; and/or minor
rehabilitation of neighborhood facilities
for the benefit of the residents of the City
of Pittsburgh, at a cost not to exceed
$102,500.00 chargeable to and payable
from Account 593100, Fund 1000,
Organization 500000, Subclass 300, Year
1999 in the Department of Parks and
Recreation.” by eliminating the Brighton
Heights Athletic Association $12,000.00.
Which was read and referred to the
Committee on Parks, Recreation & Youth
Policy.

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:

No. 1660 Resolution Amending
Resolution No. 239, effective April 27,
1999, entitled, “Resolution providing for
the issuance of a warrant in the sum of
$15,000 to USX Corporation and Bethlehm
Steel Corporation c/o Barry J. Trilling,
Esquire, Pepper Hamilton & Scheetz, LLP,
$0" Floor One Mellon Bank Center, 500
Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2502,
in full and final settlement of the action
filed at C.A. 96-1240 alleging the release of
hazardous substances from a landfill located
in Elizabeth Township” by changing the
name of the payee to read USX Corporation
and Pepper Hamilton, LLP.

MR. UDIN moved to suspend Rule 8 by
providing for consideration of the bills
only until or after the 8th calendar day
following the meeting in which the bills
were introduced so the bills will be on the
agenda this Wednesday.

MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
Also,

No. 1661 Resolution providing that
the City of Pittsburgh enter into a
professional services contract or contracts
with Fried, Kane, Zuschlag, Walters &
Grochmal for the purpose of providing
legal counsel for defense of workers’
compensation and heart and lung claims,
at a cost not to exceed ($190,000.00),
chargeable to and payable from WCCTF,
Workers’ Compensation Commutation
Trust Fund Account 574300, Fund 7520,
Organization 109000, Sub Class 600 and
Budget Year 1999 Department of
Personnel and Civil Service Commission.

877

No. 1662 Resolution providing
that the City of Pittsburgh enter into a
professional services contract or contracts
with Ford & Council for the purpose of
providing legal counsel for defense of
workers’ compensation and heart and lung
claims. The total amount payable under
this Resolution will not exceed
$80,000.00.

No. 1663 Resolution providing that
the City of Pittsburgh enter into a
professional services contract or contracts
with Allegheny General Hospital for the
purpose of providing medical and ancillary
services for the City’s Workers!
Compensation program, at a cost not to
exceed $3,360,000.00 Department of
Personnel.

No. 1664 Resolution Granting the
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority a
permanent utility easement and privilege
and license to install, use, operate,
maintain, repair, renew and finally remove
a 15-inch sewer line across City of
Pittsburgh property designated as Block 6-
A, Lot No. 97 located on South Main
Street in the 20" Ward.

No. 1665 Resolution authorizing
the sale of City owned property on Weitz
Way, 27" Ward, Block 115-E, Lot 40
(part), to Rita Lorraine Borgese, for the
sum of $100.00.

No. 1666 Resolution authorizing
the sale of City owned property on Weitz
Way, 27" Ward, Block 115-E, Lot 40
(part), to Armond Borgese and Anna
Borgese, his wife, for the sum of $100.00.

Which were read and referred to the
Committee on Finance and Budget.

MR. ONORATO moved to suspend Rule
8 by providing for consideration of the last
two bills only until or after the 8th
calendar day following the meeting in
which the bills were introduced so the bills
will be on the agenda this Wednesday,

I forgot to talk to the Councilman
whose committee they are in, I would live
to waive the two real estate bills, waive
Rule 8 and have them on tomorrow's
agenda.

MR. HERTZBERG | seconded the
motion.

Which motion prevailed.

THE CHAIR PRESENTED:

No. 1667 Communication from
Mulu Birru, Executive Director of the
Urban Redevelopment Authority,
submitting the Annual Report of

Employees, Positions and Salaries for
Budget Year 1999.

Which was read, received and filed.

MR. HERTZBERG moved to receive
and file.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion.
Which motion prevailed.
The Chair:
Any unfinished business to come
in front of Council?
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mr. Hertzberg:

Thank you, Mr. President. J hate to

keep bringing this up to the Pittsburgh
Penguins every week like this, but J don't
feel that they're problems are being
resolved at all. From what J understand
some of the negotiations are really not
moving anywhere right now and we
thought the clock was ticking a month ago,
it is really ticking now. And 1 am not sure
where the Mayor is coming from on this
thing. I don't know that he is advancing
the negotiation of a possible deal and his
position is that the Lemieux Group should
get together and partner up with the SMG
Fox Group. I don't know that people that
are in business just want to take on any
partner that's out there and get involved in
a business deal.

I don't think we want to force
people to become partners and in fact I
don't know that you can. And I wonder
why you would want to. I mean you have
the SMG Group, which is based partly in
Philadelphia. It is comprised of a
Philadelphia corporation that is in the
concession business and another group
that I believe is also the owner of the Hyatt
Hotels based out of Chicago. And we
seem to be, at least the Mayor and
Mr. Leeper, seem to be catering to these
individuals and trying to preserve their
relationship and their lease. I don't
understand it. Their proposal also includes
massive large public subsidies that would
include the loss of the current amusement
tax revenue that the city receives.

I also want to report on the
resolution that I proposed, the non-binding
resolution on eminent domain and on
asking the Auditorium Authority to utilize
eminent domain. I have been in touch
with some individuals that are very
familiar with eminent domain, I just spoke
with a real estate appraiser who has been

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doing eminent domain work for 45 years.
He's been involved in different
condemnation and appraising the different
values of leases and in what's called the
fee simple interest in real estate. And he
has assured me that the current lease that
SMG holds would not be relative to a
decision on the fair market value of the
lease of the arena if there were a
condemnation.

The reason is simple that lease has
been one of the major reasons the tenant,
the Penguins, have had to file bankruptcy.
It is not a market rate lease. And when
you evaluate something in eminent domain
you’re looking at what the fair market
value is of that particular item.

I also want to report that I have
been assured by Mr. Lemieux's Group that
they are not asking for public funding in
the event there is a condemnation and
eminent domain. They are prepared to pay
whatever the fair market value is of the
SMG lease if there is going to be
condemnation by a municipality.

Finally, we have unfortunately
rescheduled the Post Agenda Meeting
where the three entities are coming to give
us their plans for the Penguins a couple of
times and I have got to report that yet a
third time. We're just trying to make it
work with everyone's schedule. That this
should be the last rescheduling of the
meeting. It will be next Wednesday,
which is June 2 at two o'clock. It was
going to be this Friday, it was going to be
next Friday, it is definitely going to be
next Wednesday at two o'clock.

I would ask members of Council to
consider eminent domain but I will hold
off on that until after we can hear from all

879

the parties and members of Council can
ask questions and receive answers directly
from the people that are involved in this.

Mr. Onorato:

Ijust want to add a few things here.
I believe that Councilman Hertzberg
believes it's the best way to go, but I have
to part company a little bit here because I
view it a little differently. I think that talk
about eminent domain and condemnation
now is not a good idea. I don't think that
we should get involved at this point.
While I recognize that SMG's lease is
definitely not what the other cities have, at
the same time it was an arms length
negotiated deal where SMG was basically
acting as the bank to make this deal work.
And now you have a situation where it is
in bankruptcy court and Mario Lemieux
who is a local hero and I love him too, but
he is an unsecured creditor. You have
SMG who has a lease and who is a secured
creditor.

I think we're doing a disservice if
we jump into the middle of this before this
ownership issue gets resolved. I don't
think they should be coming to the city or
state or any public entity until they resolve
that issue. Because as long as we are out
there threatening to take action in some
form as a public body, it gives some of the
parties reason not to close the deal because
they think we are going to go do
something out there. I don't think we
should be condemning this lease or even
talking about it until they resolve that
issue. At that point, when the ownership
issue is resolved then we come to the city,
the state, the county and see if we want to
participate at that point. I don't think we
should be interfering with this negotiation
at the ownership level especially while the

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bankruptcy court is reviewing it.

SMG is being 1 think portrayed
sometimes as the bad guy here and I am
not here defending SMG I am just looking
at the facts. They were there to give the
money up front when the owners wanted it
and they acted as the bank, and because
this business didn't work it is not their
fault they got a sweetheart deal. They
signed it. They didn't hold a gun to
somebody's head to sign it. They signed it
and so did the other party sign it. Now the
bankruptcy judge has to make a decision
here on what he thinks of this lease and
how this should work out and what
ownership issue should come forward. I
think we can preserve this team in
Pittsburgh. I think we should keep the
team in Pittsburgh, but I think the best way
to do it is to force the ownership issue to
be resolved before we have public
participation.

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you, Mr. President.
Councilman Hertzberg has been bringing
this issue up consistently and I commend
him for doing that. Obviously it is a very
important and we need to do everything
we can to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh.
Last week I received a petition with 36
thousand names on it, which were from
people all over the world not just Western
Pennsylvania to support the Penguins, and
I know that we all do. I also have to
disagree with him on the eminent domain
issue and certainly Councilman Hertzberg
knows my position on that. To actually
condemn this lease means that we would
have to put up millions of dollars. We
may of course disagree with the fair
market value of that lease is, but we don't
have the money right now to be able to do

that even if we did. Frankly I don't think
that it is the right time. It may sometime
in the future be the right time but it isn't
now.

I think what Councilman Hertzberg
has been pushing for has been action, for
steps to be taken to try to bring the groups
together and come up with a resolution
that will keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh
and happily. Especially since the Mayor's
press conference last week that has
happened and the Lemieux Group on the
one hand and the SMG Fox Sports Group
on the other hand have been meeting. |
think the role of the city is an important
one to be a mediator in that and to prod
both sides to come together and reach
resolution. And that is happening and
certainly has been behind the scenes for a
while and now it is certainly happening in
the open with Bill Nolan pulling the two
groups together.

I think frankly there has been some
progress at those meetings and I think we
need to continue to play that role. If they
reach an insurmountable wall and are not
able to reach resolution then of course we
need to step in even further. But right now
with the Lemieux Group and the SMG Fox
Group meeting yesterday Mario Lemieux
met with Roger Marino that needs to take
place, there is a mediation taking place at
the bankruptcy court. I feel as if things are
slowly coming together in a way that will
allow us to keep the Penguins in
Pittsburgh. For the city to move forward
would have to be actually the Auditorium
Authority to move forward and condemn
the lease at this time, I don't think would
be productive but I do think we need to
stay on top of it as we have.

Mr. Ferlo:

ee
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Mr. President, this City Council
blinks first the city taxpayers are going to
get the royal shaft in this deal and more
importantly we won't have a deal as the
Mayor has rightly pointed out that will be
financially solvent. The issue is not only
the immediate issue of maintaining the
financial health in securing the Penguins
well into the future, the issue is how is that
going to be done financially. Who is the
best group, or what is the best solution to
come forward that is going to insure that
this team is going to be funded well into
the future.

1 don't think we should be
rewarding bad management and I think
that's partly what we would be doing if we
intervened and take sides either for the
Marino Click Group or anybody else. And
as far as everybody focusing in on the
outrageous lease and SMG I think that's a
bunch of hog wash. What about Mr.
Lemieux? Here is a gentleman who
expects $30 million plus knowing full well
he wasn't even going to play one more
hockey game. Is he any more credible in
this deal than SMG who intervened and
bailed out the situation years ago and is
only asking for their for their rightful
money and to be paid based on the lease
agreements that everyone agreed to when
it was convenient at the time? So let's just
stay out of the picture a little bit.

We should be supportive, we
should keep the clear message that it's very
critical that the Penguins continue to exist
in the City of Pittsburgh at the right time, I
think there is a proper role for public
participation and infrastructure in assuring
that we have a quality facility. Everyone
says like all of a sudden that the ten
million dollars we put in up there at the
arena should be thrown out the window. It

881

is like we put brand new seats in and a day
later they are ugly seats, they're terrible we
don't need them any more. Are people
losing their minds up there? We spent ten
to twelve million already and now like a
year later we are supposed to believe
because of the hype and all of sports jocks
that it is a useless facility and everything
else is not profitable. There is a lot more
involved.

I am very pleased that the
administration and the Mayor has solicited
and contracted with Mr. Nolan. I have
faith in the gentleman, I have trust in him,
I trust his business acumen and his skills
as an attomey in terms of looking
somebody squarely in the eye and saying
this is the way it's going to be. So I think
we have a good person that is now
intervening. I have a lot of faith in the
Public Auditorium Authority, Mr. Leeper
and other players are at the table doing
what needs to be done. But I am not just
going to open up and right a blank check.
I think it is completely inappropriate to
intervene on the issue of eminent domain
proceedings at this point.

The Chair:

Any more comments? I believe
your Post Agenda is to educate us on the
eminent domain?

Mr. Hertzberg:

On the plans. And to the degree
that the Lemieux plan calls for eminent
domain there will be discussion on it. But
it is to hear from the proponents of the
plans, Lemieux, the NHL whose plan is to
pull the team out or to liquidate it if things
don't happen, and also SMG and Fox.
What are their proposals, what are the ups

SS EEE

and downs of them?
The Chair:

When is the deadline?
Mr. Hertzberg:

I believe it is June the 24th. That's
the deadline that's been set in bankruptcy
court.

The Chair:

You have a post agenda scheduled
if you want to get input from all Council
members of what our goals are and where
you see it going I think it will be important
before we do it.

Moving to Reports of Committees.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
MR. HERTZBERG PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1669:
Report of committee on Public Works,
Water and Environmental Services for
May 20, 1999, transmitting sundry of
resolutions to Council.
Which have been read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1611:

Resolution vacating portions of
North Negley Avenue and North St. Claire
Street in the 11" Ward, 9" Council

District of the City of Pittsburgh.
Which was read.

Also,

Bill No. 1612:

Resolution vacating portions of
Federal Street, West General Robinson
Street, Stadium Drive East and North
Shore Drive in the 22" Ward, 6" Council
District of the City of Pittsburgh.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No..1636:

Resolution further amending
Resolution No. 140 effective March 18,
1999, entitled “providing for 2 Contract or
Contracts, or the use of existing Contracts
for street resurfacing programs to include
but not limited to ultra thin hot mix
asphalt, hot mix asphalt, crack sealing,
sawing and sealing, nova chip, flexible
pavement, asphalt milling, truck rental,
brick and blockstone repairs, handicap
ramps, concrete slab replacement at
various locations throughout the City of
Pittsburgh, at a cost not to exceed Six

€$6,015,000.00) Four Million Eight
Hundred Fifteen Thousand
($4,815,000.00), chargeable to and payable
from Fund 5100, Org, 400000, Sub-Class
PGHPR, Project 2239000, Budget Year
1999, Citywide Resurfacing, Department
of Public Works and Two Million Dollars
($2,000,000.00) from the General Fund,

Fund 1000, Budget year 1999.

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1637:

ee
a 8 SS

Resolution further amending
Resolution No. 141 effective March 18,
1999, entitled, “providing for a Contract or
Contracts, or the use of existing Contracts
for street resurfacing programs to include
but not limited to ultra thin hot mix
asphalt, hot mix asphalt, crack sealing,
sawing and sealing, nova chip, flexible
pavement, asphalt milling, truck rental,
brick and blockstone repairs, handicap
ramps, concrete slab replacement in CD
areas throughout the City of Pittsburgh, at
a cost not to exceed Fwe—Miltien Nine
Hundred—Sixty—One—Thousand—_Six

961 Two
Million One Hundred _ Sixty _ One
Thousand, Six Hundred__ Three
(S2,161,603.00), chargeable to and payable
from Fund 2610, Org. 400000, Sub-Class
C1999, Project 2239000, Budget Year
1999, Citywide Resurfacing, Department
of Public Works.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1638

Resolution providing for a
Contract or Contracts, or the use of
existing Contracts for renovation and
rehabilitation of war memorials at various
locations throughout the City of
Pittsburgh, at a cost not to exceed Sixty
Nine Thousand ($69,000.00) Dollars,
chargeable to and payable from Fund
5100, Org. 400000, Sub-Class PGHPR,
Project Number 2238450, Budget Year
1999, Department of Public Works.

Which was read.

The Chair:

883

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. President, I was not here last
week as you know but we did ask at one
point in the past for some type of
teasonable anticipated list of streets that
will be repaved and or asphalted by
whatever means. I have not received that
information yet. 1 don't expect that the list
when it is presented to Council that we
presume that each and every street will
necessarily be done given the weather, the
time, the capital program. But I would
like to at least have some reasonable
facsimile of a list of an anticipated streets
between now and late September, October
that we anticipate doing. So I would
Teiterate our request from Council that we
be provided that list, that is on Bills 1636
and 13637.

And on Bill 1638 I am pleased to
see, this is something we started a number
of years ago an allocation of some dollars
to maintain, clean or repair various veteran
monuments around the city. I have asked
though for a comprehensive list of what
public monuments and/or statues we have
around the city. I have yet to actually
receive that also. And I would hope that
we can see that so we prioritize particular
Tonuments. They're other groups in the
community that would also like to be
involved. I would ask that whatever is
done in this bill and that is Bill 1638 that
they work with the District Council
representative regarding the renovation or
tehabbing of veterans monuments and/or
statues.

Mr. Hertzberg:

SS OOO

Just to respond on the issue of
resurfacing _ streets. Deputy Mayor
Sirabella wants to present the status of that
list of streets 10 Council in a post agenda
meeting which will be next Friday on June
the fourth in the morning.

Mr. Ferlo:

I respect that, but that just means
it's now tumed into politics. We don't
need the Deputy Mayor to come here with
a political list. We spent hundreds of
thousands of dollars even though I voted
against it, presumably for a maintenance
street management infrastructure system
computerated dispatch, I don't know what
the hell it was called, but it never worked.
It was a waste of money.

Now I don't really want the deputy
Mayor knows nothing about the streets
other than like what we do that there is a
lot of complaints. I want a professional
here who knows about the streets, who has
reviewed the conditions of the streets, who
can restore some rhyme and reason and
prioritization as to what streets need to be
done in our respective districts and in what
order and by what method. Now if the
Deputy Mayor knows all that, great, he
will be very productive at the meeting.
We don't need a flack catcher here; we
don't need somebody who is going to
finesse this discussion.

There should be a Public Works
official here who is involved in the issue,
not a political operative of the Mayor.
That's not what we need for this
discussion.

The Chair:

884

I would also request I think I
believe we should at least see the list
before the meeting because I don't think
anybody knows their streets better than the
Councilmen.

Mr. Ferlo:

I hope the list doesn't get
determined by politics, like who has more
influence to get one street done. We were
supposed to have a decade long system of
some order and commonsense as it relates
to the condition of our streets. It shouldn't
be whoever has the biggest mouth up here
or Jim Ferlo harasses everybody we are
going to get a street done, is that the
message we are sending our constituents?
I thought we had a plan that evaluated the
conditions of the streets and added some
logical timetable and methodology as to
how streets are repaved or when they're
fixed or what have you.

We also urge this time that more
streets be graded and milled and properly
replaced instead of that crack sealant crap
that they are using and everything else. So
we need a Public Works person here. I
realize Mr. Tortorete unfortunately is no
longer with the city, but I hope that we're
going to have some people here not
someone who is going to deal with the --
with the kind of perception of politics of
this issue.

The Chair:

Mr. Hertzberg, are we going to
have the right people here from Public
Works?

Mr. Hertzberg:

This is Mr. Sirabella's idea. We

are going to need to ask him.
Mr. Ferlo:

The guy is a wonderful gentleman;
he's not the right person for this
discussion.

The Chair:

We will request if people from
Public Works --

Mr. Ferlo:

If he wants ‘to put some clothes on
and start doing paving, he can come. But
that's not the person I want here. Have the
work crews here, I will get a straight
answer from them.

The Chair:

We will request that. And also I
think it is a good idea of -- I believe it is a
good idea to have a list of the monuments.

Mr. Ferlo:

Call Mr. Bares, he does
everything else. Even though he does
garbage and he does everything. We are
going to blow eight million dollars and we
don't even know how we are prioritizing
the streets. That's a hell of a way to do
business.

The Chair:

Well, I think we will have the
opportunity next Friday.

Mr. Onorato:

If we could ask our Budget
Director to reconcile with the Finance

885

Director these two bills are changing the
total amounts. They're both showing the
reductions but there was discussion last
week I brought this up in reality it is
actually increasing it by $2 million out of
the General Fund. I read these bills and I
still have a hard time following it.

What we need though is the total
picture of all the money that is in asphalt.
There was originally 4.9. We allocated
four more million to it at one point, two
and then two to come. If they can
reconcile all of the money that is going
into this account just to make sure that
none of these bills are decreasing that total
that we moved over. I just want to make
sure that we're putting the proper amount
of money into asphalting.

Mr. Ferlo:

Just on that point, Mr. President, I
thought the CAFR Report presumably by
the Controller's Office although they
would not verify the numbers, maybe
Councilman Udin can speak about this. I
thought part of the deal was that if we
exceeded the two million, which I believe
the Controller says it is five million, then
we would have the administration's
commitment for the extra money. Do we
still have that agreement with them?

Mr. Onorato:
Thave it in writing.
Mr. Ferlo:

All nght.
The Chair:

So that's where the four million is
coming from.

OTN

Mr. Onorato:

My concem, if these two bills from
what we discussed last week, they decided
to take two million dollars from the
General Fund now. It is not the two
million dollars that we are referring to that
the CAFR would show which would be
the increase. So this movement would
actually take four million dollars from the
General Fund and if that’s the way they
want to do it, that's their call at this point
as long as the four million dollars gets to
the asphalt plant.

Mr. Ferlo:

Since this has now become a
political decision as to what streets are
getting done, I would encourage all of my
constituents to please call Deputy Mayor
Sal Sirabella at 255-2038 that is his direct
line. And please prevail upon him to get
your street done. Because we are no
longer going to do it based on science and
need. We're going to do it based on who
knows what. 255-2038 Deputy Mayor Sal
Sirabella.

The Chair:

I know one thing, the need is so
great. I don't know how you can play too
much politics. It is needed all over the
city, it is a tremendous embarrassment to
all of us.

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

886

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Ferlo
Mr. Hertzberg Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

Bills have received the legally required
number of votes and have passed finally.

MR. UDIN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1668:

Report of the Committee on Finance and
Budget for May 20, 1999, transmitting two
ordinances and one resolution to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 882:

An Ordinance amending the
Pittsburgh Code, Title I - Administration
Chapter 161 ~— Contracts, adding Section
161.32 — Pittsburgh Works!, by requiring a
certain percentage of all project work
hours to be performed by City of
Pittsburgh residents. (SPONSORED BY
MR. UDIN) (HEARING HELD
FEBRUARY 11, 1999 & FEBRUARY 25,
1999).

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1511:

An Ordinance supplementing the
Pittsburgh City Code, Title One:
Administrative, Article Eleven: Personnel,
by adding Chapter 186 to Recognize
Domestic Partnerships and Common Law
Marriage Relationships within the Context
of City Employment. --(SPONSORED
BY MR. COHEN & MR. FERLO)

Which was read.

Also,
Bill No. 1604:

Resolution providing for the
issuance of a $16,636.46 warrant in favor
of Noralco Corporation, 1920 Lincoln
Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15239, for additional
costs directly related to the repair and
rehabilitation of an unforeseen party wall
with the adjoining structure at 704-706
Second Avenue in completion of the
Demolition contract dated January 20,
1999, by and between the City Of
Pittsburgh, Bureau Of Building Inspection,
And Noralco Corporation for the razing of
the structure at 700 Second Avenue.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Mr. Udin:

Mr. President, conceming the bill
Pittsburgh Works, it is interesting that the
last discussion ended with a call to take
the politics out of street repaving because
that's exactly what has to happen with
Pittsburgh Works. There comes a time
when we must put politics aside and do

887

what is right for the citizens of this city
however unpopular it may be with certain
interest groups. And now is the time for
we the elected leaders of Council to stand
up for the citizens of this city.

We have been working over 24
months debating this issue. We have had
two public hearings. We have had two
special meetings of Council. The bill has
been amended in every way that it can be
amended to keep its integrity trying to
accommodate Council, trying to
accommodate the Solicitor, trying to
accommodate Mayor Murphy but now it is
time to decide we have to vote this bill up
or down today.

Pittsburgh Works is about fairness.
It's about putting unemployed and
underemployed Pittsburghers to work.
Some of the discussion around Pittsburgh
Works makes it appear as though
Pittsburgh Works is about minority
employment. There are a lot of working
class white Pittsburghers who are working
in hotels and hospitals and gas stations and
other minimum wage paying jobs who
deserve an opportunity to work in
construction just like people from the
suburbs. This is not a minority bill, it is a
bill for the residents of the City of
Pittsburgh.

Nothing is more fundamental than
the opportunity for a family to be able to
take care of itself, to earn a decent living
and to raise their children in a decent
home. In addition to that, no one has
fought the battle better for the families to
be able to provide a decent living for their
children than organized iabor.

My father worked in the laundry
workers union and worked in organized

EEO

labor was organized by Sam Beggley
(phonetic). All of my life coming up I
came up in a labor family. I have always
been a life long supporter of organized
labor and have supported their struggles
against management, but have also
struggled against instances in organized
labor where it was necessary to struggle
against racism and to struggle for equal
pay for equal rights for women. Organized
labor has won significant gains for
working families, for improved pay
benefits, working conditions. They have
also been a strong supporter of civil rights
movements and human rights movements.

But recently over the last 30 years
the demographics in this city has changed.
Many people have left the state all
together. The city has lost half its
population. Some of the people who have
left the city have moved to nearby suburbs
but they still work in the city. The
Controller’s Report and the benchmark
Teports disclose major discrepancies in
unemployment and in income when
comparing Pittsburgh to other cities and
when comparing African American
working families in Pittsburgh compared
to white working families in Pittsburgh.

Plan B and the construction of the
stadiums and the convention center and
other construction will be connected to it
held out a promise of opportunity for work
for those who are seeking work throughout
this city. But there are some who will now
turn their back on that promise and turn
their backs on the citizens and deny them
the opportunity for fair employment.
Those who have opposed Pittsburgh
Works have raised legal questions. We
have answered the legal questions and
Pittsburgh Works as it is currently
constituted poses no legal constitution

888

problems. So we can't hide behind legal
obfuscation any more. Those who
opposed it have raised questions of
implementation. Those questions have
been answered. They have raised
questions about other components in the
bill. The bill has been modified in order to
answer those questions but in essence the
only thing that will really answer the
satisfaction of opposition is just to kill
Pittsburgh Works. That is not going to
happen.

This last week has seen one of the
hardest hitting full court presses by
lobbying interest groups trying to get
Council to back off of Pittsburgh Works
that I have ever seen since I have been in
this Council. As I stated when I began
Mr. President, there comes a time when
elected leaders must put aside politics and
do what is right for the citizens of this city
even when it is unpopular with certain
interest groups. Now is that time and I
submit Pittsburgh Works for approval.

Mr. Ricciardi:

Thank you and thank you,
Mr. President and colleagues. Colleagues,
last week I went to great pains to show the
support that working men and women and
organized labor have with this legislative
body and with myself personally. Looking
back you can see a number of legislative
and policy initiatives that we have come
forward with. This legislative body has
supported each and every TIF. Each tax
incremental financing package that has
been brought before us meaning
development and jobs and good union
paying jobs.

This legislative body and myself
personally we supported the empowerment

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a SN

zone for Hazelwood even though there
were great concerns that were put forward
by the community. I personally supported
the EW campus moving to the
Southside Works. Something that was not
part of the Southside master plan but
something IBEW and myself and Mayor
Murphy thought was important for the
union for development of Plan B and for
the Southside.

Also we supported legislation
saying only domestic steel can be used in
each and every TIF project and only
domestic steel can be used for the
purchasing of vehicles here for the City of
Pittsburgh. We also supported legislation
saying that a collective bargaining
agreement has to be in place for the new
Fulton Hotel with developer. And I
personally have had opposition to the
housing on Southside Works because it
did not have a union component even
though that passed this body you don't see
housing being built in the Southside
without union component on the LTV site.
That's because I continue to work in the
background opposition to that.

Also the big one I think is very
important colleagues we have taken
$7 million out of our operating dollars and
directed that to the URA for development
fund. It was very difficult because of tight
financial constraints made it impossible.
But we realized that we needed
development, we realized that we needed
good paying jobs and union jobs and also
this body considered living wage
legislation very progressive on the cutting
edge and it came with four votes and I
think it will pass next year.

So in effect I think all of us and
hopefully me personally have always been

889

a big supporter of organized labor. But we
have a bill that needs sincere attention and
Councilman Udin eloquently detailed
some of those points. The audit brought
forward by Controller Tom Flaherty shows
that less than two workers per ten city, our
city residents on city jobs. City capital
jobs, big jobs. Jobs over two hundred
thousand benchmarks, economic
benchmarks throughout the year shows
that they're are pockets of poverty an
unemployment in the City of Pittsburgh. I
think I can take that a step forward. There
are neighborhoods, entire neighborhoods
that show a great degree of poverty and
unemployment here in the City of
Pittsburgh.

The thoughtful audit by Controller
Tom Flaherty talks about legislative
initiatives and actually recommends a
legislative initiative. And it talks about
employment requirements. There has been
an argument in the past brought forward
by one of my esteemed colleagues
believing that a residency requirement for
construction work here in the City of
Pittsburgh would be a hindrance. But the
Housing Authority did not witness any
type of negative impact when it has
requirements, residency requirements on
jobs that are done in our housing
community.

It did not have a negative impact
on competitive bidding, it did not have a
negative impact on the quality of work and
it did not stop contractors from coming
forward to bid on these particular jobs.
We have showed that we believe that
tesidency requirements are just and fair
and needed in the past. We have shown
that with our authorities, the Parking
Authority, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer
Authority, the Housing Authority, the
Urban Redevelopment Authority, the URA

een Eee

Authority all have residency requirements.
Matter of fact all of us I believe or most of
us have deprived. the policy with the
Pittsburgh School Board allowing 25
teachers in the City of Pittsburgh to leave
the City of Pittsburgh because of hardship
reasons. I think we have all found that a
failed policy.

Let's look at some of the past
projects. Let’s look at the demolition of
the Kelly Street apartments in Homewood.
Who is getting the job, a Detroit
Company. Let's look at demolition of
many of the structures on the North Side
now for Plan B. Who is getting the job an
out of state firm. Let's look at the
demolition and some of the work that is
going to be done at the Addison Terrace.
The reason I know about that they came to
the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority
looking for money. Who got the job, a
New York firm.

So I believe that workers, working
men and women in the City of Pittsburgh
also need to have that door opened and to
hopefully take advantage of some of these
good paying jobs. What is interesting if
you look at the drafts that have gone I
believe there are ten, the bill is very
manageable, it can work. And we're not
asking for a hundred percent, let’s look at
ten, we're not looking ten out of ten city
residents on a job. We're not looking for
nine or eight or seven or six not even five
or four. Where asking for one additional
laborer per ten that's all we're asking. Less
than two on a job now, 35% it's going to
increase it by one. That's all we're asking
for.

Matter of fact with all do respect to
the sponsor of the bill it is not going to
bring great employment to the City of

890

Pittsburgh because of the low percentage
but it is a start and it is something that I
think needs to progress. I am going to stop
my remarks now because J think any
further remarks will take away from the
presentation that Mr. Udin has brought
forward.

All the studies are there, the
economic benchmarks are there, the audit
by City Controller Tom Flaherty is there,
the past history of residency requirements
with the authorities and with the Housing
Authority is there. No negative impact
and I believe that this is a good bill for
working men and women in the City of
Pittsburgh and it is something that is cried
out for. Mr. Udin says it is not a bill that
is directly towards minorities alone and
that's true. It is for working or those that
would like to work, black and white, poor
and middle class, from the Southside to
the East End to the North Side. And
please keep in mind its only one additional
worker per ten on a job of $200,000 or
more. Thank you.

Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you Mr. President and
members of Council. My voting record
for the last twelve years on issues effecting
both labor and the community at large as
well as low income community,
disadvantaged community, special interest
advocacy groups whatever you want to
describe it as is a matter of public record.
I am not going to reiterate credentials to
speak now or have an opinion, which I am
elected to do.

My comments today are no
different than my comments I have made
twice before over the last three weeks,
regarding this bill. I will reiterate the fact

that I will be supportive of a residency
requirement if it is appropriately crafted
ordinance. I do not believe and I will not
support the bill as it is presently written
today. I made that clear twice before in
discussions. If the bill proceeds today I
will respectfully have to abstain from the
bill.

A majonity of colleagues including
two of my colleagues who I believe
supported the bill in committee session
last week unless there is a change of
position the bill that is before us today is
broader. It is inclusive of construction
related activity and projects that are not
necessarily funded primarily from City of
Pittsburgh tax dollars, be it the capital
fund or the community block grant Federal
dollars that we receive. There are a large
number of construction projects and
certainly much of the anticipation through
the Public Hearing process has been the
presumption that this will guarantee a
residency requirement and intervention by
the city in creating job opportunities for so
called Plan B activity. Be it the expanded
new convention center or the construction
of the stadia football and baseball.

The majority of colleagues have
specifically stated along with myself that
we did not think that was fair, appropriate
and that it was a mistake to be so parochial
as we try to build not only the city but the
Tegion. That is to say that it is not
appropriate at least in my view to impose a
strict residency requirement on projects
that are primarily funded from taxpayers
who create income both at the state level,
at the county level, to the regional asset
district through the state tax commitment
and contribution of the Ridge
administration. I don't think it's fair and
appropriate that we impose a residency

891

requirement where we are a very minor
player albeit that we are host to the
construction project. I don't think it is fair
to other residents throughout Allegheny
County and through South Western
Pennsylvania whose incomes have been
used to generate well for this construction
activity. I do not believe that we should
shut the door or require the residency
requirement that is currently crafted by
Councilman Udin.

So I will not vote for that language
that is in the bill today. I thought that
there would be a lack of attendance today.
I see Councilwoman McDonald is here to
her credit, she had another meeting that
she had to be at. I do not have the written
amendments today and { am_ sure
Councilman Udin is loath to hear any
notion of yet an additional round of
amendments and I certainly am
sympathetic and respect that. But I will
prior to a final vote either today or next
week, next Wednesday if the bill does
have the majority and is either
recommitted or to table, I will continue to
work and suggest various amendments that
I think are needed.

I also stated last week that I will
not support any bill that creates dissention
or division among the organized labor
community whether it is the building
construction trades in particular or any
bonafide union in the City of Pittsburgh. I
am not going to support a clamor that
some how we have the have’s and have
not’s and the focus has to be that it is the
Union versus those that also want to work.
I want to create opportunities both for
unionized family members and workers
and trades people and I don't want that to
be in conflict with our obligation to
increase opportunity for those who have

eee

not benefited from the economic uptum in
this economy. Clearly we have a problem.

I think Councilman Udin has
eloquently stated, I think much
information has been provided to this
Council through Public Hearings and our
own outreach and our own respective
neighbors. It is clear that we have a
glaring situation where disproportionately
the City of Pittsburgh residents have not
benefited fully from the economy that we
have to take a measure. That is why I
believe in some type of residency
requirement. I also believe that if we are
going to expand an intervention of a
residency requirement into areas where we
have supplied a TIF or a tax increment
financing, or where we are doing land
assembly or where we are minor playing
and other sectors are involved, I think it is
equally fair to talk about post employment.

I think that is perfectly appropriate
before final action on this bill that we be
concemed not only on the issue of
temporary short term construction
employment, but that if we are going to
intervene I have more residents in my
council district that are equally concemed
about post employment opportunities at
business that we have provided millions of
dollars to even more so than the
construction trades industry itself. I think
that is a legitimate issue that if we are
going to craft an appropriate bill, I think
we need to continue to debate and hone in
on that issue. I would offer specific
amendments if provided the opportunity
by next Wednesday if the bill were to be
recommitted.

Secondly, I do not believe and I am
hot going to cast a criticism as to why
there was lack of attendance at any given
meeting. But I do think it is important that

892

the building construction trades unions and
or the masters builders group themselves
are prepared to further commit advocacy
outreach recruitment for apprenticeships
that I think we should take them up on that
offer. I think the administration has begun
to work on that process as well as Director
Parees. But I hope that we also can
become a player in that to intervene in that
process along with the community
representatives that are here today. I
believe we should at least have one
Opportunity where if we have to meet in
the Mayor's conference room fine. But, I
think we should provide an opportunity for
that discussion to happen with the trade
representatives that are here today so we
can more specifically focus in on
commitments for apprenticeships some of
which started a couple months ago with
the recruitment at the convention center. I
believe there are some further activities
planned in the months of June and July.

I would like to continue to exhaust
that initiative and that opening that we
have now and I don't think we have fully
done that. I think abruptly voting on this
bill today would close the window on that
opportunity.

Ms. McDonald:

I don't know if the votes are here.
Let's cut to the chase it looks like there are
four. I think that this Pittsburgh Works
legislation, the substance of it, the spirit of
it we need this in Pittsburgh, we need this
in Pittsburgh. Personally I don't want to
let it die here on a split vote. I would
personally prefer to recommit it if
Councilman Ferlo as well as others that he
feels possibly can be enjoined to get
something going. Right now if this were
not recommitted if this failed and this
would be put forth on a referendum, I

would like to please revisit the civilian
review board process. That was not an
easy process, and it came close to all
Council members, it came close that we
didn't even have the number of signatures
needed to put it on a referendum.

Yeah we had 18,000 or more going
in but after it was whittled down which
you think signatures won't be whittled
down in a referendum, I don't like to go
play games like this. 1 think the media
would love it but I personally don't. I
think we need a good piece of legislation
that is going to be effective for the City of
Pittsburgh for residents all residents. This
is too important. I don't want to gamble,
not with this one.

Again if votes are not there I would
prefer Councilman Ferlo if you have an
amendment that would make this passable,
that will not water it down any further than
what it is because believe me it is indeed
very much so watered down. In fact
people are very disenchanted with the fact
that it is so watered down already and
Councilman Udin has had to accept
amendments and concessions and
compromises in working with people in
dialogue and he's frustrated. I don't blame
him, I am frustrated, but I guarantee you
he's probably the most frustrated at the
table as sponsor of this bill.

But the bottom line, if we cut
through all the emotion, all the anxiety and
frustration there is a spirit about the bill
that we need to have legislative for the
City of Pittsburgh. And yes it maybe
watered down but I may want a steak but if
Tam hungry enough I will accept a hot dog
until] can get that steak. So I would rather
have something than nothing. And if we
go through a very tedious agonizing

893

process of a referendum or any other kind
of way of forcing the issue we maybe
talking about six months to a year or more
and then a lot of us have missed the boat,
missed the boat.

So I would rather have something
move forward. 1 don't know what
amendments Councilman Ferlo has. I
don't even know what the other Council
members have. I don't even know if the
unions would find some kind of way of
working with this of massaging it to make
so that there is something doable. I don't
know but right now I am_ very
uncomfortable with letting it die. And
going through the motions of the
agonizing process of a possible
referendum. I would rather recommit and
try. I think it is too important to
Councilman Udin, I think this is so you
utterly important all the work you put in,
all the work that people have put in, all the
support you have had it is just too
important to let it go at this time. The city
needs this. And if it takes another week, if
it takes another month, fine. I would
rather agonize that way in massaging it
and making it doable this way at least we
will have something on the table by the
end of this year as compared to some other
process where we don't know where that's
going to go.

Mr. Cohen:

Thank you. I think as difficult as
this is for many of us and I am certain for
the sponsor Councilman Udin I think
recommittal maybe in order here. [
supported this bill on Wednesday with my
aye vote and I certainly support the spirit
behind the bill because of the tremendous
disparity of employment in the City of
Pittsburgh. At the same time I made clear

See

on Wednesday and the Wednesday prior
and I think prior to that that I do not
believe that it should apply to Plan B
construction really for the same reason that
Councilman Ferlo stated. Although there
is the additional reason which is that City
Council just does not have authority over
the Public Auditorium Authority or any
other authority and city funds are not
going directly to Plan B.

So that I frankly thought was going
to be resolved between the Wednesday's
meeting and today’s meeting and I see that
that has not been done. I would like to see
that resolved before moving forward with
this as the definition in the bill the
describes it is still-- it certainly can be
interpreted to mean that it would apply to
Plan B funding. I don't think that is
appropriate because no city dollars are
going into Plan B funding and because this
City Council does not have authority over
the Auditorium Authority and just from
my perspective that needs to be resolved.

That aside I do think that the bill is
a positive step forward and frankly will
help to close the gap of employment that
we have in the City of Pittsburgh and that's
something that is just a crucial thing that
we need to do to move this city forward.
When we have projects, capital projects in
the city, we have to make sure that
everybody, everybody is eligible for those
projects.

The Chair:

I want to echo I have been meeting
with Mr. Ferlo the last two days, the labor
leaders. I can’t support the bill as it is
written. But I want to commend Mr. Udin.
He probably has us on second base, you're
talking about jobs. I have a problem we

are targeting labor and construction jobs
only. If you look at labor jobs I got a call
yesterday trying to help a young man get
one of these labor jobs. When I called him
he didn’t pass the test. He's a good friend
of mine, his son. For these labor
construction jobs I believe we need better
recruiting, better education, more training
we have transportation issues, and ever
since this bill came up I have been meeting
with labor and they are willing to open
their doors, they are willing to hire
apprentices to start the programs. So no
matter what happens from here on, they
have that commitment but I believe they
have to come to the table as Mr. Ferlo said
I have been in every one of your meetings
we have sat through them I believe labor
has to be there.

But I think we're missing the big
picture here. I want to commend you for
what you are doing now but what about
the Lazarus jobs, we put $48 million of
public money into Lazarus and does
anyone in this room know how many jobs
are Pittsburgh jobs? Anyone? When we
first started the Lazarus discussion three,
four years ago and Mr. Ferlo was probably
the first to do it, Mr. Onorato every one of
you we want to hire Pittsburghers.
Everyone who came to the table asking us
for a TIF we say yes, we are going to hire
Pittsburghers. How many is Mellon
hiring? PNC? ALCOA? Does any one
have an idea? No. We have nothing, no
commitment. These are trained and
probably in a couple of months a young
person or an older person can be trained to
work a computer, to work at the bank, to
work at Lazarus, with the basic training
just like these three young ladies I had in
here before. They're ready to go to work at
Kane Hospital with a small training
program.

cn
ss 8

Unfortunately they're not getting in
our Pittsburgh Public Schools, we're
asking these construction jobs or any
where from two to five years and that's
great. Let's put people into the program
and I will hold labor here and they have
committed to open their doors and put
apprentices on, I am all for that and they
are. Let's hold them to a number and let's
find and recruit the right people that can
do those jobs. But we're missing the big
picture if we're going to have total
employment in Pittsburgh.

We have a TIF study coming up
right now which Council has approved.
We will be finalizing it now with CMU to
discuss TIF's and where they're going. I
think a big part of that has to be if you are
going to accept a TIF how are you going to
put Pittsburghers to work? How are we
going to train them and where are you
going to recruit them? We have a big job
ahead of us. I think Mr. Udin to your
credit you have done a lot of hard work
and I don't believe anyone wants to close
the door on your initiative, but it is a
bigger picture than just construction jobs.
I say that with respect.

My parents are union people, I am
a union person, every one in this room has
probably worked a union job. But there is
a greater bigger picture out there that will
open opportunities for everyone and I don't
think we should just target one industry
with this Pittsburgh Works. If Pittsburgh
is going to work, everyone should be apart
of it. Plan B already, Mr. Cohen, is out the
door.

We have missed the opportunity
for Plan B. Don't kid yourself media.
There is not one job here for Plan B with

895

$500,000,000 that has nothing to do with
construction. How about all the ticket
jobs, all the jobs are there, they are not
available. So this bill is very important to
all of us to do more than just that. I will
leave the final word for Mr. Udin.

Mr. Udin:

Well I am afraid it may not be the
final word. 1 hope no children are
watching television. You know people say
that there are two things you don't want to
see getting made that's sausage and
legislation.

Michael] Jackson perfected a dance
called the Moonwalk. It is a dance step
that is swift backward motion while
appearing to be going forward. And
obviously Michael Jackson is not the only
one who can do a good Moonwalk.

Lip service is being given to
interest in the residents of the city while at
the same time the opportunity to actually
do something concrete for the residents of
the city is being Moonwalked. We have
had debate on this issue for over 24
months. There is no amendment that
could not have been thought of and
brought forward during that time. The
only thing that is being sought now by
efforts to recommit are amendments that
will neuter this bill entirely. Because that's
the only thing that will resolve some of the
irreconcilable differences that exist with
some of the building trades leadership that
you have been in discussion with for the
last 48 hours or the last week or the last
several weeks. It will not be resolved.

Sometimes we can't slide through
the middle, Mr. President. Sometimes we
have to stand up for residents that vote us

TESCO

into office. Sometimes we have to tell our
friends and special interests groups
sometimes indeed we even have to tell the
union leadership no. No. No. We are
going to stand up with the residents who
voted us into office.

I am not willing to support
Tecommittal of this bill. I had also been
inclined rather than to have the bill
defeated, I was inclined to table the bill. I
will not do that either. I think the residents
of this city need to see straight on who
supports them and who is doing the
Moonwalk. I will not recommit this bill. I
will not support a recommittal. There are
no amendments that will strengthen this
bill. The only amendments that are being
brought forward or that people seek to
bring forward are bills that will de-neuter
this bill.

I will not be apart of it. Vote it up
or down. Stand with the people or don't
stand with them but I am not interested in
not one other week of discussing
amendments that are not in the interest of
fair opportunity for the residents of this
city. So let the people speak.

If you don't want to stand with the
people, vote it down, vote no. The people
will speak. There are ways for the people
to speak when their elected leaders refuse.
There are ways to make it happen. It will
be on the referendum and the people will
speak. And I think you know and I know
and the unions know exactly how they will
speak. They will speak in their own
interests even when these elected leaders
will not. Vote the bill right now.

Mr. Ferlo:

Thank you, Mr. President. I am
going to sit on my emotions right now and

896

try to focus in on the bill. Unless my
colleagues and the majority have changed
their mind, I want a clearer understanding
of what we think we're voting for.

Now I have said from the
beginning that J support a residency
Tequirement. I believe that we have a right
legally and morally to introduce a
residency requirement but I believe it is
the best public policy to do that on tax
dollars that are directly funding projects in
the City by city taxpayers. I do not believe
that the large number of development
projects including the three that I
mentioned of the stadia and the convention
center expansion deserve or that it is
appropriate for the city, this Council right
now to vote on a bill that would extend the
residency requirements as drafted in this
ordinance to those projects. I believe the
bill as it is worded presently does that.

Now maybe some of my colleagues
who say that they don't want it to be
inclusive of that, maybe they're reading it
differently and I am welcome to hear their
comments on that. Or maybe they have
sincerely changed their mind and that is
great and I respect that. But I want to
make it clear that I believe that it is
inappropriate, I also think it is bad public
policy. I don't think the parochialism is
appropriate and I think in the end it will
prove to be counter-productive. I think
there will be a backlash by regional
supporters of this city. 1 think it will be
divisive to our approach of the state
legislature in getting other funding for
projects in this city. We
disproportionately in the city because we
are host of these major projects will make
out like a bandit after they are completed.
We will get six to eight million dollars in
increased general operating revenue to a

badly struggling
increased taxation.

city budget from

The worse thing I can think that
can happen is to be so parochial as to have
a backlash from the state legislature or
others who would say well fine Pittsburgh
then we are going to let the whole county
share from the revenues that are going to
be generated from this construction
activity. I don't want to see that happen.

I think we need to go back with the
administration and legislature to work on
various issues infecting the city budget. I
am not supporting that level of
parochialism. I don't think it is
appropriate, I don't think it is fair and in
the end I think it is going to be
counterproductive. I do support the rest of
the intent of the residency if it is extended
to the capital operating budget, the capital
bond funds which are city tax dollars and
the city's $29 million plus Community
Development Block Grant of federal
dollars that we get to target the city
revenues. I believe we should extend it to
that and at this point to that only.

I also think it is inappropriate as a
matter it is not popular obviously in this
room but I think it is inappropriate to tum
our backs on a cooperative relationship
that we can build with the representatives
of the building construction trades union.
Some of them are here today and others in
the master builder group. I think we
should not provide an opportunity to turn
our backs on those folks. I think to the
extent that we can gamer from them
increased cooperation, | think it will result
in more meaningful, lasting employment
in the construction trade short term to the
extent that we can further modify the bill
to took at residency requirements for post

897

employment. I strongly believe we should
continue to work and hone in on that
aspect of the bill.

If we are going to msh to
judgment, however my colleagues feel that
he's exhausted public debate and I can see
that there has been lengthy public debate
albeit ten different versions of the bill then
I will have to abstain on the bill today.

Mr. Udin:

On the bill I don't want this bill
distorted. Giving 65 percent of the jobs in
this city to people who do not live in this
city can hardly be described as
parochialism. That is not parochialism.
Adding one additional job for every ten
can hardly be described as parochialism.
That's nonsense. If we only limit the
construction projects that are only funded
with city bond dollars as Mr. Ferlo
suggests that would only apply to
two percent, two percent of the dollars that
are appropriated in the 1999 capital budget
because no longer are projects only funded
by capital dollars. That is just not way the
construction projects are funded.

They're funded by a complex
financial plan that involves federal dollars,
state dollars, county dollars, private
dollars. City tax dollars are put together
with other funding dollars to make projects
happen. That's the way it happens now
and for the city residents to be relegated
only to two percent of the jobs that are
funded by the capital budget is to deny
them fair opportunity at all. So that is not
supporting the city residents. It is denying
them the opportunity to work.

Now the Three Rivers Stadium, the
City of Pittsburgh residents bailed out

—_VoSaSa—Njk€okeO*lqTwTCoOoOoo

Three Rivers when Three Rivers was no
longer able to pay its debt service from
revenue generated by Three Rivers. We
bailed, the city taxpayers bailed out the
Pittsburgh Pirates. The city taxpayers are
now being asked to bail out the Pittsburgh
Penguins. When you look at the
ownership of PNC Park, and the Steeler
Stadium, the ownership is being kept in
public hands so that it can be kept tax
exempt so that the Steelers and Pirates
don't have to pay taxes on it. That's a
contribution by the taxpayers of this city,
That's a contribution now we're talking
about selling them the land that surrounds
the stadiums in order for them to develop
more business enterprise in addition to the
stadiums. That is a contribution by the
residents of this city.

The infrastructure that will be built
around these stadiums, the streets, the
water sewers, the water treatment, all of
that is contributions by residents of this
city to these projects. The city services,
that will accompany these projects, the
snow removal, the sanitation, the police
service, the fire services, all of that is
contribution by city taxpayers to these
projects and you are going to tell me now
that the city taxpayers don't have major
investments in this. The city taxpayers are
bearing the burden, the lions share of the
burden in these projects, and they should
have a right to fair employment and not be
relegated to two percent of the capital
budget.

Mr. Onorato:

Let me just have some brief
comments. I agree with Councilman Udin
on one point and that is there aren't any
amendments that I see coming forward
that is going to change the way I vote and I

898

am going to be a no vote today and I am
going to explain why. The one thing that I
have not been afraid to do here and I will
continue to do that is to vote and explain
why. And to the taxpayers of the City of
Pittsburgh I honestly believe that while the
goals we'te trying to achieve are great
goals, this bill won't get us there.

What I look at when I see this bill
is parochialism for the City of Pittsburgh
and at a time when it is the worst thing we
can possibly do. We should not be
relegated to just two percent, we should
not be relegated to 35 percent or any
percentage. If the percentages are small in
the Controller’s Report but we have to
work to get those numbers up and there is
way to do it. I don't think this bill does it.
I think a residency requirement is the
worst think we can possibly do for the
residents of the City of Pittsburgh at this
time because in the long run it is going to
put us at a competitive disadvantage.
While every one of us might hate the fact
of federal or public dollars goes to private
enterprises, it is a fact of life. We lost
Kaufmann’s Warehouse on the North Side
to a facility in Ohio that was 100 percent
financed by the state.

We decided to get into the game
and deal with some of these larger
corporations not just the Pirates and the
Steelers. We are doing it with TIF
financing all across the city, but the
problem that I have with the residency
requirement is ] am looking towards a
future. What happens when we start doing
the 3 TIF's, the three (inaudible) are doing
a TIF for the Homestead Works, and they
are doing major development right across
from your district Mr. O'Connor, across
the bridge? 1 don't want a residency
Tequirement in Homestead. I want to be

able to have a shot at those jobs if I am a
city resident.

What about this airport corridor?
The problem is transportation. I will be
the first to support funding and I will say it
today to get transportation to that airport
and to get city residents to those jobs out
there. The fact of the matter is seven years
ago Councilman Udin was absolutely right
the City of Pittsburgh was bearing the
burden of these regional assets. But the
regional assets district, which is a county
sales tax bailed the City of Pittsburgh out.
It's that simple. It took over the Zoo, it
took over Phipps, its took over the Aviary,
it took over Three Rivers Stadium debt. It
took over the financing of Plan B along
with states financing. We're’ in this
together. We're in this with Homestead,
we're in this with Bellevue, we're in this
with Ross, no matter where you look.

We are all county residents paying
that RAD tax. We're also are state
residents paying that tax and while the
controller's report showed 16% and I am
not happy with that number, that's a
disgrace that number. But what it doesn't
show and I don't know the answer and
maybe we can get this, where do the
majority of the residents that are paying
our wage tax where are they working?
We're are the other jobs they are working?
Is every single person working in the City
of Pittsburgh? How many of our residents
work outside the city? I don't know that
answer; I would like to find out. I am not
talking construction. I am just talking
anywhere. We're do we work?

It’s so complicated in this day of
economics of how we fund projects
between the public sector participating
either the state the county, with the private

899

sector participating be it a TIF be it a bond
issue. You just don't know exactly where
all the pieces are coming from and you
can’t really pin point any more that the
City of Pittsburgh put X amount of dollars
in here because the bottom line on Plan B
is that the City of Pittsburgh is a big
winner. Regardless of where you stand on
Plan B if you are for it or against it, the
assets are in our municipality. They're
ending up in the City of Pittsburgh and any
spin-offs of hotels are going to happen in
the City of Pittsburgh.

Just like the airport has been a
boom for Beaver County and for that
whole corridor out there, Plan B is going
to do that here and we benefit from that.
And sure J want the residents of Pittsburgh
to work and there are ways to do that. We
pay for transportation of these sites. We
make sure that barriers don't get put up in
other municipalities that way they can't
work or there are numbers the caps. And
more importantly, we have to start
focusing looking at Conley Trade School,
looking at the other trade schools and
make sure that they are educating and
producing the right results. So that we can
produce 600, 700 to a thousand young
people, black and white, going to the
testing sites of all these areas and making
sure they are passing those.

We do it on the front end we can
make sure that Pittsburgh participates in
all these jobs. But if you start tying it to
financing, in the long run it is going to
come back to bite us because if you look at
the numbers City of Pittsburgh is a very,
very small percent of the public financing
of Plan B by ourselves. We participate as
county residents, we participate as state
residents and we are all in this together
when it comes to financing a lot of these

—— eee

projects. I would hate to see ten years
from now that there are 132 residency
requirements throughout Allegheny
County and we're doing more work
calculating, the accounting of how many
percentage of people working where as
opposed to growing this region.

Mr. Cohen:

1 would like to propose an
amendment and also propose to move to
waive the rules requiring that the
amendment be in writing and that
amendment saying the following. That
this legislation shall not apply to the
construction of PNC Park, Steelers
Stadium and the expansion of the David
Lawrence Convention Center.

Mr. Udin:

You might as well just kill the
legislation. What is the point of voting on
it? Let's just kill the legislation.

Mr. Cohen:

Councilman, from the very
beginning what I have said is 1 don't
believe that this should apply to Plan B
funding because there are not city funds
that contribute to Plan B funding. I have
said that four weeks ago, three weeks ago,
two weeks ago, last week but that I can
support this if it applies to city projects, all
city projects, funded projects. And I think
that there is a majority on Council, maybe
Iam wrong, that believes that this should
not apply to Plan B funding because of it
being both city and county.

I also wear two hats I sit on the
Public Auditorium Authority and I can't be
inconsistent in those votes. I can support

this bill if it did not apply to Plan B
funding. Which is what | have said many
times in the past and I would like to
Propose to waive the rules requiring
written amendments and propose that
amendment.

MR. FERLO seconded the motion for
discussion.

Mr. Udin:

The reason why I was willing to
delay the discussion, Councilman Cohen,
on this matter is because J think it deserves
much more in depth analysis of what the
city participation is in those regional
funds. And if the city participation is
significant, then Pittsburghers should have
the opportunity to work on Plan B funds or
on Plan B projects. So I was willing to
pass this legislation without being certain
at the time that whether or not it applies to
Plan B.

But your amendment would
exclude opportunity for working on the
stadiums just because they're other funds
involved in the stadium financing other
than Pittsburgh funds. Pittsburghers are a
part of the region. Pittsburghers are apart
of the county. Pittsburghers are part of the
state and Pittsburghers are part of the
Federal government. We contribute to all
of those tax bases. So when those tax
bases come back to Pittsburgh residents,
that's not money that they're receiving
from charity that's their own tax money
coming back to them in the form of
revenue sharing. So the Pittsburgh
residents have a substantial stake in Plan B
and it would be wrong to exclude them
from the opportunity to work on Plan B
because it is funded by other sources.

eee
Soe

I think that the bill that woutd limit
the amendment, that would limit this
legislation to projects other than those
projects that are funded in the so-called
Plan B, the stadium, the Pirates stadium,
the Steelers stadium and the Convention
Center is totally uncalled for and would
eliminate any effectiveness of Plan B at
all. What have you got left? Then all you
have left is Mr. Ferlo's amendment, which
is two percent of the capital budget.

Mr. Onorato:

On the amendment, I have to vote
no on the amendment because it implies
that we want a residency requirement on
what is left. I have to agree with
Councilman Udin on this point; I am not
for the residency requirement with that
amendment or without that amendment.
The point here is there should be no
number. If the number of city residents on
these jobs goes above the 35 percent that is
great. I don't want to give a percentage
that we are putting a cap or a floor on how
many city residents should go. They
shouldn't be tied to how we calculate the
public financing because we are county
residents, and we are state residents. If we
end up with 50% of the employment
because we do it right on the front end and
get our people to apply for these jobs
passing these tests, which we can do, I
believe we can do it and the transportation
that is needed.

1 don't want a cap, I don't want a
number. I want to go for the most we can
get and do it on the right end of it. I think
either with that amendment or without the
amendment, we are talking about numbers
and it sends the wrong signal from this
municipality and we shouldn't be talking
about a fixed number.

901

Mr. Cohen:

There is a motion and a second on
the floor.

Ms. McDonald:

Just because of the principle,
Councilman Cohen, I appreciate you trying
to, I know you are trying very desperately
too. But again it goes back to the point
that we're not ready to discuss
amendments or changes of any kind on
this piece of legislation until we have had
time to seriously sit down and think of
what amendments or what do you want do
with this. We may come back and it still
may be voted down. I don't know but at
least I would like to give it at least another
shot. I am not tired of discussing it to all
of you all. I am not tired of discussing. I
would like to continue to discuss it and
Massage it or whatever. I have said it
before and I will say it again it is not time
for the amendments. I would rather go for
a recommittal.

Council President Bob O'Connor,
would you vote for a recommittal on this
legislation? The motion is on the floor.
We will do that. I am going to make a
motion for recommittal because again this
legislation belongs to Pittsburgh and
therefore we should it is incumbent upon
all of us to do whatever is necessary to see
if we can get more Pittsburghers back to
work. I don't know how that's going to
look as a final outcome. But I do know —
excuse me I appreciate that. On the
motion -- I still have the floor thank you.
But there are women who go into the labor
24 hours, they don't get tired after ten and
say woo I am tired. I am going to stop. It
doesn't work that way. If you really want

ONES

to get something done you cannot tire. It
is called perseverance.

I am willing to persevere. I am
willing to recommit it. I am willing to
discuss it some more and some more and
some more until we get something done. 1
think we do -- we're close to it. This is
probably one of the biggest pieces of
legislation that we have had. So it is going
to take sometime and it is going to be
agonizing. It is going to be tiring. But
again 1 am not going to vote for that
amendment in due respect Councilman
Cohen, again I do appreciate your efforts
but I would rather recommit so I will be
voting no on the amendment.

Mr. Cohen:

I will withdraw my motion. I can
count no’s. I withdraw my motion and in
favor of a motion to recommit.

Ms. McDonald:

Motion to recommit.
Mr. Ricciardi:

Discussion.

Mr. President, I have never ever
been disrespectful to this body. However,
I have also been around nine years. And I
have seen the process in dynamics in the
past. It’s time to vote on this bill. I totally
disagree with my colleague, Valerie
McDonald. It is not a question of
perseverance, it is not a question of
revisiting this bill. Councilman Udin has
been bantering this bill for two years. We
have gone through ten drafts. We have
gone through Public Hearings, we have
gone to talking in the hallways, we have

902

gone to Committee Sessions, we have
discussed this bill. I know the process
here. The only reason that this bill would
be recommitted is to run for cover. The
only reason this bill would be recommitted
is to posture on as many sides as you can.
This side, this side, this policy this
principle.

I will say one thing for our friend
right now, Mr. Onorato, I always know
where Dan stands. Always. And I
complement him on that. But let's face it,
we should vote for this bill up or down or
even worse, even a worse scenario is to
recommit this bill and further water it
down to only include less than two percent
of the projects that are happening out
there. I can tell you about 30th Street in
the Southside it has more than city funds.
They're state and Federal funds there. I
mean let's be honest with each other. Let's
either vote up or down. If you vote for the
bill, great. If you vote against the bill, I
believe are you are voting on principle. 1
believe that you really are opposed to the
bill. But let's vote.

It is something that I believe we
owe this responsibility to the taxpayers, to
people for or against this bill. I have seen
the dynamics before and let's not go
through those hoops. Vote for the bill or
vote against the bill. I am asking you to
vote against recommittal. Let's get on with
the business of this Council.

Mr. Ferlo:

I think I want to speak to that
policy also. I would like to know how
many private meetings have taken place
where out of state and non-city contractors
and consultants have been discussed for
work with Plan B? Maybe someone could

——
oe

answer that question for me.
Mr. Ricciardi;

Tam sorry is that directed towards

me? J have no idea what you're talking
about.
Mr. Udin:

Call the question.
The Chair:

On the vote, on the recommittal?
Mr. Ricciardi:

Is there a recommittal on the table?
The Chair:

Was there a second on the
recommittal?
Mr. Ricciardi:

Can I ask who made the

recommittal motion? Was it Valerie
McDonald? Ms. McDonald, I sat through
the Committee Session last week and you
sat silent. I listened to you very closely
today and you did not argue for the merits
of the bill or against the bill. ] am asking
you to please withdraw your recommittal
and let's move on with this bill.

Ms. McDonald:

To simply respond I have argued
vociferously before on the bill. The reason
I sat silent on the bill is I think I have
made myself clear time and time again. I
was ready to vote for it. I have been on
board and been on board and been on

903

board, until I have one, two, three, four,
and the only comments | basically made
was the entity that would be a resource
center and Councilman Udin respected
that wish and took that out of the final
draft in respect for my concems about that.

So the reason I sat silent is because
I tried not to -- 1 mean public -- I would
think the public sometimes gets tired of
listening to the same thing over and over
and over and over again. I have said my
comments, they know where I stand.
That's why I sat silent. I was ready to vote.
Why I am saying what I am saying now is
because I do believe in the spirit of the
bill. I am tired of the emotions and the
politics and all the game playing. I really
want to see something happen for
Pittsburgh. I am very sincere about that. I
am not ready to do a political game and we
will stand on principle. I appreciate that.

Most of the time, in fact all of the
time I stand on principle. But there is a
time that you have to get what you can get
and sometimes you have to take that
pridematic approach and this is my way of
saying pridematically can we get
something going on here? And that's all I
really want is something to go on. That is
the reason for the recommittal. It's not to
do against the principle. It’s not to
disrespect, it is just that I look at this
legislation and all the work that went into
it by Councilman Udin as well as many
people that have supported this legislation,
that is what I am looking out for, is the
people who support it. I have no personal
gain on this. I am not going to work ona
construction site. But I would like to see
others. I would like to see more
Pittsburghers work on the site. But if the
recommittal fails, I am ready to vote aye
on the legislation.

SS O_O,

Mr. Udin:

1 would just want to speak again
against the recommittal because 1 am
absolutely certain that I have not heard
either informally or formerly any
amendments discussed that would be
acceptable as far as I am concemed as the
sponsor of the legislation. The only
amendments that are being discussed are
amendments yet yes they will make the
union leadership happy, but they will kill
this bill. They will kill this bill. There are
no amendments out there to be discussed
in a recommittal that will keep the
integrity of this bill. They do not exist.

If those who have amendments
think that they have some amendments
that will keep the integrity of this bill, let's
here them right now. And then we will
tecommit. I will support a vote of
recommittal if I could just hear somebody
say what it is that they want to amend this
bill to that will keep the integrity of this
bill. It does not exist. The only
amendments are amendments that will kill
this bill. And so therefore there is no point
in recommitta] let the people see who
stands with them and who does not. Let's
vote this bill up or down right now.

Mr. Ferlo:
Motion to withdraw my second.
Ms. McDonald:

Motion to withdraw

recommittal.

The Chair:

Any more discussion? This does

904

include the stadiums as I am reading it.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Ms. McDonald Mr. Ricciardi
Mr. Udin
NOES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Hertzberg Mr. Onorato
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ferlo abstained on the bill because
with the residency requirement he
cannot support the bill as it is drafted.)

Bill has not received the legally
required number of votes, the bill is
defeated.

Mr. Udin:

There is a related ordinance being
circulated for proposal directing the
Allegheny County Board of Elections to
place before the qualified voters of the
City of Pittsburgh a referendum question
which would amend the Pittsburgh Code,
Title 1, Administration, Chapter 161
Contracts. Adding Section 161.33
Pittsburgh Works. Requiring a certain
percentage of all project work hours on
certain City of Pittsburgh construction
contracts to be performed by City of
Pittsburgh residents and providing for
enforcement, due process and penalties for
violations. It is a motion.

Mr. Ferlo:

Point of order. J am just trying to
get a point of order clarifying what the

intent is? If it is a new bill is being
introduced --
Mr. Udin:

The intent of the bill, this

ordinance that you have before you is to
have Council authorize the elections
department to put Pittsburgh Works on
referendum ballot.

Mr. Ferlo:

As a matter of procedure, I would
respectfully ask that the rules be
suspended so that our colleague can
submit this as an official ordinance, which
could have been done or should have been
done under presentations. I respect the
fact that he's doing it now, but J think
procedurally it should be introduced as an
ordinance.

MR. UDIN moved to suspend the rules.
MR. RICCIARDI seconded the motion.
The Chair:

Discussion?

Mr. Ferlo:

I think the Chairman or any
individual is free to submit an ordinance. |
think our colleague should submit the
ordinance, It should be held if he wants to
waive Rule 8, we will waive Rule 8 and
we have to follow a procedure here.

Mr. Udin:

No, I am trying -- my intention is

90S

to vote this bill up immediately.
Mr. Ferlo:

We can't.
just --

My point of order is

Mr. Udin:
Who is chairing this meeting?
Mr. Ferlo:

Point of order, Mr. President. My
point of order is under Roberts Rules of
Orders statutes of the City of Pittsburgh,
City Clerk procedures and everything that
this Council is about. We cannot legally
vote on an ordinance the same day it is
introduced. We can introduce an
ordinance. We can ask that we waive Rule
8 to expedite it. I am perfectly willing to
vote for that. But we just can't introduce
and vote on a bill. It is inappropriate as
well illegal and a violative of the Home
Rule Charter.

Mr. Udin:

The ordinance will be amended to
a referendum or a resolution, which will be
introduced at the end of the meeting. And
then all of my colleagues will have an
opportunity to express their support or
opposition to a non-binding resolution.
The Chair:

So you will put it as a resolution at
the end of the meeting?

Mr. Udin:

Will that
President?

be acceptable, Mr.

The Chair:

a 8 8 80 00065°5 5

Yes.
Mr. Udin:

Can
parliamentary?

you check with the

The Chair:

Yes. At the end of the meeting you
will have the resolution.

We still have two more bills in
front of us to vote on. Roll call vote on
Bills 1151 and 1604

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Ms. McDonald
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin
Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Onorato and Mr. Hertzberg voted
no on Bill 1511.)

Bills have received the legally
tequired number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. ONORATO PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1670:

Report of the Committee on Planning,
Zoning and Land Use for May 20, 1999
transmitting one resolution to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

906

Bill No. 1424:

Resolution approving a
Conditional Use exception under Section
993.01(a)A(4) of the Pittsburgh Code,
Title Nine, Zoning, Article V, Chapter 993
to James and William Rudolph for
authorization to demolish a residential
structure and replace it with a parking area
with a maximum of 12 parking stalls to be
located at 5608 Wilkins Avenue on
property zoned “R2” Two-Family
Residence _ District, 14° Ward.
(HEARING HELD MAY 13, 1999).

Which was read.
Mr. Ferlo:

Mr. President, marriage and
procreation will continue notwithstanding
passage of 1511.

The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

The bills are now ready for final
action. All in favor of the passage of the
bills vote aye when your names are called;
all those opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were.

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

eee

Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MS. MCDONALD PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1671:

Report of the Committee on Housing,
Economic Development and Promotion
for May 20, 1999 transmitting sundry of
resolutions to Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Bill No. 1614:

Resolution providing for an
agreement with Byrd R. Brown Law
Offices for legal representation as the
Solicitor of the Pittsburgh Commission On
Human Relations in1999, at a cost not to
exceed $20,000.00.

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1615:

Resolution approving Execution of
a Contract for Disposition by Sale of Land
by and between the Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh and Jeanine C.
Bacon for the Sale of Block 7B Lot 380 in
the Twenty First Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh for $310.00 (Council District
No. 6 - 1410 Hamlin Street - Off street
parking and sideyard). —-(PRESENTED
BY MS. MCDONALD & MR.
HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1616:

Resolution approving execution of
a Contract for Disposition by Sale of Land
by and between the Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh and Chartiers
Nature Conservancy, Inc. for the sale of
Parcels 12A and 12B in the 28th Ward of
the City of Pittsburgh, in Redevelopment
Area No. 24, Block 69B Lot 2 -- Ingram
and North Duane Avenues --Council
District No. 2 (recreation area). The
purchase price of $50,000.00. ---
(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD &
MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1617:

Resolution approving execution of
a Contract for Disposition by Sale of Land
by and between the Urban Redevelopment
Authority of Pittsburgh and Earl K.
Russell and Valerie Jo Russell for the sale
of Parcels 100 and 108A in the 13th Ward
of the City of Pittsburgh, in
Redevelopment Area No. 19, Block 174G
Lots 265, 264 and 263 -- 1210-1218
Pineridge Street --Council District No. 9
(garage and sideyard area). The purchase
price is $2,000.00. . ---(PRESENTED BY
MS. MCDONALD & MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
Also,

Bill No. 1618:

Eee lS

Resolution authorizing the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh to
acquire that property, located at 477-479
Kilbourne Street, in Council District
Number 5, in the 15th Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh owned by Francis Rende and
designated as Block 56-D and Lot
Numbers 131, 132 and 164 in the Deed
Registry Office of Allegheny County.
(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD &
MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1619:

Resolution authorizing the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh to
acquire the following property in the 15th
Ward of the City of Pittsburgh privately
owned, and designated as in the Deed
Registry Office of Allegheny County,
under the Residential Land Reserve Fund.
(PRESENTED BY MS. MCDONALD &
MR. HERTZBERG)

56-N-190
3109 Ladora Way
Guy Oliveri

56-N-189
S111 Ladora Way
Guy Oliveri

56-N-188
3113 Ladora Way
Guy Oliveri

56-N-187
5115 Ladora Way
Clara Karafa

908

56-N-186
5117 Ladora Way
Hartman/Kissell

56-N-184
5119-27 Ladora Way
Hartman/Kissell

56-N-178
5129-37 Ladora Way
Hartman/Kissell

56-N-172
5139-47 Ladora Way
Hartman/Kissell

56-N-166
5149-57 Ladora Way
Hartman/Kissell

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1620:

Resolution authorizing the Urban
Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh to
acquire that property, located at 161
Brahm Street, in Council District Number
1, in the 26th Ward of the City of
Pittsburgh owned by William Pegg and
designated as Block 46-J and Lot Number
132 in the Deed Registry Office of
Allegheny County. (PRESENTED BY
MS. MCDONALD & MR. HERTZBERG)

Which was read.
The Chair:
You have heard the reading and

title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

—EaEqyxyEEIEI——_ SE

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those
opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.
The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. COHEN PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1672:

Report of the Committee on Lands,
Buildings and Procurement for May 20,
1999, transmitting one resolution to
Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1231:

Resolution authorizing the Mayor and the
Director of General Services to amend the
city’s Minority Business
Enterprise/Women Business (MBE/WBE)
Suidelines so as to allow a 25% minority
and 10% female at the job site

construction related employment goal for
all city and authority contracts in excess
$250,000.00. (SPONSORED BY MR.
FERLO)

Which was read.
The Chair;

Clerk, please call the roll.

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:
Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven
Mr. Ferlo Mr. Hertzberg
Ms. McDonald Mr. Onorato
Mr. Ricciardi Mr. Udin

Mr. O'Connor

(Pres't)

AYES Nine NOES None

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. DIVEN PRESENTED:

Bill No. 1673:

Report of the Committee on Public Safety
Services for May 20, 1999, transmitting
one resolution and one ordinance to

Council.

Which was read, received and filed.

Also, with an affirmative recommendation.
Bill No. 1576:

Resolution authorizing Raymond V.
DeMichiei, Operations Supervisor, Bureau
of Communications, Department of Public
Safety to execute for and in behalf of the
City of Pittsburgh all required forms and
reports for Loan Agreements and Grants
under the Federal Nunn-Lugar-Domenici
legislation.

Which was read.
Also,
Bill No. 1634:

An Ordinance amending the
Pittsburgh Code, Title Nine, Zoning,
District Map No. 12 & 17 by changing
from “R2” (“RT-2”) Two family
Residence and “R3” (“RM-3”) Multiple
Family Residence to “RP” Residential
Planned Unit Development certain
property having frontage on the northwest
comer of Forbes and Murray Avenue, 14"
Ward, District 8.

Which was read.
The Chair:

You have heard the reading and
title of the bills, is there any discussion on
the bills?

Bills are now ready for final action.
All in favor of the passage of the bills vote
aye when your names are called; all those

opposed vote no.

Clerk, please call the roll.

910

The ayes and noes were taken
agreeably to law, and were:

AYES:

Mr. Cohen Mr. Diven

Mr. Hertzberg Ms. McDonald.

Mr. Onorato Mr. Ricciardi

Mr. Udin Mr. O'Connor
(Pres't)

(Mr. Ferlo voted no.)

Bills have received the legally
required number of votes and have passed
finally.

MR. FERLO PRESENTED:
Bill No. 1674:

Report of the Committee on Engineering
and Construction for May 20, 1999,
transmitting sundry of resolutions to
Council.

Which was read, received and filed.
Also, with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill No. 1607:

Resolution amending Resolution
No. 667, effective November 30, 1998,
entitled “Providing for an Agreement or
Agreements, or use of existing
Agreements and/or a Contract or
Contracts, or use of existing Contracts for
design and construction of improvements
to various Overlooks, including but not
limited to the West End Elliott Overlook;
and providing for the payment of the cost
thereof,” by increasing the total project
allocation by $250,000.00 from
$225,000.00 to $475,000.00.

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